Sanborn, who suffered from polio in his youth, has been a highly regarded session player since the mid 1970s. One of his first professional gigs was as a member of Paul Butterfield's band. One of Sanborn's earliest guest recordings was on David Bowie's Young Americans. Around this time his output as a session player became prolific and over the next ten years he played with a dazzling array of artists, such as Paul Simon, James Taylor (contributing to the remake of the Marvin Gaye classic "How Sweet It Is"), The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and Stevie Wonder.
In the late 1980s he was a regular guest member of Paul Shaffer's band on Late Night with David Letterman. From 1988-89, he co-hosted a late-night TV music show on NBC with Jools Holland. The show, "Night Music", following producer Hal Willner's eclectic approach, drew Sanborn together with many famed musicians, such as Miles Davis, Lou Reed, Santana, Curtis Mayfield, and many others.
Throughout his career, Sanborn has skirted the edges of free jazz: In his youth he studied with Roscoe Mitchell and Julius Hemphill, and performed on Tim Berne's Diminutive Mysteries, dedicated to Hemphill. His 1991 album Another Hand, produced by Hal Willner, features Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, and various other players not usually associated with smooth jazz.
In television, Sanborn is well-known for his sax solo in the theme song for the NBC hit drama L.A. Law. He has also dabbled in writing for film, contributing to such scores as Lethal Weapon and Scrooged.
In 2004, David Sanborn was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
You can find photographs and additional information on David's official website, www.DavidSanborn.com.
I Do It For Your Love
David Sanborn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So you don't care about the money? well yes it's true
And I'm so blessed to be fulfilling my destiny
All material things could mean less to me
Only thing I ever could need is a Sara B sample with a dope ass beat
And get the mic check (check) are the levels right?
And if it's good then I'll be here for several nights
Cuz the only thing I need is a strong supporting team
And I can't forget my family, Helpin keep my sanity
No matter what I do i kno othey'll always stand for me
Cuz I can only do me that's all I know
Dodge the difficulties and take life slow
And if I ever slow up u know I'll always show up
It's still the same old me even-even if I blow up
Love is what I do it for
Love is why I'm rapping
Love is the main reason for how all of this happened
Love for all my fans love for all the shows
Got love for all my memories no matter where I go
Even if I amount to nothin, I know there's always something
It's not a fitness test but it'll always keep me running
One good thing bout music when it hits u feel no pain
So I keep it close to me make sure it never goes away
Uh From the start I knew it in my heart
If I made 1 person happy then I know I did my part
Now if I stay into it and people dig the music
I put on for my cities and know I'll always do it
For love
In the lyrics of David Sanborn's song "I Do It For Your Love," the artist clearly states that he does not make music solely for the financial success, but rather for his love of music and the joy it brings to others. He expresses his gratitude for fulfilling his destiny and how material items do not hold as much value to him as the creative process. Sanborn recognizes that he needs a strong team to support him, which includes his family, to help him maintain some sense of sanity. Even if his music career does not bring him all of the riches in the world, Sanborn is confident that making someone happy through his art is where his true purpose lies.
Sanborn discusses the importance of his love for music throughout the song. He states that love is the main reason for how all of this happened, and he has love for all of his fans and the shows he performs. Despite the difficulties he may face in his career, he will continue to show up and stay true to himself. "One good thing bout music when it hits u feels no pain," Sanborn repeats in the lyrics. He closes the song by stating his love for music will always keep him going, and if he can make one person happy with his music, he knows he has fulfilled his part.
Line by Line Meaning
I do it for the love, yes I do
I'm motivated by love and passion, not money or fame
So you don't care about the money? well yes it's true
I prioritize my artistic vision and love for music above financial gain
And I'm so blessed to be fulfilling my destiny
I feel fortunate to have found my calling and be making music
All material things could mean less to me
I value experiences and relationships more than possessions
Only thing I ever could need is a Sara B sample with a dope ass beat
My creativity flows when I have a great beat and sample to work with
And get the mic check (check) are the levels right?
I'm meticulous about the quality of my music and want it to sound perfect
And if it's good then I'll be here for several nights
If the sound is good, I'll keep creating music for hours on end
Cuz the only thing I need is a strong supporting team
My success in music is largely due to the people who support and help me
The most important thing that helps supporting my dream
Support from others is crucial in achieving my music aspirations
And I can't forget my family, Helpin keep my sanity
My family keeps me grounded and sane amidst the craziness of the music industry
No matter what I do i kno othey'll always stand for me
I'm grateful for my family's unwavering support no matter what direction my music takes me
Cuz I can only do me that's all I know
I'm true to myself and my artistic vision, and that's all I can offer
Dodge the difficulties and take life slow
I navigate the challenges of the music industry by taking things one step at a time
And if I ever slow up u know I'll always show up
Even if I'm not creating as much music, I'll always be present for my fans
It's still the same old me even-even if I blow up
Fame won't change who I am at my core
Love is what I do it for
The motivation behind my music is my love for the craft
Love is why I'm rapping
My love for rap music and its expressive potential drives me to create it
Love is the main reason for how all of this happened
My music success is ultimately due to my passion and love for it
Love for all my fans love for all the shows
My love for my listeners and performing motivates me to keep creating and touring
Got love for all my memories no matter where I go
I hold dear the memories I've made through my music, no matter where it's taken me
Even if I amount to nothin, I know there's always something
Even if my music doesn't achieve commercial success, it's still meaningful to me and others
It's not a fitness test but it'll always keep me running
Music is a driving force in my life, keeping me energized and motivated
One good thing bout music when it hits u feel no pain
Music has the power to heal and transcend pain and hardship
So I keep it close to me make sure it never goes away
I cherish my music and the positive impact it has on my life
Uh From the start I knew it in my heart
I've always felt called to create music from a young age
If I made 1 person happy then I know I did my part
My music has the potential to make a positive impact on even one person, and that's enough for me
Now if I stay into it and people dig the music
If I continue making music and listeners enjoy it, I'll keep doing what I'm doing
I put on for my cities and know I'll always do it
I'm proud to represent my hometown and will continue to support and uplift it through my music
For love
My music is ultimately powered by my love for the art form and its impact on others
Writer(s): Paul Simon
Contributed by Vivian Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.