In addition, he performed very frequently with other artists, including Bill Withers on "Just the Two of Us" (a song still in regular rotation on radio today) and Phyllis Hyman on "Sacred Kind of Love". He is also remembered for his take on a Dave Brubeck classic, called "Take Another Five", as well as for his hit "Soulful Strut". His work continues to inspire jazz artists even today.
Washington was born in Buffalo, New York, 12 December 1943. Regarded as one of the revolutionaries in jazz music and is considered one of the greatest saxophone players in modern jazz history. He led many others to follow in his footsteps.
Washington's history was music-filled. His mother was a church chorister, and his father was a collector of old jazz 78s and a saxophonist as well, so music was everywhere in the home. He grew up with the great jazz men and big band leaders like Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, and others like them. At the age of 8, with the desire for him to be more than he could be, Grover Sr. gave Jr. a saxophone. He practiced and sneaked into clubs to see famous Buffalo blues musicians.
He left Buffalo and played with a mid-west group called the Four Clefs. He was drafted into the US Army shortly thereafter, but this was to be to his advantage, as he met drummer Billy Cobham. Cobham, a mainstay in New York City, introduced Washington to many New York musicians. After leaving the Army, Washington freelanced his talents around New York City, eventually landing in Philadelphia in 1967.
Grover's big break came at the expense of another artist. Alto sax man Hank Crawford was unable to make a recording date with Prestige Records, and Washington took his place, even though he was a backup. This led to his first album, Inner City Blues. He was talented, and displayed heart and soul with soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. Refreshing for his time, he made headway into the jazz mainstream. His fifth album, 1974's Mister Magic was a commercial success, and introduced guitarist Eric Gale in as a near-permanent member in Washington's arsenal.
A string of acclaimed records brought Washington through the 1970s, which culminated in the signature piece for everything Washington would do from then on. 1980's Winelight was the album that defined everything Washington was about. The album was smooth, fused with R and B and easy listening feel. Washington's love of basketball, especially the Philadelphia 76ers, led him to dedicate his first track, Let It Flow to Julius Erving (Dr. J). The highlight of the album, and a main staple of radio airplay everywhere, was his great collaboration with soul artist Bill Withers, Just The Two of Us. It was also the final step away from Motown, landing him on Elektra Records and into a new era of jazz excellence. The album went platinum in 1981, and also won Grammy Awards in 1982 for Best R and B Song ("Just The Two of Us"), and Best Jazz Fusion Performance ("Winelight"). "Winelight" was also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
From that point, Washington is credited (or scorned, as some may say) for giving rise to a new batch of talent that would make its mark in the late 80s and early 90s. He is blamed for bringing Kenny G to the forefront, but also credited with bringing such smooth jazz artists as Walter Beasley, Steve Cole, Pamela Williams, Najee, George Howard, and The Philadelphia Experiment into popular attention.
The tragedy and irony of Washington's life was that while he was able to get his big break from another artist's absence, Washington lived long enough to bring smooth jazz to the last points of the old millennium, but didn't outlive Hank Crawford, whose absence gave him his big break (and is still alive, as of 2005). On December 17th, 1999, while waiting in the green room after taping four songs for the The Early Show, at CBS Studios in New York City, Washington collapsed. He was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 7:30 p.m. His doctors determined that he had suffered a massive heart attack.
Grover Washington Jr.'s legacy lives on in the futures of up-and-coming jazz artists, and his life is celebrated from college campuses all around the nation to the hallowed streets of his own Philadelphia, his adopted hometown.
Best Is Yet To Come
Grover Washington Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll give you the moonlight
Love will set us free
If we just believe the best is yet to come
[Chorus]
Show me your smile
I'll fill it with laughter
As long as we believe
The best is yet to come
Can you see what I see
On the road ahead
Do you know
there's a new life there
Waiting there
Give me your world
And I'll give you heaven
Love will set us free
As long as we believe
The best is yet to come
[Chorus]
Give me the sun
And I'll give you moonlight
Yes I will?
Can you see what I see
On the road ahead
Do you know
there's a new life there
Waiting there
Give me the world
And I'll give you heaven
Love will set us free
As long as we believe
The best is yet to come
Baby don't you know that
As long as we believe
The best is yet to come
Oh?
Play it now?
Break
I will give you love and understanding
If you show me your love
Hey, hey
Give me the sun
Show me your smile
Give me your world
Baby ah, ah?
I'll be what you want me to be
(Yeah)
I'll give you moon light
I'll fill you with laughter
I'll give you a
Hey, hey, hey, hey?
The best is yet
To come
Grover Washington Jr.'s song "Best Is Yet to Come" speaks of hope and optimism in a new, beautiful beginning. The singer pleads for his lover's faith, stating that if they believe in the best, it will come. He offers to give everything to his partner, requesting only the same in return, as the two will be free through their love. The chorus performs a call and response, saying, "Show me your smile," with the singer following, "I'll fill it with laughter," and stating that their belief in a brighter future starts with the small act of smiling.
The path ahead is filled with promise, with a new life waiting for them both. As long as they have faith, they will experience heaven on earth. The song's message is about the power of optimism and positivity, the idea that one's destiny is based on what they choose to believe, and the hope that a beautiful future awaits with the right mindset.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me the sun
If you give me something small and insignificant, I will give you something grand and beautiful in return.
I'll give you the moonlight
I'm willing to give you everything and more, even if it requires some effort and extra work on my part.
Love will set us free
If we allow ourselves to experience love and all that it encompasses, we will be liberated and unrestrained in every way possible.
If we just believe the best is yet to come
If we have a positive outlook and maintain unwavering faith in our future, the greatest things are yet to be seen and experienced in our lives.
Show me your smile
I want to see you happy and content in your life, and I am ready and willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
I'll fill it with laughter
My goal is to help you find joy and amusement in the world around us, and I will go to great lengths to accomplish that.
That will light your mind
The happiness and positivity that I bring to your life will inspire and uplift you in countless ways, including intellectually and emotionally.
Can you see what I see
Are you able to look towards the future with the same hope and optimism that I possess?
On the road ahead
As we journey through life together, can you envision the endless possibilities and opportunities that await us?
Do you know there's a new life there
Do you realize that the future is full of new experiences and opportunities for growth and self-discovery?
Waiting there
All of these opportunities and experiences are waiting for us in the future, and we just need to have faith and be willing to explore and embrace them.
Give me your world
Give me everything that you are and everything that you possess, and I will give you everything that I am in return.
And I'll give you heaven
I'm willing to go above and beyond for you, even if it requires me to give you something that seems impossible to obtain or seems like an unattainable dream.
Baby don't you know that
I want to remind you of the incredible potential that exists in our future, and how much we have to look forward to.
As long as we believe the best is yet to come
If we maintain our positive outlook and unwavering faith in the future, we will continue to experience amazing things and create the life that we have always wanted.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SHANNON GREENE, TODD N. TERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zzzd4765
Give me the sun
I'll give you the moonlight
Love will set us free
If we just believe the best is yet to come
Show me your smile
I'll fill it with laughter
That will light your mind
As long as we believe
The best is yet to come
Can you see what I see
On the road ahead
Do you know
There's a new life there
Waiting there
Give me your world
And I'll give you heaven
Love will set us free
As long as we believe
The best is yet to come
Show me your smile
I'll fill it with laughter
That will light your mind
As long as we believe
The best is yet to come
@marciat7465
This songs means the world to me. I remember leaving hospice after my mother had died and this song was playing in my car. I knew I was going to be okay. Love Grover Washington.
@CrystalLWaddy
Yes, sis! Blessings to you!
@koevan1323
ππΎβ€οΈππΎ
@geraldjackson2000
Wishing you smiles and laughter always π may mom continue to Rest in Power
@marciat7465
@@geraldjackson2000 thank you
@17Chrisy
My grandfather listened to this everyday while he was in hospice at home. Listening this song after he is gone reminds me of my childhood and gives me the warm fuzzy feeling.
@traceymann572
2 Philadelpia Legends at Their Very Best....Her Voice...His Saxophone....ππβ€β€
@hectormendez3572
Patti Labelle is one the few greatest singers we have left.What a talent! Man can she sing.
@darrylbrown9179
99 o
@isaacortiz4617
Jennifer Holiday too.