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.
When I Look At You
Grover Washington Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Came a little wizard, waved his wand,
Dreamed you up for me.
Now I feel a tingle each time I glimpse your face go dreaming by;
Proving the heart is quicker than the eye.
When I Look At You, I hear lovely music
When I Look At You I look at an angel
Tell me where you've parked your wings.
Dizzy me, Silly moon, crazy quilt of a sky
Are you real, or a dream
That got caught in my eye?
When I Look At You I'm looking at rainbows
Stars come tumbling down from above
And I'm in love with you, my love !
The lyrics of Grover Washington Jr.'s song "When I Look At You" express the delight and wonder of falling in love. The song is narrated by a character named Melisande, who is initially lonely and feeling sorry for herself. However, a "little wizard" comes into her life and creates the person of whom she's been dreaming. Suddenly, every time she catches a glimpse of her dream partner, she feels a tingle, showing that her heart is responding faster than her eyes.
The singer's adoration for her partner is highlighted in the rest of the song. She compares her emotions to lovely music and questions her partner whether she's an angel because of their beauty, prompting her to ask where their wings are parked. The sky is described as having a dizzying and wild appearance, which blurs the line between reality and dream, culminating in the poignant declaration of her love for her dream partner.
Overall, the song presents a vivid appreciation for the path of falling in love, reflecting the magic and beauty of the emotional journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just a lonely Melisande, Pity pity me.
I used to feel alone and sad like a character from a fairy tale. It is something to feel sorry for.
Came a little wizard, waved his wand,
Dreamed you up for me.
Then someone special came into my life and made me feel magical. It seemed like they conjured you up out of thin air just for me.
Now I feel a tingle each time I glimpse your face go dreaming by;
Proving the heart is quicker than the eye.
Now every time I see you or even think of you, my heart beats faster. It's proof that love and attraction are more powerful than our senses.
When I Look At You, I hear lovely music
Can it be my heart that sings?
Looking at you is like listening to beautiful music. It feels as though my heart is singing along with the melody.
When I Look At You I look at an angel
Tell me where you've parked your wings.
To me, you are like a heavenly angel. I can't help but wonder where your wings are hidden.
Dizzy me, Silly moon, crazy quilt of a sky
Are you real, or a dream
That got caught in my eye?
Your presence makes me feel dizzy and confused, like I'm seeing a silly moon in a strange sky. I can't even tell if you're real or if I'm just seeing a beautiful dream before my eyes.
When I Look At You I'm looking at rainbows
Stars come tumbling down from above
And I'm in love with you, my love !
Every time I gaze upon you, it's as though I'm seeing colorful rainbows appearing in the sky, with stars falling from above. All of this beauty only serves to reinforce my feelings of love for you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER, WALTER JURMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind