Rollins was born in New York City to parents from the United States Virgin Islands. The youngest of three siblings, he grew up in central Harlem and on Sugar Hill, receiving his first alto saxophone at the age of seven or eight. He attended Edward W. Stitt Junior High School and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem. Rollins started as a pianist, changed to alto saxophone, and finally switched to tenor in 1946. During his high school years, he played in a band with other future jazz legends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew, and Art Taylor.
As a saxophonist he had initially been attracted to the jump and R&B sounds of performers like Louis Jordan, but soon became drawn into the mainstream tenor saxophone tradition. The German critic Joachim Berendt described this tradition as sitting between the two poles of the strong sonority of Coleman Hawkins and the light flexible phrasing of Lester Young, which did so much to inspire the fleet improvisation of bebop in the 1950s. Other tenor saxophone influences include Ben Webster and Don Byas. By his mid-teens, Rollins became heavily influenced by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. During his high school years, he was mentored by the pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, often rehearsing at Monk's apartment.
Rollins has played, at various times, a Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone and a Buescher Aristocrat. During the 1970s he recorded on soprano saxophone for the album Easy Living. His preferred mouthpieces are made by Otto Link and Berg Larsen. He uses Frederick Hemke medium reeds.
Where Are You
Sonny Rollins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw you from afar
Two lovely eyes at me they were gleaming
Beaming I was star struck
You're all my lucky charms I'm lucky in your arms
You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal
You are my lucky star
I saw you from afar
If Garbo is a glamorous creature
You're a four star feature
Though you are never seen
Up on a movie screen
You are my Shearer, Crawford, Hepburn, Harlow and my Garbo
You are my lucky star
The song You Are My Lucky Star is a love song sung by Sonny Rollins. In the first verse, Rollins is expressing his admiration for a woman he has been keeping an eye on from afar. She has caught his attention with her beautiful, shining eyes and he is completely taken by her. Rollins feels star-struck by her, which is a term used when someone is incredibly amazed or captivated by someone or something.
In the second verse, Rollins is comparing his love interest to Hollywood actresses. He says that although she may not have the fame or recognition of a Hollywood star, she is his personal star. He compares her to some of the most glamorous actresses of the time, including Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Jean Harlow, and Greta Garbo. Rollins sees his love interest as someone who is equally beautiful and enchanting, someone who is like a shining star in his life.
The lyrics of You Are My Lucky Star are beautiful and romantic. Rollins' voice is smooth and soulful, and the lyrics perfectly capture the feeling of being completely enamored with someone. The song is a wonderful representation of the joy and magic of falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
You are my lucky star
You are the most important and special person in my life
I saw you from afar
I noticed you from a distance and was immediately drawn to you
Two lovely eyes at me they were gleaming
Your eyes sparkled and shone brightly when you looked at me, showing your happiness and interest
Beaming I was star struck
I was so mesmerized and infatuated with you that I couldn't help but smile and feel lucky to be near you
You're all my lucky charms I'm lucky in your arms
You bring me so much good luck and happiness, and I feel especially lucky when I'm holding you
You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal
You have brought so much joy and contentment into my life that it feels like heaven on earth, especially since I feel powerless without you
If Garbo is a glamorous creature
Referring to Greta Garbo, a famous Swedish actress known for her glamorous and enigmatic image
You're a four star feature
You are just as beautiful and captivating as any Hollywood movie star
Though you are never seen
Even though you are not actually a movie star, you are still just as important and special to me
Up on a movie screen
A reference to the glamor and larger-than-life persona of movie stars
You are my Shearer, Crawford, Hepburn, Harlow and my Garbo
Comparing the listener to multiple famous Hollywood actresses from the 1930s and 1940s known for their beauty, talent, and screen presence
You are my lucky star
Reiterating the importance and good fortune that the listener brings to the artist's life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind