Reluctant smooth-jazz saxophone deity David Sanborn, who played with everyone from David Bowie and The Rolling Stones to James Brown and Stevie Wonder, died on 5/12 at the age of 78.

The musician had been battling prostate cancer for the last five years and was recently forced to postpone tour dates while recovering from spinal surgery.

Stricken with polio as a child, Sanborn learned to play saxophone as a way to strengthen his chest muscles and improve his breathing. He didn't release his solo debut album until 1975 when he was 30, but he was playing alongside such all-timers as Albert King by the time he was a teenager.

From there, he performed at Woodstock as a member of The Butterfield Blues Band and appeared on such iconic '70s albums as Wonder's Talking Book, Bowie's Young Americans and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Born to Run.

Somewhat to his chagrin given his diverse discography, Sanborn's music eventually became a cornerstone of the smooth jazz format alongside artists such as Kenny G. The artist also worked with Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel and on the last three Lethal Weapon film franchises, while also hosting the jazz-themed clip show Night Music between 1988-1990.