Top 20 Best Selling Tenor Saxophone Solos Sheet Music
Ever since I went to Berklee College of Music, I worked diligently on transcribing as many excerpts of music that caught my interest. Eventually, I found that cool famous Tenor Sax songs and solos were worth my time to concentrate on and produce some of my best Tenor Saxophone sheet music work.
In the past 10 years, I have transcribed hundreds of saxophone solos for both Tenor and Alto Saxophone. Out of all my transcriptions of Tenor saxophone solos for sale, these twenty Tenor solos have surfaced to the top as being the highest selling transcriptions that I have published through my work at KB Sax Lessons.
This selection includes 20 of the Most Famous Saxophone Solos primarily includes pop music and rock and roll saxophone solos as opposed to the many saxophone solos by jazz musicians like John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon etc. who have played an important role in the jazz world with all of their incredible jazz solos.
So again, these songs with Tenor Sax Solos are only of the top selling Tenor Saxophone solos that were originally played on Tenor Saxophone and they are all available for download and print in pdf format by clicking the link in the title of each song.
*Click Here for the Top 10 Best Selling Sheet Music for Alto Saxophone Solos
For instance, this list DOES NOT include Alto Saxophone solos like the saxophone solo in Baker Street By Gerry Rafferty which is played on an Alto Saxophone.
Best Tenor Sax Solos: Top 20
#20 Unchain My Heart
Artist: Joe Cocker
Tenor Saxophonist: Lawrence Feldman
#19 Brown Sugar
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Tenor Saxophonist: Bobby Keys
Artist: The English Beat
Tenor Saxophonist: Lionel Augustus Martin "Saxa"
#17 Tequila
Artist: The Champs
Tenor Saxophonist: Danny Flores
After a great introduction with the cheery guitar playing and the summer-like sounds we hear the landmark Tenor Solo by Danny Flores in Tequila, by the Champs.
This song has a faster tempo when compared to other popular solos, but is simple enough to play for many beginners.
#16 Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
Artist: Billy Joel
Tenor Saxophonist: Richie Cannata
#15 Money
Artist: Pink Floyd
Tenor Saxophonist: Richard Parry
#14 Jungleland
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Tenor Saxophonist: Clarence Clemons
The only song by Bruce Springsteen song that made the list at number 14 with the legendary song Jungleland.
Saxophone player Clarence Clemons is an absolute saxophone solo legend who I always know is playing whenever I hear some of his iconic riffs on the radio.
#13 Urgent
Artist: Foreigner
Tenor Saxophonist: Junior Walker
I always thought this song was kind of weird, but it turns out people really love it!!
#12 Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Tenor Saxophonist: Bobby Keys
Artist: Billy Joel
Tenor Saxophonist: Richie Cannata
This legendary song by Billy Joel is one (1) of two (2) songs to make it to the list.
Billy can be proud that the iconic saxophonist in his group named Phil Woods is responsible for earning a top #11 place with New York State of Mind and a top #7 with Just The Way You Are on my list.
#10 Night Train
Artist: Jimmy Forrest
Tenor Saxophonist: Jimmy Forest
Artist: George Thorogood
Tenor Saxophonist: Hank "Hurricane" Carter
#8 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Artist: Kenny G
Tenor Saxophonist: Kenny G
It's nice how the music video in this Kenny G version of the song makes you feel like you're in the olden days with the black and white movie scenes throughout.
Love him or hate him, Kenny G brought Tenor and Soprano Saxophone music into my home growing up during the holidays, which helped me develop my ear for saxophone.
Artist: Billy Joel
Tenor Saxophonist: Phil Woods
Artist: Men At Work
Tenor Saxophonist: Greg Ham
#5 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Artist: Brenda Lee
Tenor Saxophonist: Boots Randolph
Artist: Average White Band
Tenor Saxophonist: Michael Brecker
The horn section of Pick Up The Pieces starts out this classic and Michael Brecker, a highly famous saxophonist knocks the Tenor Saxophone solo out of the park!
Artist: George Michael
Tenor Saxophonist: Steve Gregory
Careless Whisper by George Michael comes in at number 3 as no surprise to anyone!!!
#2 Us And Them
Artist: Pink Floyd
Tenor Saxophonist: Dick Parry
Us and Them starts with a velvety use of the lower register in this sax solo with an incredible Tenor sound thanks to sax player Dick Parry of Pink Floyd.
Artist: Sade
Tenor Saxophonist: Stewart Matthewman
The Sax Solo in Smooth Operator played by Tenor Saxophonist Stewart Matthewman by Sade comes out as #1 on the charts.
I am actually surprised that this one made it to the top of the list and continues to outpace competition but the sales report does not lie.
Thank you for viewing my Top 20 Best Selling Tenor Saxophone Solos!
P.S.
My primary instrument is Alto Saxophone, so I will make another posts about my highest selling Alto saxophone transcriptions.
For instance, another famous Alto Saxophone solo is Turn The Page by Bob Seger which is not listed here because that particular solo was played on an Alto Saxophone instead of a Tenor Saxophone.