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Kenny G is feeling confident!
The legendary saxophonist and record producer, 69, tells PEOPLE about his favorite part of making music after 60 years while at the Pre-Grammy Gala hosted by Clive Davis at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Kenny G, whose real name is Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, says his favorite part is “just knowing that you’re really great at what you do.”
“I’ve been playing my sax for almost 60 years, so I better be really good. And I am. So there you go,” he adds.
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Kenny G released his self-titled debut album in 1982. His latest studio album, Innocence, was shared in 2023. Throughout his career, he has toured with Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and George Benson.
The saxophonist won a Grammy in 1994 for his song “Forever in Love” from his Breathless album.
He also recalls meeting music industry legend Davis, now 93, for the first time while catching up with PEOPLE.
“I met him when I was part of a different band that he had signed. So I was a side man, and he met me. Over the years, he kept watching me, and he came to me in 1982 and said, ‘Let’s make some records just with you as the artist,’” recalls Kenny G.
As for his presence at the star-studded party, he says, “I just want to see Clive and take a picture with Clive. That’s pretty much it.”
Kenny G continues, “The rest of it, it’s a bunch of schmooze and a lot of egos. Not me, of course, but that’s the problem. It’s too many egos in the room, and people, when you’re talking to them, they’re like this the whole time, ‘Yeah, great, great.’ I don’t like that part, but Clive, I’m here for him.”
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Kenny G spoke with PEOPLE in 2022 about his career resurgence, saying, “I’ve been around a long time, so when people like Kanye [West] and The Weeknd are asking me to play on their records, yeah, I do feel like it’s a resurgence in my career right now.”
“I’m not trying to sound egotistical, but I’ve always thought that when you have something of great quality, you become timeless,” he added.
