Michael Lington (born June 11, 1969) is a Danish-American contemporary saxophonist, songwriter, producer, recording artist and a purveyor of soul and contemporary jazz.[1]
Lington has released 11 solo albums and has 25 singles that have charted on the Billboard and Radio & Records (R&R) contemporary jazz radio charts.[2][3]
Lington has performed at the Royal Wedding of Denmark's future king, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary Donaldson at Fredensborg Castle and has also played numerous other times for the Danish royal family. He is the grandson of Danish composer and band leader Otto Lington.
Early life
Lington was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he began his career at the age of seven as a clarinetist. He was a member of the Tivoli Boys Guard for seven years (1978–1985), which is where he began his formal music education, receiving a gold medal for his efforts. At 15, he became influenced by saxophonists David Sanborn and King Curtis and by American soul music artists like Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles, which precipitated his decision to take on the saxophone as an instrument of choice.[4][5]
After attending college, Lington co-owned a recording studio with songwriter John Hatting while touring regularly throughout Europe.[6] During this time, he performed on several of Denmark's Eurovision song contest entries.[7] He also competed in the Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidene / Rhythmic Conservatory music youth competition, judged by musician Nils-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, where he won First Prize in 1987 and won the Gold Prize in 1988.
In 1990 (at age 21), Lington moved to Los Angeles with the assistance of drummer Mark Schulman and soon became heavily involved in LA's contemporary jazz scene. After playing various gigs around Southern California, he met Bobby Caldwell, with whom he toured with for four years (1994–1998), and subsequently, Randy Crawford, with whom he toured with for three years (1998–2001).
Career
Lington signed his first recording contract in 1996 with Nugroove Records and released his self-titled debut album in 1997. It produced the hit "Tell It Like It Is" (feat. Bobby Caldwell), a song that became a Top 10 Radio & Records (R&R) NAC/Smooth jazz song and a Top 20 R&R Adult Contemporary song.[8]
In 2000, Lington signed with Gold Circle Records and released his 2nd album, Vivid, which produced two R&R charting singles, "Twice In A Lifetime" (#2) and "Sunset (Por Do Sol)" (#4). The album featured Randy Crawford singing the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic, "Message to Michael."
In 2002, he signed with Three Keys Music and released the album Everything Must Change, which also produced two R&R charting radio singles; "Still Thinking Of You" (#5) and "Off The Hook." In 2004, Lington signed with Rendezvous Music and released the albums Stay With Me (2004) [feat. Michael Sembello] and A Song For You (2006) (the latter of which featured a full orchestra arranged and co-produced by Randy Waldman). Stay With Me produced three Top 5 R&R charting radio singles; "Show Me" (#2), "Two Of A Kind"(#2), and "Pacifica" (#6). A Song For You also featured the notable single, "It's Too Late," penned by songwriter Carole King.
In 2008, Lington re-signed with Nugroove Records and released the album Heat, which reached the Top 5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz albums sales chart[9] and was chosen as Jazztrax's 2008 Album of the Year.[10] The album featured singers Aaron Neville and "American Idol" finalist Ace Young. It also featured Brazilian guitarist Torcuado Mariano, and the Academy Award-nominated songwriting team of Allan Rich and Jud Friedman. It was produced, in part, by Keith Olsen and Greg Phillinganes. Heat's lead single, "You and I," reached #2 on R&R's Smooth Jazz radio chart.[11] Lington's duet with Neville, "That's When You Save Me", tied that year as JazzTrax Best Vocal Song of the Year.
In 2014, Lington established his own label, Copenhagen Music, along with business partner Roy McClurg, on which he's since released the albums Soul Appeal (2014) and Second Nature (2016). Soul Appeal featured vocalists Kenny Lattimore and Ryan Shaw and produced 4 Billboard jazz radio singles; "Soul Appeal," "Uptown Groove," "In The Pocket" and "Taking Off." The self-titled first single becoming the #1 song of 2014 on the Groove Jazz music chart.[13]
Lington released Second Nature in April 2016. The album has been described as an "audio love letter to the city and sound of Memphis," a place that the artist has said influenced him significantly as a young man.[14] Special guests on the album include vocalists Taylor Dayne and Sy Smith, as well as Booker T. Jones, Ray Parker Jr., Paul Jackson Jr., and Brian Culbertson. Second Nature debuted at #3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz sales chart and #7 on the Billboard Combined Jazz sales chart. The album's first two radio singles, "Beale Street" and " Memphis Strut," were both Top 15 Billboard jazz radio singles... and the third single, "Midnight Drive," reached number one on multiple charts including The Radio Wave and Groove Jazz Music Chart.
A Foreign Affair Christmas
Lington’s first Christmas album, A Foreign Affair Christmas, was released on November 8, 2019, with the lead-off track being George Michael’s Last Christmas featuring French Keyboardist and Vibraphonist Philippe Saisse.
The album contains 9 traditional Christmas songs with arrangement styles that includes Jazz, Latin, Cuban, R&B and Gospel. It features an international line-up of guest artists including: Vince Gill, Philippe Saisse, Marc Antoine, Chris Standring, Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Sheléa and Russ Freeman. Musicians on the album includes: Gregg Phillinganes, Paul Jackson Jr, Luis Conte, Alex Al, Eric Valentine, David Garfield, Luis Conte, and more.
The album is produced by Michael Lington, Mixed by Paul Brown and Mastered by Bernie Grundman.
Silver Lining
Lington's tenth solo album, Silver Lining, was released June 8, 2018 on Copenhagen Music. "City Life," the lead-off track and first single, was #2 Most Added[15] at Contemporary/Smooth Jazz Radio its first week at radio. The song features Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics on guitar. The album's second single, "Deja Vu," was released to radio October 22, 2018.
The first two radio singles are two of nine songs Lington and his producer, Barry Eastmond, co-wrote for Silver Lining. In addition to Lington's alto sax and Eastmond's keyboards on all tracks, the participating musicians include Paul Jackson Jr. and Ray Parker Jr. on guitars, Freddie Washington and Alex Al sharing bass duties, Teddy Campbell on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, and a number of other musicians appearing on other tracks – including one of the original FunkBrothers, Jack Ashford.
Silver Lining was recorded live at several studios, including Sunset Sound in Los Angeles and Royal Studios in Memphis.
Touring
Lington has toured regularly his entire career, averaging 60-80 shows per year. In recent years, from 2010 to 2013, Lington joined Michael Bolton on tour as his opening act & special guest. Lington and Bolton performed over 350 shows together in more than 40 countries. Venues on the tour included Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Universal Amphitheatre, and the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington, D.C. (where they performed for President Bill Clinton).
In February 2016, Barry Manilow invited Lington to join his "One Last Time" arena tour. Lington opened the show and joined Manilow on the song "Brooklyn Blues" during the headliner's main set. In April 2018, it was announced that Michael Lington will join Barry Manilow once again as his opening act starting June 8 at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia.[16]
In September 2019, it was announced that Lington would join the Dave Koz and Friends; Gifts Of The Season Christmas tour[18] alongside Koz, Jonathan Butler, Melissa Manchester and Chris Walker. The tour will travel across the U.S. between November 29 and December 23, 2019.
Lington was nominated for International Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.[20]
Musical style
Lington's style has been described as "soulful and authentic." He plays alto, tenor and soprano sax, although he favors the alto sax for his solo projects.
Personal life
Lington manages his own wine company, Lington Wines,[21] which is based in California's central Paso Robles region, as well as a cigar company, Michael Lington Cigars,[22] which manufactures its product in Honduras. He has served as a cigar columnist for Wine and Jazz magazine.[23] He was married to Shivaune Field from 2007 to 2013.
Discography
Albums
Year
Title
2021
Alone Together - the Duets
2019
A Foreign Affair Christmas
2018
Silver Lining
2016
Second Nature
2014
Soul Appeal
2012
Pure
2008
Heat
2006
A Song For You
2004
Stay With Me
2002
Everything Must Change
2000
Vivid
1997
Michael Lington
Singles
Year
Title
2019
"Silver Lining"
2018
"Deja Vu"
2018
"City Life"
2017
"Block Party"
2017
"Midnight Drive"
2016
"Memphis Strut"
2016
"Beale Street"
2015
"Taking Off"
2015
"In The Pocket"
2014
"Uptown Groove"
2014
"Soul Appeal"
2012
"The Serenade"
2012
"Roadtrip"
2009
"Ocean Drive"
2009
"You and I"
2006
"It's Too Late"
2006
"Pacifica"
2005
"Two of a Kind"
2004
"Show Me"
2003
"Off The Hook"
2003
"Still Thinking of You"
2001
"Sunset (Por do Sol)"
2000
"Twice in a Lifetime"
1997
"Harlem Nocturne"
1997
"Tell It Like It Is"
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