When Yamaha artist Dave Koz began playing his saxophone, he did not realize that he would eventually start his own record company, host multiple radio talk shows, serve as a Global Ambassador for Starlight Children's Foundation and be an ongoing member of the Board Of Governors for the GRAMMY® Foundation. A six-time GRAMMY® nominee, he was honored in September 2009 by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Time and talent tend to shape one another and for Koz, his talent rapidly evolved as time progressed.
The roots of Koz's career began in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, where Koz was born and raised. He first picked up and played the saxophone as a tool in order to find his way into his older brother's band. Luckily, his big brother did not squash his hopes and Koz became a full-time music and saxophone enthusiast. His first musical tour was with Bobby Caldwell's band. While he was playing with Caldwell, he met keyboardist, Jeff Lorber, who invited Koz to join him on one of his tours as well. Koz became even more popular after his tour with Lorber and he caught the attention of yet another famous musician, Richard Marx, with whom he toured for 14 months. Marx was not the only celebrity to enlist Koz's unique skills. Koz has also performed with noted celebrities like Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Kenny Loggins, U2, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Vanessa Williams.
Aside from playing the saxophone, Koz also composes, serves as a radio personality in two different outlets: on weekdays, as the host of an afternoon radio show that's nationally distributed on the Smooth Jazz Radio Network; and on weekends, as the host of the internationally syndicated Dave Koz Radio Show, now in its 15th year in approximately 120 markets; and is the global ambassador for Starlight Foundation, an organization dedicated to brightening the lives of sick kids and their families. Koz also works as an instrumental music advocate serving on the board of directors for the GRAMMY® Foundation, where he works to preserve America's cultural legacy and bring music to children in the classrooms.Koz has received honors from organizations like the NAACP and won awards and nominations from The Recording Academy (GRAMMY® Awards), and the Smooth Jazz Awards. His albums include several #1 contemporary jazz hits from "Lucky Man," Off the Beaten Path," "The Dance," "Dave Koz & Friends-A Smooth Jazz Christmas," "Golden Slumbers: A Father's Lullaby," "Saxophonic" and the recent, "Greatest Hits."
Koz recently partnered with Vinum Cellars, a Napa Valley boutique winery, and Whole Foods Market® to introduce three types of KOZ wines. He is donating all his proceeds from KOZ wines - available exclusively at Whole Foods Market stores in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada - to help Starlight continue its vital mission. Koz is constantly touring, summer and winter, on land and by sea, with a summer tour, holiday tour, and the Dave Koz and Friends At Sea--branded cruise via the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
His musical career is based in Los Angeles but his fans span across the globe and his musical artistry is universal.
