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Kirk Whalum

Grammy Award-Winning Saxophonist & Songwriter, Known for his Solos in "I Will Always Love You" and "I (Who Have Nothing)"

Grammy Award-Winning Saxophonist & Songwriter, Known for his Solos in "I Will Always Love You" and "I (Who Have Nothing)"

Travels From Travels From:
Memphis, TN, USA
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Kirk Whalum Biography

Kirk Whalum, an American R&B and smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter, began his career in the Houston nightclub scene of the 1980s, where he formed his own band and honed his unique musical voice. Known for his soulful and passionate performances, Whalum has showcased his rich tenor sound in collaboration with a variety of notable artists, including Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Wendy Moten, Lalah Hathaway, Rick Braun, and Marcus Miller. His seven-year tour with Whitney Houston culminated in his solo performance on her single "I Will Always Love You", the best-selling single by a female artist in music history.

Over his career, Whalum has released more than 25 solo recordings, including "Caché," "Unconditional," and the successful album "For You" on Warner Bros. Records. His body of work also includes several installments of the highly acclaimed "The Gospel According to Jazz" series.

In recognition of his musical prowess, Whalum has received numerous awards and accolades, including a total of 12 Grammy nominations. His first Grammy win came in 2011 for Best Gospel Song. His music has been featured on the Billboard charts in several categories including Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Adult Contemporary, R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Smooth Jazz Airplay, Hot Gospel Songs, Adult R&B Airplay, and Gospel Airplay. He has been honored with a Brass Note on Historic Beale Street in Memphis and a Star on the Nashville Walk of Fame in recognition of his substantial contributions to the music industry. He was also the inaugural Jazz Legend honoree of the National Museum of African American Music in 2014.

Whalum's accomplishments extend beyond his performance career. An ordained minister with a Masters of Art in Religion, he shares his insights through a daily podcast, "Bible In Your Ear". Since 2015, he has been a member of the faculty at Visible Music College in Memphis, Tennessee, committing himself to the education of future musicians. He also serves as part of the soul/jazz group BWB.

Kirk Whalum Videos

  • Meaning: What You Know Can Change in an Instant | Kirk Whalum | TEDx
    Sometimes the moments in life you perceive as failures are the moments that lead you to your destiny. Kirk Whalum, Grammy-award-winning musician and...
  • Kirk Whalum Plays National Anthem
    Jazz artist Kirk Whalum plays the national Anthem before a Memphis Grizzlies game.
  • Kirk Whalum "Music is a Language" speech | JodyJazz Jam, Winter NAMM 2019
    Kirk Whalum plays: PMXT-66RCL tenor saxophone

FAQs on booking Kirk Whalum

  • How do I book Kirk Whalum to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kirk Whalum for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kirk Whalum, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kirk Whalum or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Kirk Whalum

    Speaking fees for Kirk Whalum, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Kirk Whalum are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kirk Whalum, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Kirk Whalum speak about?

    Kirk Whalum is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include .
  • Where does Kirk Whalum travel from?

    Kirk Whalum generally travels from Memphis, TN, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Kirk Whalum’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Kirk Whalum for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kirk Whalum for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kirk Whalum or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Kirk Whalum is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Kirk Whalum for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Kirk Whalum generally travels from Memphis, TN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Regina Belle, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Douglas Miller, Jimmy Greene and Terri Lyne Carrington. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kirk Whalum for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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