Kenny Garrett was born in Detroit in 1961. At the age of 18, he had been accepted to the Berklee College of Music, but opted instead to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the leadership of Mercer Ellington. He credits that experience as the turning point in his career.
Afterwards, he starred in the band Out of the Blue and then joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He moved to New York in 1982 and began working with the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and then joined Miles Davis for his final touring band.
He began making a name for himself as a leader in 1984, when he recorded his debut record Introducing Kenny Garrett. He has been recorded on over 50 albums in his career, which include everything from rap to fusion, to tributes to John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Joe Henderson.
