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Rahsaan Roland Kirk, born on August 7, 1935, in Columbus, Ohio, was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was best known as a blind jazz saxophonist renowned for his ability to play multiple wind instruments simultaneously. Kirk primarily played various saxophones, clarinets, and flutes, with his main instruments being the tenor saxophone, stritch, and manzello. He modified these instruments to accommodate his unique playing technique, which was inspired by a dream he had about playing more than one saxophone at once. In 1970, he added "Rahsaan" to his name after hearing it in another dream. Kirk was also known for his circular breathing technique, reportedly sustaining a note for over an hour. He passed away on December 5, 1977, in Bloomington, Indiana, due to a stroke.

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