John Koz
John Koz
John Koz has had a storied career in smooth jazz music. A platinum selling artist, he was nominated for nine Grammy awards and reached the summit of the charts five times.
He is an advocate for instrumental music and an unapologetically smooth jazz icon. His sound often harkens back to his musical forebear David Sanborn.
Early Life and Education
John Koz is an outstanding student who takes great pride in both his academic performance and athletic accomplishments. A four-year letterman in both football and basketball, John was the most successful player on his senior squad during their championship run last season.
He enjoys playing golf and listening to classical music, having been a member of the Cleveland Orchestra since his junior year in high school. Always on the lookout for new opportunities, he’s currently a senior at Bay High School where he leads his teammates with 21 points and 14 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 60.0 percent from the field.
Professional Career
Koz began his professional career as a saxophonist in the early 1980s, playing with Bobby Caldwell and Jeff Lorber. Additionally, he enjoyed a brief tenure as house band member on The Pat Sajak Show and guested on The Arsenio Hall Show.
In 2010, Koz signed to Concord Records and released Hello Tomorrow, produced by John Burk and Marcus Miller. It quickly rose to the top of both Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart as well as iTunes’ Jazz Albums list.
He followed that with two live albums, Live at Soho and Live at the Blue Note Tokyo, as well as recordings featuring renowned musicians. With 2020’s A New Day he reached number two on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart; later that same year, he joined guitarist Cory Wong for 2021’s Golden Hour.
Achievements and Honors
John Koz, born to a dermatologist father and pharmacist mother, has always known his path was meant for something greater. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in mass communications, the saxophonist set out on an exciting musical journey.
He began his career as a jazz saxophonist and has since performed with notable musicians such as Bobby Caldwell. Over the course of his career, he has toured around the world, releasing ten studio albums on EMI records – including his 1993 hit Lucky Man.
His accomplishments are numerous, yet the most impressive is his commitment to teaching and continuous learning. He has been teaching AP (university-level) chemistry at FHC for 19 years now, never failing to astound his students with his profound expertise on the topic at hand.
Personal Life
Saxophonist John Koz, born in Southern California, has made a major impact in the smooth/contemporary jazz world. He’s released over a dozen albums, earned multiple Grammy nominations and consistently tops the contemporary jazz album charts.
Koz has maintained a full-time music career while also engaging in entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors. He hosts his own radio show, collaborates with Starlight Children’s Foundation and even has his own line of wine.
Koz’s social media profiles suggest he may be searching for a man. Whether or not that’s the case, the saxophonist seems to be in search of some romantic adventure.
Net Worth
Koz is an acclaimed jazz saxophonist with an estimated net worth of $6 million. Since his professional music career began in 1986, he has amassed wealth through various sources of income.
Koz earned his high school diploma from William Howard Taft High School in Los Angeles, where he performed on the saxophone as part of their jazz band. Upon graduation, he went on to UCLA and earned a degree in mass communications.
He went on to establish himself as a professional musician, releasing several albums such as Saxophonic, Lucky Man and The Dance. Additionally, he performed with Richard Marx and Bobby Caldwell during their tours.
He was also featured on NBC radio show The Pat Sajak Show, performing alongside Tom Scott as its house bandleader. Subsequently, he opened Spaghettini & the Dave Koz Lounge – a restaurant and live music venue.