During this time, he collaborated with musician, singer, songwriter, and producer Kashif on many tracks, including the 1985 single " Love on the Rise". Kenny G followed his debut with G Force in January 1983 and Gravity in May 1985, both of which reached Platinum certification the US for selling one million copies. The album received warm reviews from critics, and reached No.
His debut studio album, Kenny G, was recorded in 1981 with members of the Jeff Lorber Fusion, and released in the following year. He adopted Kenny G as his stage name because it "had a nice ring to it". Kenny G signed with Arista Records as a solo artist in 1982, after label president Clive Davis heard his rendition of " Dancing Queen" by ABBA. 1980s: Start of solo career, Duotones, and Silhouette He then left the band, later claiming that he had outgrown his association with them. He played with the funk band Cold, Bold and Together before becoming a credited member of The Jeff Lorber Fusion. He qualified, and only needed to pass the CPA exam to get into practice. He continued to play professionally while studying for a major in accounting at the University of Washington in Seattle, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. Kenny G's career started with a job as a sideman for Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973, when he was 17 and still in high school. He has been a fan of the sport since his elder brother, Brian Gorelick, introduced him to it when he was ten. He was also on his high school golf team. In addition to his studies while in high school, he took private lessons on the saxophone and clarinet from Johnny Jessen, once a week for a year. His Franklin High School classmate Robert Damper (piano, keyboards) plays in his band. When he entered high school he failed at his first attempt to get into the jazz band but auditioned again the following year and earned first chair. Kenny G attended Whitworth Elementary School, Sharples Junior High School (renamed Kurose Middle School), Franklin High School, and the University of Washington, all in his home city of Seattle.
He started playing the saxophone, a Buffet Crampon alto, in 1966 when he was 10 years old. He came into contact with the saxophone when he heard a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. His mother was from Saskatchewan, Canada.