Wayne Shorter was an influential American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Rising to prominence with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1959, he became their leading composer before joining Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet in 1964. In 1970, he co-founded the groundbreaking jazz fusion group Weather Report. Renowned for his innovative compositions—many now jazz standards—Shorter won 12 Grammy Awards and received worldwide critical acclaim. His switch to soprano saxophone in the late 1960s set new standards in jazz performance. Recognized as one of jazz’s greatest composers and improvisers, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2017.