Acclaimed and Chart-Topping Danish-American Saxophonist & Songwriter Michael Lington is a purveyor of Soul and Contemporary Jazz. Lington has released 13 albums with 28 Singles charting on the Billboard and Radio & Records (R&R) Contemporary Jazz Charts. Lington was nominated for "International Instrumentalist of the Year" at the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.
In 2008, Lington released the album 'Heat', which reached the Top 5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart and was chosen as Jazztrax's 2008 "Album of the Year". The album featured singers Aaron Neville and "American Idol" finalist Ace Young. Heat's lead single, "You and I," reached #2 on R&R's Smooth Jazz Radio Chart. Lington's duet with Neville, "That's When You Save Me", tied that year as JazzTrax "Best Vocal Song of the Year".
In 2012, Lington released the album 'Pure', which featured guest artists Michael Bolton, Jonathan Butler, Lee Ritenour, Jeff Golub, and former "American Idol" & "Tonight Show" bandleader Rickey Minor. It produced the Billboard Top 5 radio single "Road Trip," which also hit #1 on the instrumental radio charts.
In 2014, Lington established his own label, Copenhagen Music, and released the albums 'Soul Appeal' (2014) and 'Second Nature' (2016). 'Soul Appeal' produced 4 Billboard Jazz Radio Hits: "Soul Appeal," "Uptown Groove," "In The Pocket" and "Taking Off." The self-titled first single becoming the #1 song of 2014 on the Groove Jazz Music Chart.
Lington released the album 'Second Nature' in 2016. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. The album's first two radio singles, "Beale Street" and " Memphis Strut," were both Top 15 Billboard Jazz Radio Hits. A third single, "Midnight Drive," reached #1 on multiple charts including The Radio Wave and Groove Jazz Music Chart.
Lington's 10th Solo album, 'Silver Lining', was released in 2018. "City Life," the lead-off track and first single, features Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics on guitar. Stax soul legend William Bell, a 2017 GRAMMY Award-Winner, sings lead on Lington's version of the Curtis Mayfield-penned "People Get Ready".
From 2010 to 2013, Lington joined Michael Bolton on tour as his opening act & special guest. Lington and Bolton performed over 350 shows together in more than 40 countries. In 2016, Barry Manilow invited Lington to join his "One Last Time" arena tour. Lington opened the show and joined Manilow on the song "Brooklyn Blues" during the headliner's main set. In November 2016, Lington performed for the Memphis Music Hall Of Fame ceremony, honoring 2016 inductee, (Memphis saxophonist) Charles Lloyd.
Lington has worked with Michael Bolton, Barry Manilow, Aaron Neville, Boney James, Mike Love, Randy Crawford, Bobby Caldwell, Dave Koz, Kenny Lattimore, Ryan Shaw, Little Richard, Joan Sebastian, Cristian Castro, Booker T. Jones, The Dap-Kings, Ray Parker, Jr., Taylor Dayne, Brian Culbertson, Chuck Loeb, William Bell, Dave Stewart, Vince Gill, Sheléa Frazier, and many others.
