CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT MOURNS THE PASSING OF JAZZ LEGEND SONNY ROLLINS

For Immediate Release Contact: Alayah Phipps

May 29, 2026 202-813-2793

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT MOURNS THE PASSING OF JAZZ LEGEND SONNY ROLLINS

U.S. Virgin Islands - Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement on the passing of saxophone legend Sonny Rollins:

"The world has lost one of the greatest jazz musicians of our time, and the Virgin Islands has lost one of its most celebrated sons. Sonny Rollins was born to parents who carried the spirit of these islands with them to New York City, and that spirit never left him. You could hear it in every note he played.

"From the streets of Harlem to concert stages around the world, Sonny Rollins transformed jazz into something deeply personal and alive. His 1956 masterpiece Saxophone Colossus, with its Caribbean-rooted 'St. Thomas', stands as one of the greatest recordings in American music history. He was a towering figure who played alongside Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk, and yet he always remained connected to where he came from.

"The Virgin Islands community takes deep pride in his legacy. He is proof of what our people carry within us-creativity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence that knows no limits. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, his loved ones, and the countless musicians and fans whose lives he touched. May he rest in eternal peace."

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