Ryan Kilgore

Ryan Kilgore, a native of Atlanta, Georgia has been playing the soulful sounds of the saxophone since age 10. Being a fourth generation sax player is just one of the many milestones Ryan has come to accomplish over his musical career. After playing in the band for four years at Southwest DeKalb High School, Ryan went on to attend Clark Atlanta University and was the first freshman to become drum major, as well as member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity. Ryan's musical inspiration came from his grandfather, Ester Betterson, who was not only in love with music, but also bought Ryan's first horn. Before joining Sol Factor in 2003, Ryan played on the Fighting Temptations soundtrack with vocalist Faith Evans, on the song titled "Heaven Knows",as well as performed on the Walt Disney movie Country Bears. He then continued to work with legendary producers/writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as well as the phenomenal Stevie Wonder. Ryan is also no stranger to the filming industry. He has made cameo appearances in 20th Century Fox's Drumline, Paramount Pictures' Fighting Temptations, and Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The feelings that he can't express verbally, he can express through his smooth sounds of "Saxuality." Ryan is an exceptional saxophone player who strives to help continue to instill in all people the importance of musics' role in the enrichment of the human spirit.
Career
From 2007 to present Kilgore performs as saxophonist for the legendary musician, Stevie Wonder. He has been featured on television with Stevie Wonder on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the US and The Jonathan Ross Show in London.
Some of Kilgore early performance credits was as early as 1998 when he performed with gospel great, Donnie McClurkin. By 2004 he was no stranger to fame performing with Faith Evans on the Motion Picture Soundtrack, Fighting Temptations. In the same year he performed at the Atlanta Falcons' playoff home game. Kilgore was blessed to perform with many superstars in Jazz, R&B and even Hip Hop with his feature on Rapper T.I. Paper Trail "You Ain’t Missing Nothing 2008-2009.
Shared stages
* Stevie Wonder 2007-Present
* Mike Phillips 2007-Present
* Joey Sommerville 2007
* Vanessa Bell Armstrong 2007
* Chris Miskel 2007
* Maurice Fitzgerald 2007
* Brian Culbertson 2007
* Terry Cummings 2006
* Brian Clay 2003-2008
* Donnie McClurkin 1998
Featured performances
* National Anthem for the New Orleans 2010: Hornets/Cleveland Cavilers
* Tyler Perry's "The Marriage Counselor" 2007-2008
* Jermaine Dupri/Grammy Awards 2006
* Atlanta Falcons Playoff Home Game 2004
Opening performances
* Najee 2007
* Brick 2007
* Kirk Whalum 2007
* Euge Groove 2007
* Heather Headley 2006
* Eric Benét 2006
* Kem 2006
* Alex Bugnon 2005
* David Sanborn 2003
* Stanley Clarke 2003
Tours & Shows
* Thomas Dortch Birthday Brunch with 2010(Mike Phillips, Najee, Wayne Bruce, Marcus Johnson)
* Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame on HBO 2009 (B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, Sting, John Legend)
* Stevie Wonder - "Moroco Music Fesital 2009
* Stevie Wonder - "Wonder Summer’s Nights" 2009
* Stevie Wonder - "Wonder Autumn’s Nights" 2009
* Stevie Wonder - "House Full of Toys" 2009 (Robin Thicke, The Jonas Brothers, Ledisi, India.Arie)
* Stevie Wonder Montreal International 2009
Jazz festivals
* Stevie Wonder - "Wonder Summer’s Nights" 2008
* Stevie Wonder - "Wonder Winter’s Nights" 2008
* Stevie Wonder - "House Full of Toys" 2008
* Ellen DeGeneres Show 2008 performing with Stevie Wonder
* Stevie Wonder-Johnathan Ross Show-London 2008
* Dreamland - BET 2008
Soundtracks, DVDs & CDs
* Tyler Perry’s "The Marriage Counselor" 2008
* Stevie Wonder "Live at Last" 2009
* T.I. Paper Trail "You Ain’t Missing Nothing 2008-2009
* Fighting Temptations w/Faith Evans 2004
* Hidden Beach’s Unwrapped Vol. 7 2010
Endorsements
* Mike Phillips Signature Horn Collection 2010
* Hollywood Winds Saxophone Endorsement 2010
* AKG Microphones 2009
* Rico Reeds 2008

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