Michael Lington

Early life

Lington was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he began his career at the age of 7 as a clarinetist. He was a member of the world-renowned Tivoli Boys Guard for 7 years (1978-1985), which is where he began his formal music education, receiving a gold medal for his efforts. At 15, he became influenced by saxophonists David Sanborn and King Curtis and by American soul music artists like Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles, which precipitated his decision to take on the saxophone as an instrument of choice.

After attending college, Lington co-owned a recording studio with songwriter John Hatting while touring regularly throughout Europe. During this time, he performed on several of Denmark’s Eurovision song contest entries. He also competed in the Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidene / Rhythmic Conservatory music youth competition, judged by musician Nils-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, where he won First Prize in 1987 and won the Gold Prize in 1988.

In 1990 (at age 21), Lington moved to Los Angeles with the assistance of drummer Mark Schulman and soon became heavily involved in LA’s contemporary jazz scene. After playing various gigs around Southern California, he met Bobby Caldwell, with whom he toured with for four years (1994-1998), and subsequently, Randy Crawford, with whom he toured with for three years (1998-2001).

Career

Lington signed his first recording contract in 1996 with Nugroove Records and released his self-titled debut album in 1997. It produced the hit “Tell It Like It Is” (feat. Bobby Caldwell), a song that became a Top 10 Radio & Records (R&R) NAC/Smooth jazz song and a Top 20 R&R Adult Contemporary song.

In 2000, Lington signed with Gold Circle Records and released his 2nd album, Vivid, which produced two R&R charting singles, “Twice In A Lifetime” (#2) and “Sunset (Por Do Sol)” (#4). The album featured Randy Crawford singing the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic, “Message To Michael.”

In 2002, he signed with Three Keys Music and released the album Everything Must Change, which also produced two R&R charting radio singles; “Still Thinking Of You” (#5) and “Off The Hook.” In 2004, Lington signed with Rendezvous Music and released the albums Stay With Me (2004) [feat. Michael Sembello] and A Song For You (2006) (the latter of which featured a full orchestra arranged and co-produced by Randy Waldman). Stay With Me produced three Top 5 R&R charting radio singles; “Show Me” (#2), “Two Of A Kind”(#2), and “Pacifica” (#6). A Song For You also featured the notable single, “It’s Too Late,” penned by songwriter Carole King.

In 2008, Lington re-signed with Nugroove Records and released the album Heat, which reached the Top 5 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz albums sales chart and was chosen as JazzTrax’s 2008 Album of the Year. The album featured singers Aaron Neville and “American Idol” finalist Ace Young. It also featured Brazilian guitarist Torcuado Mariano, and the Academy Award-nominated songwriting team of Allan Rich and Jud Friedman. It was produced, in part, by Keith Olsen and Greg Phillinganes. 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 Pure on Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm Records, 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, along with business partner Roy McClurg, on which he’s since released the albums Soul Appeal (2014) and Second Nature (2016). Soul Appeal featured vocalists Kenny Lattimore and Ryan Shaw and produced 4 Billboard jazz radio singles; “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 Second Nature in April 2016. The album has been described as an “audio love letter to the city and sound of Memphis,” a place that the artist has said influenced him significantly as a young man. Special guests on the album include vocalists Taylor Dayne and Sy Smith, as well as Booker T. Jones, Ray Parker Jr., Paul Jackson Jr., and Brian Culbertson. Second Nature debuted at on #3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz sales charts and #7 on the Billboard Combined Jazz sales chart. The album’s first two radio singles, “Beale Street” and “ Memphis Strut,” were both Top 15 Billboard jazz radio singles... and the third single, “Midnight Drive,” reached number one on multiple charts including The Radio Wave and Groove Jazz Music Chart.

Lington has toured regularly his entire career, averaging 60-80 shows per year. In recent years, 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. Venues on the tour included Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Universal Amphitheater, and the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington DC (where they performed for President Bill Clinton). Lington was also featured on Bolton’s Motown tribute album, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

In February 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 Nov. 2016, Lington performed for the Memphis Music Hall Of Fame ceremony, honoring 2016 inductee, (Memphis saxophonist) Charles Lloyd. Stax Records soul singer William Bell and Snoop Dogg also performed at the induction ceremony.

Lington is signed to the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) for worldwide representation and has a publishing administration deal with Kobalt Music Publishing. He is an ASCAP songwriter/publisher and a 20-year voting member of the Recording Academy (NARAS). He is a Yamaha Saxophone, Vandoren reeds, Westone audio and Sennheiser performing artist.

Michael was nominated for International Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.

International Musician Magazine featured Lington on the cover of the November 2008 issue.

Musical style

Lington’s style has been described as “soulful and authentic.” He plays alto, tenor and soprano sax, although he favors the alto sax for his solo projects.

Personal life

Lington manages his own wine company, Lington Wines, which is based in California’s central Paso Robles region, as well as a cigar company, Michael Lington Cigars, which manufactures its product in Honduras. He’s served as a cigar columnist for Wine and Jazz magazine. He was married to Shivaune Field from 2007 to 2013.