Kansas City jazz legend Ahmad Alaadeen dies at 76

​Ahmad Alaadeen, beloved Kansas City jazz saxophonist, teacher and performer, died at age 76 on Sunday, August 15. The musician was diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer earlier this summer. 

Alaadeen, a native Kansas Citian, took saxophone lessons from Leo H. Davis, the well-respected musician who also taught Charlie Parker. Alaadeen began performing professionally at age 14, and would go on to play with greats like Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Jay McShann, Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations and Sam Cooke.