Anthony Barboza/Getty Over the course of his 50-plus-year career, Donaldson was revered for his thoughtful, bluesy approach to the alto saxophone. His unique style earned him several hits ...

bluesy approach to the alto saxophone. His unique style earned him several hits, such as his renowned cover of Bobbie Gentry's 1967 single "Ode to Billie Joe," a blues-country song about the ...

He was a leading voice of the more elemental style that came to be called “hard bop,” an evolution out of the bebop revolution wrought by his inspiration on the alto sax, Charlie Parker.