The Surprisingly Badass Life of the Inventor of the Saxophone

[@TodayIFoundOut]

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[@Munmunboimun]

Thank you for broadening my world. How about doing one on whether or not Simon Birch would be able to kill someone with a baseball, as portrayed in the movie?

[@Munmunboimun]

@Luis Alberto Pérez Nájera Nah papa sueno, I'd prefer watchin' us sing some Wisin y Yandel whilst singing "ja je" in a mini golf tournament.

[@Munmunboimun]

@Luis Alberto Pérez Nájera Nah sweetloaf entails using cheerios instead of whack bread crumbs. Iight, well take care pa.

[@LordDragon1965]

Misspelling "Surprise" on the splash screen?

[@Trav2016]

Starts at 0:50

[@faithfullyfaithless]

Some inept time traveller really didn't want this guy to invent the saxophone...

[@Lozenge95]

faithfullyfaithless omg what a great thought 😂👍🏼 made me chuckle! Wicked comment!

[@TheJocularJurist]

@@Elganleap was just off by over 100 years 😂

[@gooby8953]

@@Elganleap "why do they keep shooting at me im just a homeless artist"

[@lucar6897]

faithfullyfaithless or an adept one did

[@rhodesianwojak2095]

heh

[@DigitalHabit]

Holy crap, I can not believe what this guy had to go through. I will play my saxophone from now on with nothing but pride for such a strong inventor who went through constant hell to provide the world with some of the best instruments known to man

[@brendanr1525]

" I will play my saxophone" Please don't...

[@tiestokygoericprydz3963]

Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax was Belgian

[@TheJta20]

I'd love to see an "Amadeus" style movie based on this dude's life.

[@laura1443]

That would be awesome!

[@housepianist]

I concur.

[@ceciliaspears161]

RIGHT????!!!!

[@arthurw8054]

Great idea!

[@jaydunbar7538]

If you've ever played the game DOOM you already know how the part of his childhood goes lol

[@pamelamays4186]

Young Sax grew up trolling the Grim Reaper.

[@noangles1564]

you think after so many close call Death just gave up

[@WanderingWriter]

Hmmm I wonder if the song "devil went down to Georgia" is actually about Sax. It makes sense

[@hyperhare0624]

They need to make him the star of his own historical drama.

[@dragonsword7370]

Or you may mean "the grim reaper was trolling young Sax"?

[@Bigandrewm]

Yeah, Adolph Sax was a genius. It's probably fair to include him as one of the great engineering minds of the 19th century. Somewhat akin to how Tesla was later doing similar things with electricity.

[@Fede_uyz]

This guy had his guardian angel working double shift and extra hours

[@LesNasesdu38]

Aziraphale on coke. For 79 years.

[@HyperionaSilverleaf]

Probably a whole team

[@CieJe.Alexander]

He was blessed with Genius. He was persecuted by life. Was he one of the luckiest or, one of the unluckiest man of his time?

[@tenhirankei]

His enemies would call it "the devil's own luck"!

[@christianheichel]

*Angels boss..* you're supposed to keep him safe! *Guardian angel..* he's alive... You do better.

[@CieJe.Alexander]

They kept knocking him down but, he kept on bringing saxy back!🎷😜

[@markreynolds1436]

The most grudging like I've given.

[@Supersonic]

This story legit made me mad. To know that mankind's progress can and is commonly halted by jealous people who literally just don't want to see someone succeed....

[@apexone5502]

Agreed. I found myself getting annoyed at Sax's rivals. A bunch of haters.

[@evanray8413]

Jealousy and/or greed.

[@evanray8413]

@@jonathanwatson268 Then be average. Any excuse to be lazy hmm?

[@karenamyx2205]

@@evanray8413 cringe.

[@TrekDelta]

@@karenamyx2205 says one of many whom associates with the unremarkable.

[@sarreqteryx]

all this bears the question: Why is it Murphy's Law, instead of Sax's Law?

[@williamralph6444]

Because Murphy's law is younger as a matter of fact, Simon and the team actually did a show on it.

[@bobthegoat7090]

Wow, this mans life is a perfect symbol for what jealousy is. I just don't get how a whole organization can be formed only fueled by the hatred for a single man. It must have been so infuriating for him. And just imagine what other great inventions he could have made if it were not for the wasted time he spent in legal battles

[@PrizmSeeR]

Looks like narcissists have always been around

[@christopherconard2831]

So, you are saying that a group of French men were absolute pricks towards someone they saw as not French, or having something that wasn't seen being a proper piece of French culture? Unheard of!!

[@minisciencedude]

@mxt mxt Then or now?Now most Americans are accepting of foreign culture and people(except for the KKK,neo-Nazis,and White Nationalists).

[@SirMatthew]

mxt mxt uncool and untrue

[@minisciencedude]

@mxt mxt Yes it is.

[@minisciencedude]

@mxt mxt Most Americans aren't xenophobic.You just think they're are.

[@minisciencedude]

@mxt mxt Give me a example.

[@jaimejohnesee]

Am I the only one wondering if his parents were trying to kill him? 🤷‍♀️

[@PurplePinkRed]

Now that you mention it... Makes perfect sense!

[@christopherconard2831]

Today, the parents of any child that had that many "accidents" would definitely investigated.

[@stephengalindo6340]

They couldn't take the random instrument noises any more 😂😂😂

[@MinistryOfMagic_DoM]

It definitely seems like he was being severely abused and his parents were covering it up.

[@CieJe.Alexander]

Was there a life insurance policy on him?

[@laura1443]

THIS is what I'm talking about in regards to your long videos; who invented the sax? 'Who cares', says I! Then I listen while I'm washing dishes, and my 'who cares?' turns to 'I do! I care!' Just fascinating and I'd have never learned about Sax, had it not been for all your hard work. Thanks again!

[@Parasyte316]

Honestly Sax’s determination to keep the saxophone as an instrument led me to keep playing it. Going on 8 years now of playing sax.

[@RichardCroft19670711]

I knew who the inventor was but never until now what he as both a musician as well as an inventor. Imagine music without the Saxophone. What a sad story of a Man who was persecuted by a group of Ungifted people.

[@Munmunboimun]

Like Simon Birch, right papa Humphrey?

[@davidgustavsson4000]

"imagine music without sax" sure, that's most classical music, rock and pop. Sax is great, but in no way necessary for music.

[@Munmunboimun]

@@davidgustavsson4000 You got dat Grumpy Ol' Men surname n shit.

[@jessicaavery1080]

@@davidgustavsson4000 there are plenty of rock and pop songs that have used the sax. It may not be as popular today, but a lot of awesome 80s pop and rock (not heavy metal) wouldnt exist without it

[@davidgustavsson4000]

@@jessicaavery1080 I said "most"

[@vidarbonsak7855]

Imagine the task of building something as delicate and complicated as a saxophone from scratch in the 1800s.

[@lawsfreelancemalice1380]

And soldering/brazing

[@tambal40]

What is the history of media control buttons like the pause button being to parallel lines and the play button as a triangle etc ?

[@Firstname137]

That is a damn good question...damn you

[@scruffster2497]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_control_symbols

[@scruffster2497]

Still want to see the video on it though.

[@eljakimdeclerck1941]

here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHymd3d4hdt9bZY

[@_.-._.-._.-._.-.]

I'm not sure about the play symbol, but the pause button is based on the caesura symbol from sheet music. The symbol means to break or pause the music, with the length of the pause being up to the performer or conductor.

[@alexanderkarayannis6425]

When music experts were asked what Bill Clinton could do to improve his saxophone playing skills,they quickly answered..."Inhale"!...(Following his famous performance on the Arsenio Hall show back in the day...)😁

[@tylerchaney1533]

Monica's performance with the skin flute was tremendous!

[@dicktator8802]

An epic performance in the Oral Office😀

[@surlygirly1926]

😂

[@bundimathiu5714]

Moral of the story, "your hard childhood and youth, is to prepare you to counter your adulthood problems including an assassination LOL."

[@hyperhare0624]

It is like he LITTERALLY put his soul in his invention and that is why the Saxophone is an element of "Soul" music.

[@ezdboy]

Thank you very much for this one. This stuff wasn't covered in music school.

[@sarunasazna5408]

mhh, at my music school it was kind of covered - we(pupils who learned sax) were getting notion that - "we are not as good palyers(if we are talking about exact level) because it is harder to play clarinet or trumpet" or the fact that saxaphones are not the part of volc-orchester or cameric-orchester though clarinet and trumpet is :D Not

[@missScarlatine]

You mean he was an...EPIC SAX GUY?

[@Munmunboimun]

Tax* guy; the flapjack would happily complete taxes for acquaintances

[@spencerellis83]

First porn i got was a penthouse forum called hot sax

[@missScarlatine]

@@spencerellis83 I guess it didn't contain any sax, did it?

[@PacmanRocks100]

Quick correction: for the Bass Clarinet in the Opera story, the composer was Donizetti, not Dom Sebastien (which was the opera itself)

[@Milshare]

This guy does indeed, sound like he was epic.

[@mikeg4972]

Thank you for inventing the Saxophone, Sax!

[@tigerprincess9222]

As a Saxophonist & Clarinetist, I throughly LOVED this video! Thank you soooooooo much for doing it ❤🎷

[@SEThatered]

A Tesla of the musical instrument world.

[@ryanbradleyrankin]

OMG. i got so fucking offended when i saw tesla because of how much of a fuck Elon musk is....then i realized im a fucking moron and feel insulted on behalf of tesla that those cars are called that.

[@kenxclout]

I don't want to sound like I'm showing off or something, but people put bricks through my windows... just so they can hear me practicing my saxophone louder.

[@Munmunboimun]

You stay gassin' it up makin a flapjack expand ya comments n joint. How about considering the toll on arthritis shorty doo-wops?

[@Jallge]

Way to toot your own horn.

[@Munmunboimun]

@@Jallge The only way I know is blowing air through it. That's it, papa freedom

[@BlissfullWulf]

Sure they weren't trying to send the opposite message?

[@christelheadington1136]

Ken Fulton- I hope you're practicing safe sax.

[@merevel436]

The Anti-Sax club literally sounds like a teen drama antagonist.

[@iTeerRex]

Thanks for inventing the sax instrument. It truly is one of life's most awesome pleasures ;-)

[@likebot.]

So... they had Anti-saxxers in the 19th century...

[@SplotchTheCatThing]

Wow... should we change the expression to "curiosity killed the sax"? Also oh no anti-saxxers! XD Practically cartoon villains too, aren't they?

[@SpeedyXGunz]

"Saxamaphoooone. Saxamaphooooone" - Homer Simpson

[@LetsTalkAboutPrepping]

Best comment here.

[@andytennant4094]

He loved it when he was on medicinal marijuana, saw that episode yesterday

[@davidklein1667]

Thank you M. Sax!!! Without the sax 70s music just wouldn't have been the same!!

[@lealtosaxist1117]

Or 20's or 30's. Id say any music that has a saxophone(s) in it wouldn't be the same or ever created

[@davidklein1667]

@@lealtosaxist1117 totally agree! In fact that was the golden age of sax! The 70s sax thing was a joke with us...don't get me wrong..we loved it! It's just that it always seemed like the same guy playing that same set of 70s riffs! Was it Carli Simon that did Jaz Man!? Perfect example

[@davidklein1667]

@@lealtosaxist1117 correction...it was Carole King

[@Waccoon]

Simon's vocal delivery reminds me of a saxophone performance. Can't unhear... and there's nothing wrong with that. 8)

[@GraciePincer]

We owe this man so much, I mean Careless Whisper ALONE.

[@boydmerriman]

That proves God wants us to have a saxophone since the young man has been miraculously saved over and over again.

[@l1233799]

They could make a movie or TV series out of his life if they haven't already

[@calichef1962]

Of all the instruments I have learned to play, and there have been a dozen of them, the saxophone was the one that was the most fun to learn. It is easy to learn the basics of fingerings and ombucher, and it is a required instrument in any marching band, jazz band or the so-called "big bands" that played the popular music of the 20th century. What would the songs String of Pearls, In the Mood, Baker Street or Careless Whisper be without those classic sax riffs? It is said that the saxophone is the instrument that most resembles the human voice, and I have to agree. The sound of a saxophone is unmistakable! I really wish I'd learned about Mr. Sax long ago when I learned to play his lovely instrument. What a lucky genius he was! And now I *MUST* go listen to String of Pearls! Thanks TIFO Team!!! You folks are awesome!

[@calichef1962]

Nice song, and screen name! I'm a Whovian, too! Matt Smith is my favorite Doctor, slightly hedging out David Tennent. But I'm quite willing to make room for Jodie Whittaker and I really enjoyed her first season/series, depending on which side of the pond you reside.

[@xxXthekevXxx]

I’m curious what all instruments you have learned? I also take joy in learning many instruments! So far I’ve learned piano, guitar in many tunings, extended range guitar (7- & 8-strings), 12-string guitar, bass, extended-range bass (5- and 6-string), drums and various percussion, ukulele... things I have on my list to learn are harps, mandolins, banjo, shamisen, and saxophones! Always loved the sax. Was the first instrument to make me interested in music.

[@wingracer1614]

When I think Sax, I hear Born to Run!

[@susanhepburn6040]

I'm in agreement and would also add the sax on 'Will You?' by Hazel O'Connor and 'Your Favourite Trick' by Dire Straits. I absolutely take my hat off to the great Mr Sax! 🌟❤️🙏🏻

[@calichef1962]

@@xxXthekevXxx In approximate chronological order: autoharp, penny whistle, recorder, piano, organ, marching snare drum, marching band "bells," (basically a small, 2.5 octave upright xylophone) alto sax, tenor sax, flute, piccolo, marching bass drum, six-string guitar, electric bass. Gee, I guess I underestimated the number? But if the different versions/sizes/keys of saxophones, flutes/piccolos and drums are all counted as just one each, rather than the actual number of different versions of any given instrument I can play, well... we arrive at 10! 😁

[@kierenmoore3236]

What an incredible life/story! I just started learning saxophone - will try to channel the inventor’s determination!! 🎶🎷

[@bartman999]

7:54 I think you mean Gaetano Donizetti composed the opera Dom Sébastien, not the other way around :)

[@DrivermanO]

Exactly!

[@calebwinfield1403]

Will you please talk about how documentary shows get in touch with people in the witness protection program or are in hiding to interview them? I've always wondered.

[@alexgallagher4594]

This ^

[@grandetaco4416]

Sorry Mr. Gotti that's classified information.

[@hazzahazza8589]

Adolphe Sax's life would make a great movie

[@Wapohead]

I must say I truly enjoyed this account of badassery! It was quite the inspirational tale and one I can relate to being a walking disaster myself. I also own an entertainment company in Japan which, being a foreigner, proves to be quite tedious due to the archaic ways things are done here. Thank you, Simon, for this video!!

[@colehalford1893]

What a story, thank you. I forwarded this to my friend who plays the Saxophone 🎷.

[@ColonelSanders17]

As a sax player, I can dig it!

[@Schumanized]

ColonelSanders17 As a piano player (and frustrated sax player) i can dig it too👍🏽

[@iroquoisplissken3583]

He’s up in heaven now, listening to Kenny G.

[@phenethylamine91]

Sax's enemies obviously never used Skillshare.

[@justanotherjezebeI]

Yay! You have your neon on! Lol, it's honestly pretty sweet that you have an awesome neon sign with your initials. 👍 you should have it on in more videos!

[@calichef1962]

In his office tour video he said that the reason he doesn't turn it on very often in videos is because it causes overexposure and washes him out to a ghostly Simon. But he seems to have figured out a work-around. Bravo, sir!

[@ChaseSchleich]

Thankfully his name was something cool like Sax. Imagine if it was Fred or Bob. The Fredaphone? The Bobaphone? Never would have taken off.

[@CrowleyTheVampire]

I have an antique silver alto saxophone that I still play and have since middleschool. Glad to know that we're the coolest of the instrument players because our instrument's inventor was a badass dude.

[@christinak1053]

I found your channel a few days ago and I subscribed after the first one and watched SO MANY since. I absolutely love it. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Thank you I appreciate that

[@j.munday7913]

I don't think he actually died, he just got tired and took a nap. Legends say he's still napping to this day.......

[@kennbiggs9311]

This dude is legendary.....he kicked sax!

[@threeballwilly]

"Just go and get started, that's the best thing to do." You got my upvote before your sponsor segment finished, because of this line. :)

[@C4P0221]

He's one of the most awesome Belgians! ❤️

[@terribethreed8464]

This guy was definitely ADHD lol! Actually most inventors, artist's, musicians, writer's, politician's & other's have been forensicically diagnosed as having ADHD, which is a little known fact. Australia & the U.S. have the highest rates of ADHD in the world. They say it has something to do with the fact that our gene pool's are filled with our ancestors who were the bad ass kid's of their day lol! I can attest to that, being ADHD myself. I was the most accident prone kid growing up. We have a tendency to not think before we leap, so to say & we're stubborn as hell lol! You should do a segment regarding this. It would be a really interesting subject, that a lot of people could associate with. Thank you for all your wonderful program's, I really enjoy them.

[@xxXthekevXxx]

Bump

[@Amateur0Visionary]

As a recovering sax player, i approve.

[@raxsavvage]

damn anti saxxxers but the mental image i have now of a musician in a military force roaming the battlefield with a saxphone and im fine with this

[@lesliekilgore648]

as a former sax player for many years, never exactly perfecting it but enjoying the alto and baritone sax; i've always had a warm place in my heart for this guy. i knew of his crazy troubles with morons and nay-sayers in Paris but was entirely unaware they'd tried to ruin him 'with Sax and Violins' multiple times! :o i was also unaware he could 'blow your Sax off' with epic skills to keep paying the bills in musical duels! such great background Simon and the guys! the childhood, the cancer? wow! i didn't know any of that but i was aware of the tragic loss of his son. here's to the guy who gave Dave Koz, Candy Dulfer, Kenny G, and in a MUCH tinier way myself such joy! plus, any soft jazz nay-sayers... go blow your own horns somewheres else. i'll keep enjoying the relaxing and soulful sounds of the saxophone when i'm chilling and ring out a clarion call with vim vigor and vitality when an energetic mood hits me.

[@PeterCiesla]

This is the best telenovela I have ever seen!

[@firstname__lastname]

"Sax-a-ma-phoneeeeeee... Saxamaphonnnnne"

[@DaidriveCJ]

His life would make for a pretty cool and interesting film or mini series. I'll have to look up rather or not one already exists or not.

[@stanleyhercules]

Incredible, I have so much respect for those who create the tools with which artists speak in new ways, it's like its own form of meta-art. I wish this guy could've seen Charlie Parker and Coltrane pushing his invention to its absolute limits a few hundred years later :)

[@rhythmictiger]

The United association of instrument makers sound like Regina George on steroids on steroids.

[@davidgustavsson4000]

Fleur East: "If you wanna hear me sing you better play that sax." Trumpetist: "My time to shine!"

[@sinarius3669]

Seems like great proof of a time traveler trying to take him out hahaha That river just kept on flowing!

[@davidhart8835]

Hey Davin hey Simon hi Shell. I just wanted to say I love you guys the pieces and with my severe mental,condition your videos calm my mind while educating me. I am unfortunately very poor so I cannot financially supoort your channel but I always try to like and comment when I have time and remember while I watch.i could never repay you folks for thr piece of mind you give me with your beautifully done videos. Wholeheartedly I love this channel as well as Highlight History, Top Tenz, Biographics and of course the brain food podcast. Please keep up the amazing work. And I hope you read this and feel how much love i am trying to convey. I hope you are having a wonderful summer and you and your loved ones have a fulfilling year as well.

[@calichef1962]

This may be the nicest, kindest, sweetest comment on this, or any channel, that I have ever read! In spite of your illness, it's very clear to me that you are a prince of a man. I feel honored to have read your beautiful comment. Best wishes to you. I hope you start feeling better very soon.

[@hiddenpanda02]

I can't tell if this guy was extremely lucky or extremely unlucky

[@LetsTalkAboutPrepping]

Sounds like one followed by the other, repeatedly

[@Games_and_Music]

Typo in the thumbnail, it says: "Suprise Badass", i'm sure you're aware of it now, and know it needs an extra R in there. Just saying :) Now i will commence watching this video

[@MUMSUniverse]

Thank you for this 🎷 Mr. Sax.

[@ariellefebvre4434]

There seems to be a small mistake in the script. Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti composed the opera Dom Sébastien, not the other way! This was actually the last opera he fully composed before his death! ;P

[@heyitsjoe8446]

I dunno why but as soon as you said he had musical duels I just pictured him ripping into “Baker Street”. “You’re not ready for this, but your great great grandkids are gonna love it”

[@jonasjiller]

Just pointing out a mix-up: at 7:55 the composer is Gaetano Donizetti, and his opera is "Dom Sébastien"; the opposite is spoken.

[@forkoff3522]

It feels like Sax's life could be the plot to a kids show of some sort

[@tonk1044]

"When I heard that my last name sounds like -sex- , I made the saxophone." Adolphe Sax

[@tonk1044]

You all know it's fake.

[@tonk1044]

Please dislike this stupid comment.

[@SGprod]

I don't want to hear any rapper/celebrity talk about their "haters" ever again. This is what having real haters is.

[@AnonyDave]

Snooty french music instrument makers: Here's the no Saxs club! Sax: But you let my father in Snooty french: It's the no Sax-s club, we can have one Sax

[@Butterworthy]

The universe really tried to save us from the saxophone, but this guy just wouldn't die.

[@jimscimonetti1457]

Thank you for covering this!!!

[@gradyrm237]

He didn't only suffer from an early head injury it arguably made him who he was. Head injuries have been linked to more and more geniuses. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[@jaydunstan1618]

Brilliant Simon.

[@saltamas]

Excellent work on this video. Oh yes, best segue ever

[@SaxandRelax]

YESSSSS AS A DEVOTED SAXOPHONE IM LIVIIING FOR THIS VIDEO HAVENT WATCHED IT YET THOUGH I LOVE ALDOPHE

[@housepianist]

One of the most interesting stories I've heard in a long time. Very fascinating.

[@jillking5876]

I, as a sax player, was totally gob stopped by this article. Thanks, Simon.

[@DerptyDerptyDUM]

That was indeed surprisingly badass. 🎷💪

[@kevink8965]

I'm a very saxual person myself. Thank you for making this video, I knew who created the instrument just not the great back story

[@notavailable8130]

we would never have had.... Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street !!! much respect Mr. Sax

[@AdZS848]

Now you can name another famous Belgian!!

[@germandragon8136]

simon 2019: 20 minute videos are long Simon 2021: WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPIC BLAZE! (1h+ runtime)

[@kb-yi6oe]

Carry on Chap! Excellent channel. Great, great work.

[@Magmafrost13]

The *Devil*'s horn? Clearly God wanted this man alive

[@AlexiasPlaylist]

The Saxaphone and Clarinet are so similar. I'm not surprised if he created the bass clarinet

[@alejandronieto576]

Thanks 4 this video!

[@crystalaustin2845]

Thanks for this video. I used to play the alto saxophone when I was in middle and high school.

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Now *THAT* is a survivor!!!

[@wschnabel1987]

Learned how to play a Tenor saxophone in middle school, was fairly easy to learn too!

[@Hollylivengood]

Of course, he made the most bad-ass musical instrument. Loooove the sax.