Spyro Gyra

Saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall formed a band with jazz and rock musicians who were playing in the Buffalo bar and club circuit.[1] In 1974, when a bar owner asked for the band's name, Beckenstein said, "spirogyra", a type of algae he had learned about in school.[1] The bar owner wrote the name incorrectly, "Spyro Gyra", but it stuck.[1] The founding members of the band were Beckenstein, Wall, bassist Jim Kurzdorfer, drummer Tom Walsh, and keyboardist Tom Schuman.[1] In 1977, they released Spyro Gyra independently before making a deal with Amherst Records,[2] which re-released the album with a different cover. It included "Shaker Song," which reached No. 90 on Billboard's Hot 100,[3] No. 99 on the pop chart in Canada,[4] and No. 26 on the Canadian AC chart.[5]

Morning Dance reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart, No. 27 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, and No. 47 in Canada.[6] The song "Morning Dance" reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart,[7] No. 1 on the US Adult Contemporary singles chart,[8] No. 45 on the Canadian pop charts,[9] and No. 6 on the Canadian AC charts.[10] The album was certified gold in 1979, then platinum in 1987 by the RIAA.[11]

Spyro Gyra performs in Richmond, Virginia on February 23, 2017.

When Infinity Records folded, Catching the Sun was released on MCA in February 1980, becoming the No. 4 jazz album of 1980, peaking at No. 31 in the UK,[7] and No. 80 in Canada.[12]

Bassist Jim Kurzdorfer died of cancer in 2011.[13] Former drummer Ted Reinhardt died in an airplane crash on March 4, 2015, at the age of 63.[14] Mallet player Dave Samuels died on April 22, 2019, due to an undisclosed long-term illness.[15]

• Best Jazz Fusion Performance: Catching the Sun (1980), Incognito (1982), City Kids (1983), Access All Areas (1984), Alternating Currents (1985)
• Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "Shakedown" (1985), "Simple Pleasures" (2008)
• Best Pop Instrumental Album: Wrapped in a Dream (2007), Good to Go-Go (2008), A Night Before Christmas (2009), Down the Wire (2010)
• Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance: "Stripes" (1982)

• George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2007)