Kevin Garren
Originally from Simi Valley, California, Kevin Garren was born into a musical family. He began his musical training at 8 years old, when his father began to teach Kevin the guitar. Kevin quickly developed his musical ability by racing through his school work in order to practice several hours a day.
When the opportunity came in middle school to participate in the school band program, guitar was not offered; so Kevin decided to learn the Alto Sax. He immersed himself in the recordings of Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderley, and would practice playing Parker solos for several hours everyday.
In 1995, a Berklee Summer Jazz Camp teacher suggested that Kevin take a lesson with the Big Phat Band’s own Eric Marienthal. Kevin went on to study with Eric for the next 2 years, before leaving Los Angeles to study briefly at Berklee College of Music and at Santa Barbara City College. At age 20, Kevin began touring the world performing with Broadway Shows, on Cruise Lines, and with various jazz ensembles.
He returned to Los Angeles in 2005, where he has quickly become one of the most in demand saxophonists of his generation. Kevin’s credits include performing with such notables as Michael Brecker, James Moody, Patti Austin, Pete Christlieb, The Bill Holman Big Band, The Don Menza Big Band, Les Hooper’s Big Band, Chris Walden, Arturo Sandoval, and SuperSax.
On December 13, 2019 Kevin was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Germ Cell Cancer. Kevin put all his energy into beating this cancer and was determined to not let the cancer win. Immersing himself in all forms of research and clinical trial data related to this form of cancer. He was his own biggest advocate, proving to be an unstoppable force that surprised many of the medical teams and all those who joined forces with him to become #GarrenStrong.
In the short time Kevin was on this earth, he made a huge impact and his legacy will live on with many of us. He embodied the true meaning of what it takes to be a Titan. It is something that is earned and given to those few who are worthy to receive it. With all his talents in music, with his innovations in the woodwinds industry, his natural ability to make everyone feel accepted, and with his relentless determination to defeat cancer, Kevin proved again and again that he shared in the most rarified, admirable, and honorable of human characteristics – he was an artist, he was caring and loving, he had courage and resiliency, and he remained true to his nature of being modest and gracious. As someone recently said . . . the world lost a great Titan.
Kevin will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 17 years Cindi and their 14-year-old Labrador Retriever Astro. Kevin will be fondly remembered by his mother Deb Cardosa, his sisters Anita Garren, sister Julie Garren (Erik Peterson), and brothers James and Matt Garren. Kevin will be forever loved by his father and mother-in-law Doug and Peg Bukowski, his brother and sister-in-law Brent and Lisa Gacek, and his nephew and niece, Liam and London Gacek. Kevin will also be forever remembered by numerous extended family and dear friends. Kevin was predeceased by his father Bobby Joe Garren.
