Sandy Hook Dad Jimmy Greene Uses Soprano Sax For Daughter’s Voice

Jimmy Greene's "Beautiful Life" album cover

Jazz saxophonist Jimmy Greene and his wife Nelba Márquez-Greene lost their six-year-old daughter Ana Márquez-Greene on December 14, 2012. She was one of the 20 children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Since losing Ana, Greene has channeled his grief into his music. His 2014 album Beautiful Life — inspired by Ana — is nominated for two Grammy Awards.

[Jimmy Greene’s Beautiful Life is available on Amazon]

Beautiful Life includes the songs “Ana’s Way“, “Little Voices” and “Seventh Candle,” which symbolizes the seventh candle Greene will never be able to put on his daughter’s birthday cake. For “Seventh Candle,” Greene used a soprano saxophone because it is closest in range to Ana’s voice. The Grammy Awards ceremony will air on February 15 (8pm, CBS). The eve before the Grammys, 60 Minutes will air its interview with Jimmy Greene and his wife Nelba – February 14, 7pm on CBS.