Jazz clarinetist Rolf Kühn was born in Cologne, Germany on September 29, 1929.
The older brother of pianist Joachim Kühn, he was born into a Jewish family and
grew up in Leipzig, Germany. In 1937, he studied piano and composition before
moving to the clarinet in 1941. Eventually, he also learned to play the
saxophone and, in 1950, he joined the RIAS-Tanzorchester (RIAS Dance Orchestra).
After winning competitions in Europe, he relocated to New York in 1956. He met
producer John Hammond, who helped him land a deal with Vanguard Records and
release his debut album, Streamline (1956...