b. 11 June 1969, Copenhagen, Denmark. His grandfather was popular Danish bandleader Otto Lington, who encouraged Michael in his choice of a career. Playing clarinet from the age of seven and studying classical music as a youth, he switched to tenor saxophone as his principal instruments in his early teens under the influence of jazz saxophonists such as Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane and David Sanborn. He played professionally in Denmark, working mainly in pop and touring Scandinavia and northern Europe. In 1990, Lington relocated to Los Angeles, where he worked with artists as diverse as Little Richard and Gary ‘U.S.’ Bonds. He also toured internationally with Randy Crawford and enjoyed a prominent role when accompanying singer Bobby Caldwell from 1994-98.
Drawing his music from contemporary pop and the smoother end of the R&B spectrum, Lington moved comfortably into the smooth jazz genre. Among musicians with whom he is closely associated are Brian Culbertson and Dave Koz, the latter being co-owner of Lington’s label, Rendezvous Records. Caldwell appeared on Lington’s 1997 debut from which the single, ‘Tell It Like It Is’, reached the National Arts Centre Top 10 and the Billboard Top 20. From 2004’s Stay With Me, which spent 24 weeks in the Billboard charts, came the successful singles ‘Show Me’, ‘Two Of A Kind’ and ‘Pacifica’. Lington occasionally returns to Denmark and these visits included an appearance at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Frederick.
