Nigerian afrobeat legend , and son of the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Femi Kuti has broken the world record for the longest single note held on a saxophone. Until 2000, the record was previously held by Kenny G who set his record back in 1997 for holding on the E-flat key for 45 minutes, using the “circular breathing” technique. He then lost the world record to fellow American, Vann Burchfield who set a new record using same technique to hold a note for 47 minutes, 5.5 seconds.
Femi Kuti had attempted to break the record early May 2017 after he went pass Kenny G’s record, but his information was wrong, leading to his ultimately successful second attempt on 14 May, 2017 at the New Africa Shrine, Lagos.
The Guinness Book of World Records is traditionally expected to issue a certificate for the feat once the claim is verified.
Femi Kuti is listed on Wikipedia among only 37 saxophonists renowned for the “circular breathing” technique.
