Kirk Whalum actually started out as a drummer early on, but once he switched to the saxophone, he was on his way to lauded success. His scholarship to Texas Southern U gave him the opportunity to study under Arnett Cobb, one of the fathers of the "big Texas Tenor sound." While touring with his own jazz group after graduating, Kirk was recruited into Bob James' touring band. This tenure lead to a recording deal with Columbia Records, which yielded five albums, including 1993's Cache, which remained #1 on the Jazz Charts for five weeks. Through the 80's and 90's, Kirk had the privilege of working with a number of artists such as Nancy Wilson, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, Quincy Jones, and Whitney Houston, who he toured with for seven years. In 1996, he collaborated with Bob James on Joined At The Hip, which was nominated for a Grammy. The following year, Kirk released his first solo album for Warner Bros., Colors. His next album, For You, charted on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts for over 65 weeks, with 53 of those weeks in the Top 10. In 1998, Kirk's first gospel project, The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter One, received Stellar and Dove nominations, and Unconditional, released in 2000, received two Grammy nominations. In 2002, Kirk released the critically acclaimed Gospel According to Jazz Chapter II, plus his collaboration effort with guitarist Norman Brown and trumpeter Rick Braun, Groovin', which topped the Smooth Jazz charts. In 2003, Kirk's, Into My Soul, paid homage to the soul influences of his native Memphis, TN. In total, Kirk Whalum has amassed seven Grammy nominations, a Dove nomination and a Stellar Award for Best Gospel Instrumental Album.

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