American jazz fusion band
Spyro Gyra was formed in 1974 in Buffalo, New York; of the five founding members, saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Tom Schuman remain. The band made its breakthrough with their second album, 1979’s platinum-selling
Morning Dance. It contains two of their best-known songs; the title track and
Song For Lorraine. To date, Spyro Gyra have released over 30 albums and sold over 10 million copies, combining R&B and elements of pop and Caribbean music with jazz.
Billboard named them the most successful jazz artist of the 1980s. Through the years, the lineup has fluctuated but Beckenstein and Schuman remained at its core, keeping the group's signature sound intact. The current lineup also features bassist Scott Ambush, guitarist Julio Fernandez, and Lionel Cordew on drums.