Editing Rahsaan Roland Kirk (section)

== Life ==
Ronald Theodore Kirk<ref name="Grove" /> was born in [[Columbus, Ohio]],<ref name="LarkinGE"/> where he lived in a neighborhood known as [[Flytown]]. He became blind at two years old, which he said was a result of improper medical treatment. As a teenager, Kirk studied at the [[Ohio State School for the Blind]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> By 15, he was on the road playing rhythm and blues on weekends with Boyd Moore's band. According to saxophonist [[Hank Crawford]], "He would be like this 14-year-old blind kid playing two horns at once. They would bring him out and he would tear the joint up." Crawford heard him during this period and said he was unbelievable. He remarked, "Now they had him doing all kinds of goofy stuff but he was playing the two horns and he was playing the shit out of them. He was an original from the beginning."<ref name=Heining>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/roland-kirk-here-comes-the-whistleman-roland-kirk-by-duncan-heining.php |title=Roland Kirk: Here Comes The Whistleman|website=[[All About Jazz]]|first=Duncan|last= Heining|date= October 19, 2016|access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref> Kirk felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make "Roland".<ref name=Heining />{{Failed verification|date=November 2024}} In 1970, Kirk added "Rahsaan" to his name after hearing it in a dream.<ref name=Giddins>[[Gary Giddins|Giddins, Gary]] (2000), "Chapter 47: Rahsaan Roland Kirk (One Man Band)", ''Visions of Jazz: The First Century''. Oxford University Press.</ref>

Kirk was politically outspoken. During his concerts, between songs he often talked about topical issues, including [[African-American history]] and the [[Civil Rights Movement]]. His monologues were often laced with satire and absurdist humor. According to comedian [[Jay Leno]], when Leno toured with Kirk as Kirk's opening act, Kirk would introduce him by saying: "I want to introduce a young brother who knows the black experience and knows all about the white devils.... Please welcome Jay Leno!"<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCaXb0Fi4HEC&q=leno+%22rahsaan+roland+kirk%22&pg=PT132|title=Satiristas: Comedians, Contrarians, Raconteurs & Vulgarians|last=Provenza|first=Paul|author2=Dan Dion|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2010|isbn=978-0061859342|page=s368}}</ref>{{rp|109}}

In 1975, Kirk had a major stroke which led to partial paralysis of one side of his body.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> He continued to perform and record, modifying his instruments to enable him to play with one arm.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> At a live performance at [[Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club]] in London he even managed to play two instruments, and carried on to tour internationally and to appear on television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/26e696f79975401f8b8677dd8b766e88|title=Newcastle Jazz Festival|work=Genome Radio Times 1923–2009|date=13 November 1976 |publisher=BBC|access-date= October 31, 2017}}</ref>

He died from a second stroke in 1977, aged 42, the morning after performing in the Frangipani Room of the [[Indiana University]] Student Union in [[Bloomington, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite journal|date= December 22, 1977|title=Recalling Jazzman Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dead At 41|journal=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=53|issue=14|pages=14–15|issn=0021-5996}}</ref>

Columbus Mayor [[Jack Sensenbrenner]] had declared Saturday, Dec. 10, 1970, "Rahsaan day," according to the Columbus Dispatch obituary that appeared on Thursday, Dec. 8, 1977.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 8, 1977 |title=Kirk (Obituary) |pages=34 |work=Columbus Dispatch |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GZLz1lHNgljuSevXazgNw0qZozjJmmbk/view?usp=sharing |access-date=March 17, 2023}}</ref>

Kirk's hometown of Columbus was not appreciative of his work for most of his career. He was thrown out of a local nightclub because his music was too difficult to understand, and he left for Los Angeles and further touring. In the 21st century, jazz fans in Columbus have been embracing his legacy.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2023/05/25/musician-rahsaan-roland-kirk-one-of-columbus-ohios-greatest-artists/70259023007/ | title=The Forgotten Colossus: Rahsaan Roland Kirk is Little-Known, Even in His Hometown }}</ref>