Saxophonist Kenny G, 66, tries to stop spousal support as ‘tour opportunities dry up’

• Kenny G, 66, divorced his second wife Lyndie in 2013 after 21 years of marriage: the couple have two grown-up sons, Max and Noah
• In September 2021, he filed court documents to end the $40,000-a-month spousal support agreed upon in their divorce
• On Friday, the musician’s lawyers served Lyndie’s attorneys with court documents seeking to resolve his request, after months of wrangling over tax returns

Lawyers for Grammy-winning musician Kenny G filed legal documents Friday demanding that his ex-wife agree to end the $40,000 a month he’s been paying her, with the saxophonist claiming he can no longer afford it .

The 66-year-old musician, born in Seattle as Kenneth Gorelick, was married to Lyndie Benson for 21 years.

The couple divorced in 2013 and he agreed to pay her the high monthly fee.

But in September 2021, he filed documents claiming he could no longer keep sending her money, and on Friday, with the case unresolved, his lawyers served Benson’s lawyers.

“Kenny, who is now 65 years old, has paid spousal support to Lyndie for more than 9 years,” the original documents state.

‘Kenny is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist with a long successful career and more than 15 albums.

“However, as explained in the accompanying statement from Kenny, in the last 2-3 years Kenny’s touring opportunities, where he earns the most income, have not only declined, but his percentage of earnings from the tours has also declined.

‘Kenny’s income has declined significantly steadily since 2018.’

His legal team – led by high-profile divorce lawyer Laura Wasser – did not specify how much the musician was worth.

At the time of his divorce, he was widely reported to be worth $50 million.

He has paid his ex-wife $3.9 million since 2013, his lawyers noted.

“Lyndie is 57 years old and, to Kenny’s knowledge, in good health,” his attorneys wrote in their initial complaint.

Lyndie has refused to become fully self-sufficient for nearly 10 years.

‘Kenny should not continue to carry the burden of his refusal to do so.’

His lawyers note that she has launched a clothing company, Bleusalt, but refused to provide the financial documentation related to the company.

In May 2022, Forbes interviewed her and described it as a ‘burgeoning fashion brand’ of ‘Malibu-inspired chic essentials’.

She told the magazine: ‘I’ve always been obsessed with beautiful cashmere and head-to-toe outfits from Loro Piana and Bamford. Luxurious clothing that looked great on the beach for a bonfire and just as good when you were at Nobu for dinner.

‘So when I found the fabric and perfected it for Bleusalt, the inspiration was already fully realized in my daily life and aesthetic.’

He seeks to end the payments altogether or reduce them significantly.

He is also asking the court to lift the requirement that he maintain payments on a life insurance policy that was guaranteed during the divorce.

Kenny G is the best-selling instrumental artist of all time and next month will perform in Las Vegas.

With 11 platinum albums and eight others that have reached multi-platinum status, Kenny G is one of the most successful artists, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

He appeared on the soundtrack to The SpongeBob Movie and has collaborated with Kanye West and Katy Perry.

In 2021, HBO made a documentary about his life and music, Listening to Kenny G.

The following year, he appeared in a Super Bowl ad for Busch Light beer – his second Super Bowl ad, after appearing for Audi in 2011.

In 2022, he told Forbes that he didn’t mind being mocked for being everywhere.

“If I’m the butt of the joke, if it’s funny, I love it,” he says, recalling how the Wayne’s World movie had a dentist trade Novocaine for his music, how his music in South Park’ makes everyone pee in the pants. ,’ or how Saturday Night Live made fun of him for a duet he did with Frank Sinatra.

‘It doesn’t bother me because it’s really fun.’