My Take
Candy Dulfer is one of those musicians who makes you wonder why the saxophone ever got pigeonholed as a jazz-only instrument. Growing up in Amsterdam with her father Hans Dulfer — himself a serious jazz player — she had the instrument in her hands by age six, which honestly explains a lot. By fourteen she had her own band, and by the late '80s she was opening for Madonna on a European tour, which is a genuinely wild origin story. Her debut album Saxuality landed a Grammy nomination in 1990, and that smooth, funky, effortlessly cool sound she built there became her calling card. Decades on, she's still touring, still releasing records, and still playing with real joy — the kind of artist who reminds you that consistency and craft are underrated virtues.
Overview
Candy Dulfer (born 19 September 1969) is a Dutch jazz and pop saxophonist. She is the daughter of jazz saxophonist Hans Dulfer. She began playing at age six and founded her band Funky Stuff when she was fourteen. Her breakthrough came with her appearance as the opening act on Madonna's European tour in 1987. Her debut album Saxuality (1990) received a Grammy nomination.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Candy Dulfer
- Name (Japanese)
- キャンディ・ダルファー
- Reading
- きゃんでぃ・だるふぁー
- Born
- September 19, 1969 (age 56)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Rooster
- Origin
- Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- singer / saxophonist / jazz musician / television presenter / musician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- Golden Harp
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.