It's the moody sound and the symbol of urban cool, and it has always adapted well to a variety of sonic habitats, notably jazz, but also to soul, R&B and rock 'n' roll. And it originally came from the mind of a particularly single-minded Belgian.
About 167 years ago in Paris, musical instrument-maker, flautist and clarinetist, Adolphe Sax created the instrument for which he is now best known - the saxophone. It was patented in 1846, and went on to become one of the most popular and versatile musical instruments ever made.
The saxophone was first officially revealed to the public at an exhibition in Brussels in 1841, and from then on became hugely successful, firstly in Europe and then across the rest of the world.
Pioneering musical instrument forms was in the native Wallonian's genes. Adolphe's father, Charles-Joseph Sax, was also an instrument designer who made several significant changes to the design of the horn.
Adolphe began making his own instruments at an early age, entering two of his flutes and a clarinet in a competition at the age of 15.
He later began to experiment with instrument designs, while his father continued to produce conventional instruments.