Phil Upchurch
A prolific guitarist who is comfortable playing blues, soul, R&B, and jazz, Phil Upchurch has been a prominent figure in Chicago music circles since the mid-'50s. He initially did freelance sessions with such musicians as Jerry Butler before becoming house guitarist for Chess. Upchurch's sensitive, often funky chording, riffs, and licks were heard on numerous releases by such artists as the Dells, Howlin' Wolf, Gene Chandler, and Muddy Waters. He frequently teamed with drummer Maurice White, who later headed Earth, Wind & Fire. He formed the Phil Upchurch Combo in the early '60s, and had a hit with the instrumental "You Can't Sit Down" in 1961. They did some follow-up singles, but none equaled the initial record's success. Upchurch did several soul-jazz and funk dates for such labels as Sue and Cadet in the mid- and late '60s. He signed with Blue Thumb in the '70s and split his time between sessions with the Crusaders and Ben Sidran and making his own albums. Tommy LiPuma produced Darkness, Darkness and Lovin' Feelin in 1972 and 1973. Upchurch did one LP for Creed Taylor's Kudu label in 1975, Upchurch Tennyson, with pianist/vocalist Tennyson Stephens. He returned to studio work, but recorded as a leader for Palladin in 1985, Ichiban in 1991, and Ridgetop in 1995 and 1997. He remains active as a session musician and bandleader, returning in 1999 with Rhapsody & Blues. Tell the Truth appeared in spring 2001.
© Ron Wynn /TiVo
Discography
13 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Whatever Happened to the Blues
Moderne jazz - Released by Go Jazz on 1 jan. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Love Is Strange
Moderne jazz - Released by Go Jazz on 9 jul. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lovin' Feeling (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 1 jan. 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Phil Upchurch
Jazz - Released by Stone Music Family, LLC on 17 mrt. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You Can't Sit Down
R&B - Released by Harkit Records on 3 mrt. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
TRULY
Lounge - Released by Wondervision Music, Inc. on 1 jan. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Classic Hit Dance Recordings
Soul - Released by Sleeping Giant Music on 29 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Phil Upchurch Combo Plays Big Hit Dances Complete Boyd and United Artists Recordings
Blues - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 12 dec. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You Can't Sit Down, Pt. 2
Soul - Released by Poppydisc on 10 feb. 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cha Cha Cha Blues
R&B - Released by Sunset Blvd. Records on 15 jun. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo