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 <a href="spotify:artist:0U2mUJuJkthantMGmsJygP">Jerry Butler</a> before becoming house guitarist for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Chess%22">Chess</a>. Upchurch's sensitive, often funky chording, riffs, and licks were heard on numerous releases by such artists as <a href="spotify:artist:0wbrRIw2po5DV4LeaHw55S">the Dells</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0Wxy5Qka8BN9crcFkiAxSR">Howlin' Wolf</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:52uMkSFt2RVO6XxTEt5VeW">Gene Chandler</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4y6J8jwRAwO4dssiSmN91R">Muddy Waters</a>. He frequently teamed with drummer <a href="spotify:artist:6T46cZo3M8wXq5eOoXbZBx">Maurice White</a>, who later headed <a href="spotify:artist:4QQgXkCYTt3BlENzhyNETg">Earth, Wind & Fire</a>. 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 <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sue%22">Sue</a> and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Cadet%22">Cadet</a> in the mid- and late '60s. He signed with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Blue+Thumb%22">Blue Thumb</a> in the '70s and split his time between sessions with <a href="spotify:artist:3Bhgbs9kIwl8SuU0eIqN6b">the Crusaders</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4FVlx0LkBCw52txBL8QVDl">Ben Sidran</a> and making his own albums. Tommy LiPuma produced Darkness, Darkness and Lovin' Feelin in 1972 and 1973. Upchurch did one LP for <a href="spotify:artist:26wgGfiLU6HFdl5ZPo10ev">Creed Taylor</a>'s Kudu label in 1975, Upchurch Tennyson, with pianist/vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:4Ze7z33ghbIqy0gQtaP7sg">Tennyson Stephens</a>. He returned to studio work, but recorded as a leader for Palladin in 1985, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ichiban%22">Ichiban</a> in 1991, and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ridgetop%22">Ridgetop</a> 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, Rovi