Phil Upchurch

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Phil Upchurch (born 19 July 1941, Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz and R&B guitarist and bassist.

[edit] Life and work

Phil Upchurch began playing in R&B backing bands, including those of The Kool Gents, The Dells, and The Spaniels. He eventually formed the Phil Upchurch Combo, and their song "You Can't Sit Down" reached the US Top 30 in 1961 and the UK Top 40 on its reissue five years later. The band included:

Cornell Muldrow (organ)
David Brooks (saxophone)
Mac Johnson (trumpet)
Joe Hoddrick (drums)

Dee Clark used "You Can't Sit Down" as a theme song. Upchurch had his most successful collaboration with keyboardist Tennyson Stephens in the 1970s.

Upchurch later appeared on albums by Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Howlin' Wolf. In the 1970s Upchurch appeared on several fusion albums, including Grover Washington, George Benson and The Crusaders. One album in particular is George Benson's 1976 album, Breezin'. Phil Upchurch plays rhythm guitar, except for "Breezin'" and "Six to Four" where he plays bass. In the 1980s he appeared on Marlena Shaw's "Could It Be You". He has also collaborated with Chaka Khan, Booker T. Jones, Leroy Hutson and Michael Jackson.