Phil Upchurch


Philip Rodney Upchurch was an American guitarist and bass guitarist who has performed and recorded in musical styles including soul music, R&B, jazz and blues.
WWW philupchurch.com

Life and career

Upchurch was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 19, 1941. He started his career working with the Kool Gents, the Dells, and the Spaniels, before going on to work with Curtis Mayfield, Otis Rush, and Jimmy Reed. He then returned to Chicago to play and record with Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Groove Holmes, B.B. King, and Dizzy Gillespie.
In 1961, his record "You Can't Sit Down" by the Philip Upchurch Combo, sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. "You Can't Sit Down, Part 2" peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard charts in the US. In the 1960s, he toured with Oscar Brown, appearing on the 1965 live album, Mr. Oscar Brown, Jr. Goes to Washington. He played bass on The Staple Singers 1965 album Freedom Highway. In the mid-1960s, he was house guitarist of Chess Records and he played with The Dells, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Gene Chandler. He also played with John Lee Hooker, Grover Washington, Jr. and Cannonball Adderley. Upchurch was part of a group called The Soulful Strings during the 1960s, prior to working with the Rotary Connection on Chess's Cadet label.
In the 1970s, he worked with Donny Hathaway, Harvey Mason, Ramsey Lewis, Quincy Jones and led his own quartet with Tennyson Stephens. He met Bob Krasnow and Tommy LiPuma, the founders of Blue Thumb Records, and he released Darkness Darkness. Upchurch played on Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" and "The Ghetto". He also played guitar on Hathaway's Live album. In the mid-1970s and 1980s, he performed with George Benson, Mose Allison, Gary Burton, Lenny Breau, Joe Williams, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Carmen McRae, Cat Stevens, David Sanborn, and Michael Jackson. In the 1990s, he worked with Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff.
Upchurch died in Los Angeles, California, on November 23, 2025, at the age of 84.

Discography

As leader

You Can't Sit Down, Part Two The Big Hit Dances: The Twist... Feeling Blue: The Phil Upchurch Guitar Sound Upchurch with Donny Hathaway on piano.The Way I Feel with Donny Hathaway on piano.Darkness Darkness Lovin' Feeling Upchurch/Tennyson with Tennyson Stephens Phil Upchurch produced by John Tropea and George Benson.Free & Easy Revelation Name of the Game Companions issued as Paladin/Virgin PAL-4 for UK market.Phil Upchurch Presents L.A. Jazz Quintet with Brandon Fields, Bobby Lyle, Brian Bromberg, Harvey Mason.Dolphin Dance Midnite Blue compilation of JAM material.All I Want Whatever Happened To The Blues issued as Go Jazz VBR-2066 for Germany market.Love Is Strange Rhapsody & Blues Tell the Truth! produced by Carla Olson.Impressions Of Curtis Mayfield by Jazz Soul Seven produced by Brian Brinkerhoff; co-produced and arranged by Phil Upchurch; featuring Terri Lyne Carrington, Russ Ferrante, Master Henry Gibson, Bob Hurst, Wallace Roney, Phil Upchurch, Ernie Watts. .

With [the Soulful Strings]

Paint It Black Groovin' with the Soulful Strings Another Exposure The Magic of Christmas Back by Demand: The Soulful Strings in Concert String Fever Play Gamble-Huff The Best of the Soulful Strings compilation/2-LP set

As sideman

With Anita BakerChristmas Fantasy
With George BensonBad Benson Good King Bad Breezin' In Flight Livin' Inside Your Love
With Oscar Brown Jr.Mr. Oscar Brown Jr. Goes to Washington
With Peabo Bryson and Natalie ColeWe're the Best of Friends
With Dee ClarkRaindrops
With Natalie ColeUnpredictable I Love You So Holly & Ivy
With Bob DylanChristmas in the Heart
With Sheena EastonNo Strings
With Stan GetzWhat the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Burt Bacharach and Hal David
With Dizzy GillespieThe Real Thing
With Donny HathawayEverything Is Everything Donny Hathaway Live Extension of a Man
With Howlin' WolfThe Howlin' Wolf Album The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions with Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Steve Winwood, Ringo Starr, and others...
With Michael JacksonOff the Wall
With Dr. JohnAfterglow
With Chaka KhanChaka Naughty
With Hubert LawsThe Chicago Theme
With Ramsey LewisThem Changes
With Jack McDuffThe Natural Thing The Heatin' System Magnetic Feel Kisses
With Carmen McRaeFine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West
With Jimmy ReedJust Jimmy Reed Soulin' Big Boss Man Down in Virginia
With Minnie RipertonCome to My Garden Minnie
With Rotary ConnectionRotary Connection
With Ben SidranDon't Let Go
With Jimmy SmithStay Loose Prime Time Sum Serious Blues Dot Com Blues Black Cat
With Muddy WatersElectric Mud