Phil Upchurch

Philip Rodney Upchurch (July 19, 1941 – November 23, 2025) was an American guitarist and bass guitarist who performed and recorded in musical styles including soul music, R&B, jazz and blues.

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. 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. In the mid-1970s and 1980s, he performed with George Benson, 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 (Boyd/United Artists UAL-3162 mono and UAS-6162 stereo, 1961) The Big Hit Dances: The Twist... (United Artists UAL-3175 mono and UAS-6175 stereo, 1962) Feeling Blue: The Phil Upchurch Guitar Sound (Milestone 9010; OJC 1100, 1967) Upchurch (Cadet/Chess LPS-826, 1969) with Donny Hathaway on piano. The Way I Feel (Cadet/Chess/GRT LPS-840, 1970) with Donny Hathaway on piano.

Upchurch/Tennyson with Tennyson Stephens (Kudu/CTI KU-22, 1975) Phil Upchurch (Marlin/TK Records MAR-2209, 1978) produced by John Tropea and George Benson. Free & Easy (JAM [Jazz America Marketing] 007, 1981) Revelation (JAM 011, 1982) Name of the Game (JAM 018, 1983) Companions (JAM 021, 1984) issued as Paladin/Virgin PAL-4 for UK market. Phil Upchurch Presents L.A. Jazz Quintet (Pro Arte/Intersound 631, 1986) with Brandon Fields, Bobby Lyle, Brian Bromberg, Harvey Mason. Dolphin Dance (Sound Service 6177, 1987) Midnite Blue (Electric Bird/King [Japan] KICJ-53, 1991) compilation of JAM material. All I Want (Ichiban ICH-1127, 1991) Whatever Happened To The Blues (Ridgetop/Bean Bag/Go Jazz 55566; Go Jazz 6006, 1991) issued as Go Jazz VBR-2066 for Germany market. Love Is Strange (Ridgetop/Bean Bag/Go Jazz 55552; Go Jazz 6014, 1995) Rhapsody & Blues (Go Jazz 6035, 1999) Tell the Truth! (Evidence 22222, 2001) produced by Carla Olson. Impressions Of Curtis Mayfield by Jazz Soul Seven (BFM Jazz/Varese Sarabande 62413, 2012) 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. ["The album I'm most proud of", Phil Upchurch 2012].

With the Soulful Strings Paint It Black (Cadet/Chess LPS-776, 1966) Groovin' with the Soulful Strings (Cadet/Chess LPS-796, 1967) Another Exposure (Cadet/Chess LPS-805, 1968) The Magic of Christmas (Cadet/Chess LPS-814, 1968) Back by Demand: The Soulful Strings in Concert (Cadet/Chess LPS-820, 1969) String Fever (Cadet/Chess LPS-834, 1969) Play Gamble-Huff (Cadet/Chess/GRT LPS-846, 1971) The Best of the Soulful Strings (Cadet/Chess/GRT 2CA-50022, 1972) compilation/2-LP set

As sideman With Anita Baker Christmas Fantasy (Blue Note, 2005)

With George Benson Bad Benson (CTI, 1974) Good King Bad (CTI, 1975) Breezin' (Warner Bros., 1976) In Flight (Warner Bros., 1977) Livin' Inside Your Love (Warner Bros., 1979)

With Oscar Brown Jr. Mr. Oscar Brown Jr. Goes to Washington (Fontana, 1965)

With Peabo Bryson and Natalie Cole We're the Best of Friends (Capitol, 1979)

With Dee Clark Raindrops (Vee Jay, 1961)

With Natalie Cole Unpredictable (Capitol, 1977) I Love You So (Capitol, 1979) Holly & Ivy (Elektra, 1994)

With Bob Dylan Christmas in the Heart (Columbia, 2009)

With Sheena Easton No Strings (MCA, 1993)

With Stan Getz What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Burt Bacharach and Hal David (Verve, 1968)

With Dizzy Gillespie The Real Thing (Perception, 1969)

With Donny Hathaway Everything Is Everything (Atco, 1970) Donny Hathaway (Atco, 1971) Live (Atco, 1972) Extension of a Man (Atco, 1973)

With Howlin' Wolf The Howlin' Wolf Album (Cadet Concept, 1969) The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions (Chess, 1971) with Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Steve Winwood, Ringo Starr, and others...

With Michael Jackson Off the Wall (Epic, 1979)

With Dr. John

With Chaka Khan Chaka (Warner Bros., 1978) Naughty (Warner Bros., 1980)

With Hubert Laws The Chicago Theme (CTI, 1974)

With Ramsey Lewis Them Changes (Cadet/GRT, 1970)

With Jack McDuff The Natural Thing (Cadet, 1968) The Heatin' System (Cadet/GRT, 1971) Magnetic Feel (Cadet/GRT, 1975) Kisses (Sugar Hill, 1981)

With Carmen McRae Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West (Concord, 1987)

With Jimmy Reed Just Jimmy Reed (1962) Soulin' (BluesWay, 1967) Big Boss Man (BluesWay, 1968) Down in Virginia (BluesWay, 1969)

With Minnie Riperton Come to My Garden (GRT, 1970; Janus, 1974) Minnie (Capitol, 1979)

With Rotary Connection Rotary Connection (Cadet Concept, 1968)

With Ben Sidran

With Jimmy Smith Stay Loose (Verve, 1968) Prime Time (Milestone, 1989) Sum Serious Blues (Milestone, 1993)

Black Cat (Castle Pie, 2001)

With Muddy Waters Electric Mud (Cadet Concept, 1968) After The Rain (Cadet Concept, 1969)