George Duke | |
|---|---|
 Duke in 1984photo: Ken Lubas,LA Times | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1946-01-12)January 12, 1946 San Rafael, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 5, 2013(2013-08-05) (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician,composer,musical director,producer,educator |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals,keyboards,keytar |
| Years active | 1966–2013 |
| Labels | |
| Website | georgeduke |
George Martin Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013)[3] was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a professor of music. He first made a name for himself with the albumThe Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. He is known for his 32 solo albums, as well as for his collaborations with other musicians likeStanley Clarke and (his cousin)Dianne Reeves, but particularly with composer, guitarist and bandleaderFrank Zappa.
George Martin Duke was born inSan Rafael, California, United States,[3] to Thadd Duke and Beatrice Burrell, and was raised inMarin City (CA). At four years of age, he became interested in the piano. His mother took him to seeDuke Ellington in concert and told him about this experience. "I don't remember it too well, but my mother told me I went crazy. I ran around saying 'Get me a piano, get me a piano!'" He began his formal piano studies at the age of seven at a local Baptist church.[4]
He attendedTamalpais High School inMill Valley (CA) before earning abachelor's degree intrombone andcomposition, with a minor incontrabass, from theSan Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1967.[4] He earned amaster's degree in composition fromSan Francisco State University in 1975.[5]
Although Duke started playing classical music, he credited his cousinCharles Burrell for convincing him to switch to jazz.[6][7] He explained that he "wanted to be free" and Burrell "more or less made the decision for me" by convincing him to "improvise and do what you want to do". He taught a course on jazz and American culture atMerritt College in Oakland.[4]
Duke recorded his first album in 1966. His second was with French violinistJean-Luc Ponty, with whom he performed in San Francisco. AfterFrank Zappa andCannonball Adderley heard him play, both invited him to join their bands. He spent two years with Zappa as a member ofThe Mothers of Invention, two years with Adderley, then returned to Zappa.[8] Zappa, who never played or recorded other than for his own projects, played guitar solos on Duke's albumFeel (1974), after Duke joined him on nine of his albums and toured with the Mothers. In 1975 he recorded with his original drummerPete Magadini the albumPolyrhythm on Ibis Recordings. He recordedI Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry with Zappa's bandmatesRuth Underwood,Tom Fowler, andBruce Fowler[9] and jazz guitaristLee Ritenour.[10]
Duke occasionally recorded under the name Dawilli Gonga,[11] possibly for contractual reasons, when appearing on other artists' albums.[12]
In 1977, Duke fused jazz with pop, funk, and soul music on his albumFrom Me to You. Later, that same year, his albumReach for It entered the pop charts, and his audiences increased. In 1981, he began a collaboration with bassistStanley Clarke that would last through the 1980s, which combined pop, jazz, funk, andR&B.Their first album contained the single "Sweet Baby",[13][14] which became aTop 20 pop hit, reaching Number 19 on theBillboard MagazineHot 100 and Number 6 on theR&B charts.Ref missing
During the 1980s, Duke's career moved to a second phase as he spent much of his time as a record producer. He produced pop and R&B hits forA Taste of Honey,Jeffrey Osborne, andDeniece Williams. His clients includedAnita Baker,Rachelle Ferrell,Everette Harp,Gladys Knight,Melissa Manchester,Barry Manilow,The Pointer Sisters,Smokey Robinson,Seawind, andTake 6.[8]
Duke worked as musical director at the 1988Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert atWembley Stadium in London. In 1989, he temporarily replacedMarcus Miller as musical director of NBC's late-night music performance programSunday Night during its first season.[15][16] He was a judge for the second annualIndependent Music Awards (AIM).[17]
He died on August 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, at the age of 67 fromchronic lymphocytic leukemia.[18][19][20]
TheGrammy Awards are awarded annually by theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Duke has received two awards out of nine nominations.[21]
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | The Clarke/Duke Project | Nominated |
| 1985 | Best Recording for Children | "We Are the World (single)" | Nominated |
| 1990 | "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)" | Fumilayo (track) | Nominated |
| 1998 | Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) | "The Look of Love (track)" | Nominated |
| Best Contemporary Jazz Performance | "After Hours" | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album | "Cool" | Nominated |
| Best Jazz Vocal Album | "In the Moment – Live in Concert" | Won | |
| 2001 | Best Jazz Vocal Album | "The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan" | Won |
| 2005 | Best Pop Instrumental Performance | "T-Jam" | Nominated |
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Contemporary Black Gospel Album | Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration[22] | Won |
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group | Won[22] |
Duke was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall of Fame atSoulMusic.com[23]
Al Jarreau recorded the tribute albumMy Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke (Concord, 2014) with songs written by Duke. Appearing on the album wereGerald Albright,Stanley Clarke,Dr. John,Lalah Hathaway,Boney James,Marcus Miller,Jeffrey Osborne,Greg Phillinganes,Kelly Price,Dianne Reeves, andPatrice Rushen. The album received the 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album.[24]
