George Duke RIP

[Gentle Giant]

Jazz keyboardist George Duke dies at 67
Aug. 6, 2013, 11:52 AM EST
By MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — George Duke, the Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist and producer whose sound infused acoustic jazz, electronic jazz, funk, R&B and soul in a 40-year-plus career, has died. He was 67.

A representative for Duke said the performer died Monday night in Los Angeles. Duke was being treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Duke's son, Rashid, thanked his father's fans in a statement Tuesday.

"The outpouring of love and support that we have received from my father's friends, fans and the entire music community has been overwhelming," he said. "Thank you all for your concern, prayers and support."

Duke was born in San Rafael, Calif. He appeared on a number of Frank Zappa albums and played in the Don Ellis Orchestra, Cannonball Adderley's band and with jazz musician Stanley Clarke. Duke also played keyboard on Michael Jackson's multiplatinum 1979 album, "Off the Wall."

Duke began taking piano lessons when he was 4 years old, after seeing Duke Ellington perform.

"I don't remember it too well ... but my mother told me I went crazy," Duke said on his website. "I ran around saying, 'Get me a piano, get me a piano!'"

Duke said he learned a lot about music from going to church, which helped him add a funk style to his sound. He played in high-school jazz groups and was heavily influenced by Miles Davis. He earned degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and San Francisco State University.

On tour as part of the George Duke Trio, he performed in Los Angeles at a show where Adderley, Zappa and Quincy Jones were in attendance. Duke soon joined Zappa on a tour for a year in 1969. He joined Adderley's band in 1971. He met Clarke through Adderley, and they formed the Clarke/Duke Project. Their song "Sweet Baby" was a Top 20 hit on the Billboard pop charts.

Duke became a solo artist in 1976 and released more than 30 solo albums. He also produced for Davis, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Natalie Cole.

Duke's wife, Corine, died from cancer last year. His latest album, "DreamWeaver," was released last month and features a touching tribute to her.

He worked as musical director for the Soul Train Music Awards and other special events. He also scored songs on soundtracks for "The Five Heartbeats" and "Karate Kid III."

[Ron Thorne]

Man, what a drag.

I didn't dig everything George did, but he had his moments, and the dude could definitely get funky.

He had a B.A. degree in composition and trombone.



R.I.P., George Duke~

[Chazro]

A year ago I took a day to try to 'follow' most of the musicians/bands on my pod via facebook. My FB page has become my personal daily music newsletter ever since. This morning it's full of personal messages from musicians across a wide spectrum paying tribute to George Duke. He was an inspriration and friend to so many.

RIP

[Mike Schwartz]

[This from Concord Music Group]

LEGENDARY KEYBOARD PIONEER GEORGE DUKE DIES AT 67



For Immediate Release – GRAMMY® Award-winning keyboardist/composer/arranger/producer George Duke has died in Los Angeles at age 67. He was battling and being treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).



With almost a half a century career, Duke was one of the world’s most prolific jazz legends. From leading a jazz trio with a young Al Jarreau during his formative years to working with Jean-Luc Ponty, which afforded Duke’s first recording contract with MPS Records and his first exposure to Europe, to his incredible work with Cannonball Adderley, drummer Billy Cobham, and Frank Zappa, to his cherished stream of jazz-funk records in the ’70s, Duke found his mark not only in his eclecticism, but also his signature approach to the synthesizer, which often prized less pyrotechnics in favor of blues elements.



“We are all devastated by the sad news of George’s passing,” says Mark Wexler, General Manager of the Concord-Telarc Label Group. “He was a great man, a legendary, one-of-a-kind artist; and our hearts go out to his family. George will be missed by all.”



“The outpouring of love and support that we have received from my father’s friends, fans and the entire music community has been overwhelming,” says Rashid Duke, George’s son. “Thank you all for your concern, prayers and support.”



Duke’s final recording, DreamWeaver, was released July 16, 2013 on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group. The making of DreamWeaver occurred after his wife, Corine, passed away. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart.

[steve(thelil)]

I didn't follow him much, but in my Mahavishnu-lovin days I thought his "The Aural Will Prevail" was breathtaking, and it might hold up as much as anything else from that era/genre.

[Gentle Giant]

I liked his playing a lot but own nothing of him as a leader. I guess I love him best in his Zappa years, as that was my favorite Zappa era and band. But he was such a prolific sideman and partner with fusion masters, especially Billy Cobham and Stanley Clarke, his prodigious skills were often in my ears, even if I didn't care for the more commercial stuff he did on his own.

[moldyfigg]

His playing was not my cuppa but I am always saddened when a player leaves us.

[Blue Train]

[Ron Thorne]

We had those Zappa recordings and Feel at K-Jazz when I worked there, and they both got airplay. John Heard, Ndugu (Leon Chancler), Airto and Flora were also on that record, in addition to Frank on a couple of tracks. Interesting recording.

Here's another cool track from that record. Ndugu is on a mission!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRPzVw_2c_g

[Ron Thorne]

Steve Grover reminded me of one of my favorite Cannonball albums with George in the piano chair, The Black Messiah, another record I spun a lot at K-Jazz. George Duke is playing Fender Rhodes (primarily) on this outing. And he kills!!

This is some very hip stuff in my opinion, and it's kicked off by a very memorable intro by local DJ, Rick Holmes.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2o_GQJPNRs

[BFrank]

Nice version of Light as a Feather from Flora's first Milestone album "Butterfly Dreams"
George holding down the Fender Rhodes & synths, with a little help from Stanley Clarke and Joe Hen, as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwmLNTq6fv4

[Jazzooo]

Eat That Question literally changed the way I thought about fusion keyboard playing. The perfect blend of jazz and rock for me.

[Mike Schwartz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW9gbLpLliU

[hornplayer]

He was somethin' else. R.I.P.

[Mike Schwartz]

Wasn't sure where to put this, but when I saw George Duke was in the house band and at the end credits he's the music director....enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUsg3WXJ2Cc