George Duke
George Duke showed a great deal of promise early in his career as a jazz pianist and keyboardist, but has forsaken that form to be a pop producer. Inspired early on by Les McCann, he worked with a trio in San Francisco during the mid-60s. In 1969, Duke accompanied Jean-Luc Ponty, recording with the violinist. After eight months with Don Ellis Orchestra, he joined Frank Zappa for much of 1970. Duke spent 1971-1972 with Cannonball Adderley and then returned to Zappa for 1973-1975. In 1975, he worked with Sonny Rollins, co-led a group with Billy Cobham, and then formed a funk band (the Clarke-Duke Project) with Stanley Clarke. By the late 70s, he was completely outside of jazz, playing R&B and producing projects for pop artists.
As a producer he worked consistently through the 70s and 80s with artists including Flora Purim (Carry On, 1979), Dee Dee Bridgewater (Bad For Me, 1979), The Blackbyrds (Better Days, 1980), Jeffrey Osborne (Jeffrey Osborne, 1982, Stay With Me Tonight, 1983 and Dont Stop, 1984), Rufus (Take It To The Top), Raul De Souza (Sweet Lucy and Dont Ask My Neighbours), Deniece Williams (Im So Proud, 1983, and Lets Hear It For The Boy, 1984), Angela Bofill (Tell Me Tomorrow, 1985), Seawind, Howard Hewett, Larry Graham, Smokey Robinson, Sister Sledge (Smile), Stephanie Mills, Anita Baker and 101 North.
As a session player he has recorded with numerous artists including Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, T-Connection, Airto and The Whispers.
He has also written a movie soundtrack, The Heavenly Kid, and a three-part opera which he hopes a record company will release one day along with music for a ballet that he wants to compose.
In 2000, he returned with a new album Cool, which was well received by the critics.
Discography:
Live in L.A. (Sunset 1971)
Feel (MPS 1974)
Faces in Reflection (MPS 1974)
I Love the Blues: She Heard My Cry (Polydor 1976)
The Aura Will Prevail (BASF 1976)
Liberated Fantasies (BASF 1976)
Live: On Tour in Europe (Atlantic 1976)
Solo Keyboard Album (Epic 1976)
Reach For It (Epic 1977)
From Me To You (Epic 1977)
Pacific Jazz (UA 1978)
Dont Let Go (Epic 1978)
Follow That Rainbow (Epic 1979)
Master of the Game (Epic 1979)
Brazilian Love Affair (Epic 1980)
Clarke/Duke Project, Vol. 1 (Epic 1981)
Clarke/Duke Project 2 (Epic 1983)
Secret Rendezvous (Epic 1983)
Guardian of the Light (Epic 1983)
Dream On (Epic 1991)
Snapshot (Warner Brothers 1992)
Muir Woods Suite (Warner Brothers 1993)
Three Originals (Polygram 1994)
Rendezvous (Sony 1995)
Illusions (Warner Brothers 1995)
Is Love Enough? (Warner Brothers 1997)
After Hours (Warner Brothers 1998)
Cool (Warner Brothers 2000)
Face The Music (Warner Brothers 2002)
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