Phil Upchurch

American jazz and R&B guitarist and bassist

Born: 19 July 1941
Chicago
Died: 23 November 2025
Los Angeles
Country: United States
Record labels: Milestone
Discography: 13 albums

Biography

Phil Upchurch was a jazz musician who played guitar, bass instrument and bass guitar. Phil Upchurch was born on 19 July 1941 in Chicago and died on 23 November 2025 in Los Angeles. The music is usually filed under jazz and blues. Record labels: Milestone. The discography here lists 13 albums, from “The Big Hit Dances” (1962) to “You Can't Sit Down” (2006).

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.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

The Big Hit Dances 1962 · United Artists Feeling Blue 1968 · Milestone The Way I Feel 1969 · Cadet Records Darkness, Darkness 1972 · Blue Thumb Records Lovin’ Feeling 1973 · Blue Thumb Records Free & Easy 1982 · Jazz America Marketing

Revelation 1982

Tribute To Otis Redding 1989

Whatever Happened to the Blues 1992

Tell the Truth! 2001

Upchurch / Tennyson 2003

You Can't Sit Down 2006

Love Is Strange

Also plays on

Albums where Phil Upchurch is credited as a sideman

1968	Stay Loose — Jimmy Smith	guitar
1968	The Natural Thing — Jack McDuff	guitar
1969	Another Voyage — Ramsey Lewis	guitar
1969	Gin and Orange — “Brother” Jack McDuff	bass
1970	The Real Thing — Dizzy Gillespie	electric bass guitar
1971	High Contrast — Gábor Szabó	electric bass guitar
1972	The Heatin’ System — Jack McDuff	bass
1973	Puttin' in Time on Planet Earth — Ben Sidran	bass, guitar
1974	Bad Benson — George Benson	guitar, percussion, electric bass guitar
1974	Heavy Exposure — Woody Herman	guitar
1974	Don't Let Go — Ben Sidran	bass, guitar, percussion
1975	Mister Magic — Grover Washington, Jr.	bass
1975	The Chicago Theme — Hubert Laws	guitar
1976	Breezin’ — George Benson	bass guitar, guitar
1977	In Flight — George Benson	guitar, bass guitar
1977	Funk in a Mason Jar — Harvey Mason	guitar
1977	The Doctor Is In — Ben Sidran	bass guitar
1978	Weekend in L.A. — George Benson	guitar
1978	Fire on Ice — Terry Callier	guitar
1979	Livin’ Inside Your Love — George Benson	guitar
1979	Groovin' You — Harvey Mason	guitar
1979	Heart String — Earl Klugh	electric guitar
1980	Naughty — Chaka Khan	guitar
1981	Crazy for You — Earl Klugh	electric guitar
1982	Live at the Savoy — Ramsey Lewis	guitar
1983	The Hunter — Joe Sample	guitar
1983	Wishful Thinking — Earl Klugh	electric guitar
1989	Prime Time — Jimmy Smith	guitar
1993	Sum Serious Blues — Jimmy Smith	guitar
1998	What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Bacharach and David — Stan Getz	guitar

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Phil Upchurch play?

Phil Upchurch is known for playing guitar, bass instrument and bass guitar.

When and where was Phil Upchurch born?

Phil Upchurch was born 19 July 1941 in Chicago.

What are Phil Upchurch's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include The Big Hit Dances (1962), Feeling Blue (1968), The Way I Feel (1969), Darkness, Darkness (1972) and Lovin’ Feeling (1973).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.