By Jim Farber / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Duke played with the likes of Frank Zappa, Michael Jackson, George Clinton, Anita Baker and Regina Belle.
George Duke,
the master keyboardist who bridged the worlds of jazz, R&B, funk,
and Brazilian music, died Monday at St John’s Hospital in Los Angeles.
He was 67.
No cause was given.
Duke’s passing comes just over a year after the death of his wife, Corine, from cancer last July. The keyboardist dedicated his just-released album, “DreamWeaver,” to her memory.
PHOTOS: STARS GONE TOO SOON
In a career that spanned more than 40 years, Duke worked with stars
including Michael Jackson, on 1979’s “The Wall,” Miles Davis, producing
and composing tracks on several key albums of the ‘80s, and Frank Zappa, with whom he appeared on “Mothers of Invention” albums from 1970 through the early ‘90s.
Duke, who was born in San Rafael, Calif., studied trombone, contrabass
and composition at the San Francisco Conservatory, where he graduated in
1967. But his made his name expressing himself on a wide variety of
keyboards, from acoustic piano to clavinet to all manner of
synthesizers. He became a key player in the development of jazz-fusion
in the late ‘60s, particularly after collaborating with violinist
Jean-Luc Ponty. The release of their joint album, “The Jean-Luc Ponty
Experience with The George Duke Trio,” cemented his reputation in 1969.
Duke veered into the avant-garde through his work with Zappa, which began with 1970’s “Chunga’s Revenge.” He also appeared in the Zappa movie “200 Motels” in 1971 and played on important Mothers’ albums like “Over-Nite Sensation” and “Apostrophe.”
PHOTOS: IN MEMORIAM: STARS WE'VE LOST IN 2013
Duke made major waves in the R&B world by collaborating with
musicians from George Clinton to Anita Baker to Regina Belle. In the
‘70s, he established his deep connection to Brazilian music, recording
and performing with Milton Nascimento, Flora Purim, and Airto Moreira.
In the hip-hop world, the keyboarist’s songs have been sampled by acts from Daft Punk to Kanye West to Ice Cube.
Duke issued more than 40 albums under his own name, some in collaboration with drummer Billy Cobham or bassist Stanley Clarke. Throughout his career, Duke had the ability to make synthetic instruments — like the ARP Odyssey and Prophet 5 — sound soulful. His playing could be sensitive or disruptive, but in any guise, it showed total command.
He is survived by two sons, Rasheed and John. Funeral services will be private.
Upon hearing the news of his passing, jazz flutist Bobi Humphrey posted on her Facebook page, “George Duke! Forty years, my friend! Heaven! A little bit funkier!”
No cause was given.
Duke’s passing comes just over a year after the death of his wife, Corine, from cancer last July. The keyboardist dedicated his just-released album, “DreamWeaver,” to her memory.
PHOTOS: STARS GONE TOO SOON
Tom Copi
Jazz keyboardist George Duke, pictured in 1960, died Monday at St John’s Hospital in Los Angeles.
Duke veered into the avant-garde through his work with Zappa, which began with 1970’s “Chunga’s Revenge.” He also appeared in the Zappa movie “200 Motels” in 1971 and played on important Mothers’ albums like “Over-Nite Sensation” and “Apostrophe.”
PHOTOS: IN MEMORIAM: STARS WE'VE LOST IN 2013
Gallo Images/Getty Images
George Duke performs on stage during the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz 2007 festival in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In the hip-hop world, the keyboarist’s songs have been sampled by acts from Daft Punk to Kanye West to Ice Cube.
Duke issued more than 40 albums under his own name, some in collaboration with drummer Billy Cobham or bassist Stanley Clarke. Throughout his career, Duke had the ability to make synthetic instruments — like the ARP Odyssey and Prophet 5 — sound soulful. His playing could be sensitive or disruptive, but in any guise, it showed total command.
He is survived by two sons, Rasheed and John. Funeral services will be private.
Upon hearing the news of his passing, jazz flutist Bobi Humphrey posted on her Facebook page, “George Duke! Forty years, my friend! Heaven! A little bit funkier!”
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