Phil Upchurch, Guitarist and Composer for Michael Jackson and Curtis Mayfield, Dies at 84

Phil Upchurch, the revered guitarist whose foundational playing enriched recordings by legends ranging from Michael Jackson to Chaka Khan, passed away on November 23 in Los Angeles at the age of 84. His extraordinary career, spanning more than sixty years, positioned him as a quintessential session musician, contributing to an estimated 1,000 recordings. This prolific output was matched by a nearly 30-album solo discography and iconic performances on tracks like Khan's 1978 chart-topper "I'm Every Woman" and Jackson's "Workin' Day and Night" from the seminal 1979 album "Off the Wall."

Raised in Chicago by a jazz pianist father, Upchurch first picked up a ukulele at 13, a starting point that led to mastery of guitar and bass, heavily influenced by jazz pianists such as Oscar Peterson. Following high school, he toured with the doo-wop act The Spaniels. His musical path was temporarily paused for service as a U.S. Army radio reporter in Germany during the mid-1960s, an experience that honed his technical ear.

Upon returning to Chicago's vibrant studio circuit, Upchurch became one of its most sought-after instrumentalists. His versatility allowed him to move fluidly between genres, lending his guitar and bass to jazz artists like Ramsey Lewis, blues titans Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, and pivotal soul figures. He was a consistent presence on all of Donny Hathaway's solo albums and contributed to several Curtis Mayfield film scores, including the landmark "Superfly" soundtrack. His own 1961 instrumental hit, "You Can't Sit Down," remains a classic example of his groove-centric artistry and influenced a generation of funk and soul musicians.

Beyond the studio, Upchurch shaped future players through two instructional books and was in the process of writing his autobiography. His unique skill set, as music historian Dr. Lena Shaw notes, "lay in synthesizing jazz harmony, blues phrasing, and pop sensibility, making him a behind-the-scenes architect of the classic soul and R&B era." This adaptability ensured his sound became an integral, if sometimes overlooked, thread in American music history. He is survived by his wife, Sonya.