On Nov. 23, legendary guitarist Phil Upchurch died at the age of 84. The cause of death was not revealed. Shortly after his passing, Upchurch's wife, Sonya Maddox-Upchurch, released a statement about her late husband.
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"Phil Upchurch was my personal gift from God, he was my best friend, my music partner, my life, and my hero," Maddox-Upchurch said. "Our love was supernatural, endless, timeless and as true as his favorite color blue. He was a master of chords and emotions. Anything that he placed his mind to complete — he did it. Well done my love. I love you more than words can say and the heart can hold."
Upchurch's musical career dates back to the 60s, when, fresh out of a two-year stint in the army, he began working as a session musician at Chess Records in Chicago. During those sessions, Upchurch collaborated with some heavyweights of their time, including Muddy Waters, Ramsey Lewis and Etta James.
His career then began to take off, and throughout the years, he recorded almost 30 albums and appeared on more than 1,000 recordings. His love for music guided him and allowed him to become one of the greatest guitar players in history.
Phil Upchurch Worked With Legends and Produced Timeless Classics
When you're one of the best at what you do, it's inevitable that others want to surround themselves with your greatness, and that was especially true for Upchurch. During his career, he worked with heavyweights such as Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan and Hathaway.
Some notable releases included the timeless classic "I'm Every Woman," along with "Workin' Day And Night," and "This Christmas."
Upchurch's library is both deep and versatile. His work ethic knew no bounds. If he wasn't featuring on another artist's track, he was working on his own music, such as the 1969 hit "Crosstown Traffic" or "The Way I Feel" from 1970.
After such an iconic career, Upchurch has left a piece of himself behind so that we can all remember him and his talent. He lives on in the thousands of musical hours he's left behind. Because, in truth, all any of us can hope for is that we leave a legacy, and in Upchurch's case, that legacy can be felt in every corner of the globe, such was his success, dedication and passion.
