Jazz and R'n'B guitarist Cornell Dupree has died. He was 69.
- May 10, 2011
AceShowbiz - Cornell Dupree, who was recently diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, passed away on Sunday, May 8, in Fort Worth, Texas.
The musician was a session player for Miles Davis, Bill Withers, B.B. King, Ray Charles and James Brown, among others, and earned himself the nickname Mr. 2500 for the number of recording sessions he was said to have played.
At 19, he joined King Curtis' band The King Pins, playing alongside Jimi Hendrix before he was famous.
Dupree was also a member of Aretha Franklin's backing band from 1967-76 and can be heard on her album "Aretha Live at Fillmore West".
He co-founded the jazz-funk group Stuff, which went on to release a dozen albums and perform as Joe Cocker's backing band.
Dupree released 10 solo albums, with 1988's "Coast to Coast" receiving a Grammy nomination.
He is survived by his wife, Emma, according to Variety.
