Phil Upchurch Combo

Phil Upchurch (born 19 July 1941, Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz and R&B guitarist and bassist.

Upchurch started his career working with The Kool Gents, The Dells, and The Spaniels before going on to work with Curtis Mayfield, Otis Rush and Jimmy Reed. He then returned to Chicago to play and record with Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Groove Holmes, B.B. King, and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1961, when billed as the Philip Upchurch Combo, his recording of "You Can't Sit Down" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. In the 60's he toured with Oscar Brown, appearing on the 1965 live album, Mr. Oscar Brown, Jr. Goes to Washington. Returning from the Army in 1967, he recorded with Richard Evans, John Lee Hooker, Grover Washington, Jr. and Cannonball Adderley. Upchurch was part of a group called The Soulful Strings during the 1960s, prior to working with Rotary Connection on Chess's Cadet label.

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