George Duke Wiki Biography
George Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a professor of music. He first made a name for himself with the album The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. He was known primarily for thirty-odd solo albums as well as for his collaborations with other musicians, particularly Frank Zappa.
| Full Name | George Duke |
| Net Worth | $500 Thousand |
| Date Of Birth | January 12, 1946 |
| Died | 2013-08-05 |
| Place Of Birth | San Rafael, California, U.S. |
| Profession | Music Department, Soundtrack, Composer |
| Education | Tamalpais High School, San Francisco State University, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, No Rhyme, No Reason, Sweet Baby, Reach For It |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Corine Duke |
| Children | Rashid Duke, John Duke, No Rhyme, No Reason, Sweet Baby, Reach For It |
| IMDB | http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241183 |
| Awards | Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Soul Train Music Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance (CENTRICTV.com), No Rhyme, No Reason, Sweet Baby, Reach For It |
| Nominations | Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist, No Rhyme, No Reason, Sweet Baby, Reach For It |
| Movies | 200 Motels, Casino Lights ’99, George Duke Band: Live: Tokyo, Japan 1983, Kirk Whalum: The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter 2, We Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song, The Montreux Dream |
| Quote | |
|---|---|
| 1 | I really think it’s possible (and still do) to make good music and be commercial at the same time. I believe it is the artist’s responsibility to take the music to the people. Art for art’s sake is nice; but if art doesn’t communicate, then its worth is negated. It has not fulfilled its destiny. |
| 2 | [on being told he could study music] I don’t remember it too well, but my mother told me I went crazy. I ran around saying, ‘Get me a piano! Get me a piano!’ |
| Fact | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Resident pianist at the Half Note, 1965-67. |
| 2 | Graduated with a Bachelor in Music from San Francisco Conservatory in 1967. |
| 3 | Joined Frank Zappa’s group in 1970. |
| 4 | He grew up listening to gospel music in the church his family attended. |
| 5 | He and wife Corine had two sons, John and Rashid. |
| 6 | Cousin of Dianne Reeves. |
Music Department
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celebration of Gospel | 2003 | TV Movie musical director | |
| Malcolm & Eddie | 1996-2000 | TV Series composer – 89 episodes | |
| The 1998 Soul Train Christmas Starfest | 1998 | TV Movie music director | |
| Leap of Faith | 1992 | music producer: gospel songs and choir | |
| Sunday Night | 1989 | TV Series musical director – 1 episode | |
| Soul Train | 1987-1988 | TV Series documentary music producer – 2 episodes | |
| The Heavenly Kid | 1985 | music producer: songs | |
| 200 Motels | 1971 | music performer: Mothers of Invention |
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd’s Pop Song Reviews | 2014 | TV Series documentary writer – 1 episode | |
| Footloose | 2011 | producer: “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” | |
| Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 | 2006 | Video Game performer: “Brazilian Sugar” / writer: “Brazilian Sugar” | |
| Never Die Alone | 2004 | writer: “Cold Wind” | |
| Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem | 2003 | as G. Duke, “Digital Love” / performer: “Digital Love” / writer: “Digital Love” | |
| Bruce Almighty | 2003 | producer: “Ready for a Miracle” | |
| Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball | 2003 | Video Game performer: “Brazilian Sugar” | |
| Bertelsen – DR2s talkshow | 1999 | TV Series writer – 1 episode | |
| Cats Don’t Dance | 1997 | arranger: “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” / producer: “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” | |
| Bulletproof | 1996 | writer: “I Wanna Know Your Name” | |
| The Meteor Man | 1993 | producer: “IS IT JUST TOO MUCH” | |
| Leap of Faith | 1992 | arranger: “Jesus on the Mainline”, “Pass Me Not” / performer: “Pass Me Not” / producer: “Ready for a Miracle”, “Blessed Assurance”, “Lord Will Make a Way Somehow”, “God Said He Would See You Through”, “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”, “God Will Take Care of You”, “It’s a Highway to Heaven”, “Jesus on the Mainline”, “Pass Me Not”, “Bringing in the Sheaves”, “Psalm 27”, “Amazing Grace” | |
| The Five Heartbeats | 1991 | producer: “I Love Joey”, “Are You Ready for Me”, “Nothing But Love”, “Baby Stop Running Around”, “A Heart Is a House for Love”, “Nights Like This”, “Down for the Count”, “In the Middle”, “Amazing Grace” | |
| The Magic of David Copperfield 10: The Bermuda Triangle | 1988 | TV Special producer: “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” | |
| Spaceballs | 1987 | producer: “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” | |
| The Magic of David Copperfield IX: The Escape from Alcatraz | 1987 | TV Special producer: “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” | |
| The Heavenly Kid | 1985 | “When The Children Make The Mighty Fall” / performer: “Hamburgers” / writer: “The Heavenly Kid Out On The Edge”, “Hamburgers”, “Cruisin’ Tonight”, “Mean To Me” | |
| The Magic of David Copperfield VII: Familiares | 1985 | TV Special producer: “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” | |
| Summer Lovers | 1982 | producer: “Summer Lovers” |
Composer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D | 2012 | Documentary short original score and music | |
| Jacob’s Trouble | 2006 | Short | |
| The 10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards | 2005 | TV Special | |
| Never Die Alone | 2004 | ||
| Good Fences | 2003 | TV Movie | |
| Count on Me | 1994 | TV Movie | |
| A Cool Like That Christmas | 1993 | TV Movie |
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malcolm & Eddie | 1996 | TV Series | Member of Musical Combo |
| Generations | 1989 | TV Series | Johnny (1989) |
| 200 Motels | 1971 | Member of Mothers of Invention |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roxy the Movie | 2015 | Documentary rest in peace |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roxy the Movie | 2015 | Documentary | Himself – Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals |
| International Jazz Day | 2015 | Himself | |
| The 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony | 2014 | TV Movie | Himself (In Memoriam) (credit only) |
| As Written: Jeffery Osborne | 2013 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Unsung | 2009-2012 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Down the Rhodes: The Fender Rhodes Story | 2011 | Documentary | Himself |
| Na plovárne | 2010 | TV Series | Himself |
| 21st Annual Soul Train Music Awards | 2007 | TV Special | Himself |
| Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Showcase | 2006 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Barend en Van Dorp | 2004 | TV Series | Himself – Performer |
| Frank Zappa: Phase II – The Big Note | 2002 | Documentary | Himself |
| Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night | 1998 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Midnight Mac | 1995 | TV Series | Himself |
| Soul Train | 1989-1995 | TV Series documentary | Guest |
| Comic Relief VI | 1994 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Miles Davis & Quincy Jones: Live at Montreux | 1993 | Video | Himself |
| Ebony/Jet Showcase | 1993 | TV Series | Himself |
| Ein Leben als Extravaganza – Das Genie Frank Zappa | 1993 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The 5th Annual Soul Train Music Awards | 1991 | TV Special | Himself – Performer |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | 1989-1990 | TV Series | Himself |
| Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa | 1990 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Dionne and Friends | 1990 | TV Series | Himself |
| Sunday Night | 1988-1989 | TV Series | Himself |
| The True Story of Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels | 1988 | Video documentary | Himself |
| The 2nd Annual Soul Train Music Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Himself – Performer |
| The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Himself |
| Video from Hell | 1985 | Video | Himself |
| American Bandstand’s 33 1/3 Celebration | 1985 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Dub Room Special! | 1984 | Video | Himself |
| New American Bandstand 1965 | 1982 | TV Series | Himself |
| Solid Gold | 1981 | TV Series | Himself |
| Lou Rawls Parade of Stars | 1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| Vernissage | 1976 | TV Series documentary | Himself – Musician |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words | 2016 | Documentary | Himself |
| The 56th Annual Grammy Awards | 2014 | TV Special | Himself – Jazz Keyboardist / Producer (In Memoriam) |