Biography
19 July 1941, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Although this excellent guitarist later became a respected session musician, his name is synonymous with ‘You Can’t Sit Down’, a propulsive two-part instrumental recorded with his group, the Phil Upchurch Combo. The band, with Upchurch on guitar, comprised Cornell Muldrow (organ), David Brooks (saxophone), Mac Johnson (trumpet) and Joe Hoddrick (drums). Muldrow wrote the tune and had recorded an earlier version. ‘You Can’t Sit Down’ reached the US Top 30 in 1961 and the UK Top 40 on its reissue five years later. However, its influence was felt far beyond such placings, as the tune became a staple part of almost every budding US fraternity or bar band. Upchurch began playing in R&B backing bands, including those of the Kool Gents, the Dells, the Spaniels and for Dee Clark, who used ‘You Can’t Sit Down’ as a theme song. He later appeared on releases by Bo...
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