From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Fri Jul 19, 2002  1:14 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Phil Upchurch
 
PHIL UPCHURCH

Born 19 July 1941, Chicago, Illinois

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 of
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 (# 29) 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.
A vocal version of "You Can't Sit Down" by the Dovells went to # 3 in 1963.
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 Diddley, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Howlin' Wolf, and in the
'70s guested on sessions for several fusion artists including Grover
Washington, George Benson and the Crusaders. His own work was
rather overshadowed by this workload while the artist's inventive style
was marred by an anonymity resulting from this plethora of supportive
roles. His most successful collaboration was with fellow Chicagoan,
Tennyson Stephens, a keyboardist whose vocals were important to the
duo's success in the R&B market in the mid-70s. Upchurch remains
active as a session musician and bandleader.