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.
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
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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!'
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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.
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)
$500 Thousand
