His name and face might not grace many album covers, but Cornell Dupree's guitar playing has touched millions of people. The funky two-note string pop at the beginning of Aretha Franklin's "Respect," the serene lead and refrain on King Curtis' "Soul Serenade," even the rhythmic underpinnings on Mariah Carey's Emotions album -- they're all the work of Dupree. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. In a remarkable career now entering its fifth decade, Dupree has played on an estimated 2,000-plus albums, and worked with a staggering list of artists that includes James Brown, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, Elvin Jones, B.B. King, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Paul Simon and Barbra Streisand. Also known by guitar fans around the world for his work with the instrumental funk combos Stuff and the Gadd Gang – his unique, funky fat-back rhythm and blues meets jazz style is in a class of its own. This CD release of the rare late 70’s sessions he did for the short lived! Versatile label will be reason to rejoice for Cornell’s fans and marks the first official CD release of this classic material.
