I just found out that George Duke, not only a great musician but a greater man, has died August 5, 2013 at the age of 67.
He was a trailblazer in what is now called jazz fusion, and collaborated with and produced many top recording artists including Harry Belefonte, Gladys Knight, Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson... And his associations with Al Jarreau, Miles Davis, and Julian “Cannonball” Adderly who he said “gave me the opportunity to meet and work with Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, and Dizzy Gillespie- all these great artists I’d been listening to since I was a kid.”
I had the enormous pleasure to meet George Duke several times at the Montreux Jazz Festival in the 80's and 90's. I was present, when he just showed up on stage when Miles was playing, what a night :)
Last time I saw him, was last year here in Stockholm, playing with his friend Stanley Clarke.
He was a lovely person who influenced me and was present in my speakers for several decades. I will never forget his music :(