Uploaded August 2013 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
George Duke 1946-2013 Rest in Peace
George Duke, known for embracing synthesizers and fusing jazz with other genres such as rock and funk, began his career in the mid-1960s after joining San Francisco's Half Note jazz club's house band, which was fronted by singer Al Jarreau. His career also led him to playing with Frank Zappa's Mother's Of Invention during the 1970's and early '80's
The musician's international breakout album was 1969's "The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with The George Duke Trio," which is considered as one of the first fusion jazz recordings, combining jazz with the electric violin of the French virtuoso Ponty.
Duke's albums "Faces in Reflection," "The Aura Will Prevail" and "Liberated Fantasies," all released in the 1970s, are considered classics of jazz-funk fusion.
George Duke 1946-2013 Rest in Peace
George Duke, known for embracing synthesizers and fusing jazz with other genres such as rock and funk, began his career in the mid-1960s after joining San Francisco's Half Note jazz club's house band, which was fronted by singer Al Jarreau. His career also led him to playing with Frank Zappa's Mother's Of Invention during the 1970's and early '80's
The musician's international breakout album was 1969's "The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with The George Duke Trio," which is considered as one of the first fusion jazz recordings, combining jazz with the electric violin of the French virtuoso Ponty.
Duke's albums "Faces in Reflection," "The Aura Will Prevail" and "Liberated Fantasies," all released in the 1970s, are considered classics of jazz-funk fusion.
