Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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DUPREE, Champion Jack

(b William Thomas Dupree, 4 July '10, New Orleans; d 21 June '92, Hamburg, Germany) Blues singer, songwriter; played guitar and drums but described himself as the last of the barrelhouse piano players. Orphaned by fire, learned piano in same Colored Waifs' Home where Louis Armstrong earlier learned cornet; nickname from days as a boxer (107 bouts; last in Indianapolis '40 where he remained some years). Had worked in New Orleans with Papa Celestin, others; hoboed, worked across USA as dancer, MC, singing pianist, etc; began recording '40--41 on OKeh (first records on Junker Blues, Travelin' Man label), recorded almost every year thereafter, on Savoy with Brownie McGhee '47, Apollo '49--50, King and others '51--5, Atlantic '58 (Blues From The Gutter); toured Europe '59, settled in Switzerland '60, recorded for Storyville '60-- 62, lived in Sweden '74. Worked with Chris Barber band '64, recorded on UK labels as solo and with Keith Smith's Climax Jazz Band, John Mayall, etc; appearances at Marquee Club, Ronnie Scott's shown on BBC TV; recorded in France (with Mickey Baker '71) etc. Popular blues-based entertainer straddled country/urban blues traditions, said to have infl. Fats Domino. CDs on GNP Crescendo (Legacy of the Blues series, made in London c'71), Bullseye, King, Storyville, EPM.