Champion Jack Dupree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Champion Jack Dupree
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Jack Dupree
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Thomas Dupree |
| Also known as | Harelip Jack Dupree |
| Born | July 4, 1910 (probable) Irish Channel, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | January 21, 1992 (aged 81) Hanover, Germany |
| Genres | Blues, boogie-woogie |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1931-1991 |
| Labels | Atlantic, OKeh, Blue Horizon, Groove |
William Thomas "Champion Jack" Dupree (born around 1909 or 1910 – died 1992) was an American blues and boogie-woogie pianist and singer. He was known for his unique piano style and clever songs. His nickname "Champion Jack" came from his early career as a boxer.
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Champion Jack's Early Life
Champion Jack Dupree was a talented blues and boogie-woogie pianist from New Orleans. He was born around July 4, 1910, though his exact birth date is a bit uncertain. His father was from the Belgian Congo, and his mother was part African American and Cherokee.
Jack became an orphan when he was eight years old. He was sent to a special home in New Orleans for boys who needed a place to live. Interestingly, famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong also stayed at this home years before.
While at the home, Jack taught himself to play the piano. He later learned more from older pianists named Tuts Washington and Willie Hall. He even learned a famous song called "Junker's Blues" from Willie Hall. Jack also took part in the exciting Mardi Gras Indians traditions in New Orleans. Soon, he started playing piano in local clubs and bars.
Travels and Boxing Career
Jack Dupree began traveling a lot, living in different cities across the U.S. He spent time in Chicago, where he worked with a musician named Georgia Tom. He also lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, meeting other blues artists like Scrapper Blackwell and Leroy Carr. Besides music, he also worked as a cook.
In Detroit, something unexpected happened. The famous boxer Joe Louis encouraged Jack to try boxing. Jack fought 107 matches, winning several championships, including the Golden Gloves. This is how he earned his famous nickname, "Champion Jack," which he used for the rest of his life.
Around age 30, he returned to Chicago. There, he joined a group of recording artists, including Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red. They introduced him to a record producer named Lester Melrose. Many of Jack's songs were later listed as being written by Melrose, who also claimed the rights to them.
World War II and Musical Success
Champion Jack Dupree's music career was put on hold during World War II. He served as a cook in the United States Navy. Sadly, he was captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war for two years.
After the war, he had a big hit song called "Walkin' the Blues." He recorded this song with Teddy McRae. This success led to many tours across the country and eventually a tour in Europe. In 1959, he even played an unplanned show in London with musician Alexis Korner.
Life in Europe
In 1960, Jack Dupree moved to Europe. He lived in several countries, including Switzerland, Denmark, England, Sweden, and finally Germany. On June 17, 1971, he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He played with other great musicians like King Curtis. This concert was later released as an album called King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree: Blues at Montreux.
During the 1970s and 1980s, he lived in Halifax, England. He had married a woman from Halifax named Shirley Ann Harrison. He kept recording music in Europe and performed many live shows. He also continued to work as a cook, specializing in delicious New Orleans food. He would sometimes return to the United States to perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
After divorcing Shirley in 1976, he moved back to Copenhagen, Denmark. He lived in a unique community called Freetown Christiania. A film called Barrelhouse Blues - Feelings and Situations was made about his life during this time. He later moved to Zurich and finally settled in Hanover, Germany. Champion Jack Dupree passed away from cancer in Hanover on January 21, 1992.
Champion Jack's Music Style
Champion Jack Dupree's music was mostly straight blues and boogie-woogie. He wasn't known for being a fancy musician, but he was very clever with his song lyrics. He often used funny and witty words in his songs. For example, he sang, "Mama, move your false teeth, papa wanna scratch your gums."
Sometimes, he would sing in a way that sounded like he had a cleft palate. He even recorded under the name Harelip Jack Dupree. However, this was just a playful way of singing, as he could speak very clearly. He also liked to play with words in his songs, similar to a style called "vocalese."
Some of Jack's songs talked about serious topics, like "TB Blues" (about tuberculosis) and "Angola Blues" (about a famous prison in Louisiana). But he also sang about happy things, like in "Dupree Shake Dance." He was a great storyteller and turned many of his stories into songs. For example, "Big Leg Emma's" was a rhyming story about a police raid on a club.
His song "Junker's Blues" was later changed by Fats Domino into "The Fat Man," which became Domino's first big hit. Also, the lyrics of Jerry Lee Lewis's famous song "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" were inspired by Dupree's song "Shake Baby Shake."
One of his most famous albums was Blues from the Gutter, released in 1958. On this album, he was joined by guitarist Larry Dale. Larry's playing on that record even inspired Brian Jones from The Rolling Stones. In his later years, Dupree recorded with other famous musicians like John Mayall, Mick Taylor, and Eric Clapton.
Jack Dupree was mainly known for his New Orleans style of singing and piano playing. However, he also explored different musical ideas. For example, he collaborated with English guitarist Tony McPhee on an album called Dupree 'N' McPhee: The 1967 Blue Horizon Session.
Since his death, Champion Jack Dupree's music has become popular again, especially in the British vintage dance scene. His song "Shakin' Mother for You" is now a favorite for DJs playing for Lindy Hop dancers.
Discography
Studio albums
- Blues from the Gutter (Atlantic, 1958)
- Champion Jack's Natural & Soulful Blues (Atlantic, 1959)
- Champion of the Blues (Atlantic, 1961)
- The Women Blues of Champion Jack Dupree (Folkways, 1961)
- Trouble, Trouble (Storyville, 1962)
- The Best of the Blues (Storyville, 1963)
- Champion Jack Dupree Of New Orleans (Storyville, 1965)
- From New Orleans to Chicago (Decca, 1966)
- When You Feel the Feeling You Was Feeling (Blue Horizon, 1968) with Paul Kossoff, guitar; Duster Bennett, harmonica; Simon Kirke, drums
- Scoobydoobydoo (Blue Horizon, 1969, UK), also released as Blues Masters, Vol. 10 (Blue Horizon, 1972)
- The Heart of the Blues Is Sound (BYG, 1969)
- The Incredible Champion Jack Dupree (Sonet, 1970), 12 tracks recorded in Copenhagen in 1960-63.
- The Hamburg Session (Happy Bird, 1974)
- Champion Jack Dupree "1977" (Isadora, 1977), also released as Hamhark & Limer Beans
- Back Home in New Orleans (Bullseye Blues, 1990)
- Forever and Ever (Bullseye Blues, 1991)
- One Last Time (Bullseye Blues, 1993)
Live albums
- Champion Jack Dupree (Festival, 1971)
- Alive, "Live" and Well (Chrischaa, 1976)
- The Blues Jubilee Album (Pinorrekk, 1984)
- Live at Burnley (JSP, 1989)
- Jivin' with Jack: Live in Manchester, May 1966 (Jasmine, 2002)
- Bad Luck Blues: Live with Freeway 75 (Bad Luck Blues, 2003)
Collaborations
- Champion Jack Dupree And His Blues Band featuring Mickey Baker (Decca, 1967)
- Tricks, with Mickey Baker (Vogue, 1968), also released as Anthologie du Blues, Vol. 1 (Disques Vogue, 1968, France)
- I'm Happy to Be Free, with Mickey Baker and Hal Singer (Vogue, 1971)
- Blues at Montreux, with King Curtis (Atlantic, 1973)
- Freedom, with the Monty Sunshine band (Pinorrekk, 1980)
- Real Combination, with Henry Ojutkangas (Dig It, 1980)
- I Had That Dream, with Kenn Lending (Pinorrekk, 1982)
- Get You An Ol' Man, with Brenda Bell and Louisiana Red (Paris, 1984)
- Rockin' The Boogie, with Kenn Lending (Blue Moon, 1988)
- Sings Blues Classics, with Axel Zwingenberger (Vagabond, 1990)
