Kofi Burbridge

Kofi Burbridge (September 22, 1961 – February 15, 2019) was an American keyboardist and flautist of the blues and blues rock group Tedeschi Trucks Band.[1] Burbridge was born to William and Carol Burbridge in the Bronx, New York, United States, although the family moved to Washington, D.C. two years later.[2]

Kofi Burbridge
Burbridge with Soulive on March 10, 2010
Background information
Born(1961-09-22)September 22, 1961
Bronx, New York, United States
DiedFebruary 15, 2019(2019-02-15) (aged 57)
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
GenresBlues, blues rock, soul, world music, R&B, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsKeyboards, organ, flute, backing vocals
LabelsColumbia, Alligator, Landslide Records
Associated actsThe Derek Trucks Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band
Websitewww.tedeschitrucksband.com

Burbridge was a classically-trained multi-instrumentalist who provided keyboards, organ, flute, and backing vocals for various bands throughout his career. He was previously part of the Grammy Award-winning Derek Trucks Band.[3] He was also the brother of bass player Oteil Burbridge, who is known for his work in the Allman Brothers Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Dead & Company, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Oteil Burbridge cites his brother as his biggest influence[4] and mentioned Kofi was found to have perfect pitch around the age of seven.

Musical career

Burbridge joined his first band in the Atlanta region called Knee-Deep, and the lineup included his brother Oteil and Jeff Sipe on drums. The band broke up after less than a year but introduced him to other notable musicians in the area like Bruce Hampton. He eventually joined the Aquarium Rescue Unit shortly after Col Bruce Hampton left, which reunited him with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Sipe.[5]

The Derek Trucks Band

Burbridge joined the Derek Trucks Band in 1999. Both Trucks and Burbridge's brother Oteil were members of the Allman Brothers Band and Kofi occasionally guested with that band. In 2010, Derek Trucks announced a hiatus for his solo band and formed a new group with his wife, Susan Tedeschi, called the Tedeschi Trucks Band and both Burbridge brothers became members.[5]

The Tedeschi Trucks Band

In 2010, Kofi joined his brother Oteil Burbridge in the new group, Tedeschi Trucks Band, which merged some former members of The Derek Trucks Band and Susan Tedeschi's former backing band.[5] The band performed at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 and appears on the DVD release with two of their songs, "Midnight in Harlem" and "Comin' Home". The Tedeschi Trucks Band released their debut album, Revelator in 2011, which won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album at the 54th Grammy Awards. In 2012, the band released their second album, Everybody's Talkin', a double live album compiled from their 2011 world tour. On August 2013 their third album, Made Up Mind, their second studio album, was released.

Death

On June 20, 2017 Kofi Burbridge suffered a heart attack and had surgery to repair an aortic rupture.[6] After four months of recovery, Burbridge returned to the band in October 2017, but suffered a health setback that was announced on January 4, 2019 by the band.[7] Burbridge died at the age of 57 on February 15, 2019, the day that Tedeschi Trucks Band's fourth album, Signs, was released.[8]

Discography

With The Aquarium Rescue Unit

With Naked Jazz
  • Naked Jazz Takes Off (1997)

With The Derek Trucks Band

With The Tedeschi Trucks Band

Other
  • “Surrender to the Air” - an instrumental collective organized by Trey Anastasio of Phish (1996)
  • Go There – Scott Sawyer (2007)
  • “Deep Elem Blues” - The Acoustic Company (2017)

References
  1. Kelly, Mariah. "Kofi Burbridge Dies at 57". NYS Music. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "The Derek Trucks Band Wins Grammy Award For 'Best Contemporary Blues Album' for Already Free". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  4. "Kofi - Oteil Burbridge". Oteilburbridge.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. Bernstein, Scott (February 15, 2019). "Multi-Instrumentalist Kofi Burbridge 1961 – 2019". Jambase. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  6. "Kofi Burbridge Suffers Heart Attack". Jambands. June 21, 2017.
  7. "Kofi Burbridge of Tedeschi Trucks Band Encounters Health "Setback"". Jambands. January 4, 2019.
  8. "In Memoriam: Kofi Burbridge, 1961–2019". Jambands.com. February 16, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
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