Champion Jack Dupree

William Thomas Dupree was born in New Orleans and raised at the Colored Waifs Home for Boys from infancy. He began playing piano at a young age and worked as a soloist in barrelhouses during the 1920s, also performing with traditional jazz bands. In the early 1930s, he worked as a prizefighter and took occasional music jobs. Dupree was discovered in Chicago and signed to OKeh records in 1940. Among his early recordings were 'Junker's Blues' and 'Cabbage Greens'. After serving in the US Navy, Dupree settled in New York and recorded for several small labels, including Joe Davis, Continental, and Apollo, often alongside Brownie McGhee. He gained recognition for his strong piano playing and humorous songs and vocals. In 1960, Dupree moved to Switzerland and became one of the most prominent blues artists in Europe over the next 30 years.