Louis Edward Satterfield (April 3, 1937 – September 27, 2004) was an American bassist and trombonist. Satterfield was a member of both The Pharaohs and the Phenix Horns. He also collaborated with prominent artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Muddy Waters, Phil Collins, B. B. King, The Emotions, Ramsey Lewis, The Whispers and The Gap Band.[1][2][3]

Louis Satterfield
Louis Satterfield in Pasadena, 1982
Louis Satterfield in Pasadena, 1982
Background information
Birth nameLouis Edward Satterfield
Born(1937-04-03)April 3, 1937
Shaw, Mississippi, United States
DiedSeptember 27, 2004(2004-09-27) (aged 67)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
GenresBlues, soul, jazz, pop, rock, R&B, funk
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Bass, trombone, vocals
Years active1971–2004

Biography and career

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Satterfield was born in Shaw, Mississippi, a city in Bolivar and Sunflower counties, Mississippi, in the Mississippi Delta region, on April 3, 1937.

In the late 1950s–early 1960s, Satterfield, Charles Handy on trumpet, and Don Myrick on alto saxophone formed The Jazzmen, a student jazz trio at Crane Junior College in Chicago, Illinois. They were backed by Fred Humphrey on piano, Ernest McCarthy on bass guitar, and Maurice White on drums. Satterfield as a session bassist, White, and Handy were studio musicians at Chess Records in Chicago. Satterfield most memorable contribution being the bassline to Fontella Bass's "Rescue Me" with White on drums. The Jazzmen collaborations and live concerts with Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble at the Affro Arts Theater on the south side of Chicago went on to form The Pharaohs. In 1971, the band recorded its first and only studio album The Awakening, and in 1972 In the Basement, an album reissued by Luv N' Haight in November 1996 that features four tracks recorded live at High Chaparral in Chicago, a track from the original master tapes for The Awakening album, and "Love and Happiness", which was the B-side of "Freedom Road" single for Scarab Records.[4] After leaving an early incarnation of the Pharaohs to play in the Ramsey Lewis Trio, White went on to start the band Earth, Wind & Fire. While at Chess Records, Satterfield was also teacher to up and coming electric bassists, most notably, White's younger brother Verdine White.

 
Louis Satterfield in 1982

The inception of the Phenix Horns, as the main horn section for Earth, Wind & Fire, originally known as the EWF Horns, came about in 1975 when White expanded the band's timbral palette to include more horns. At first the horn section included Satterfield and his bandmate from The Pharaohs, saxophonist Don Myrick along with lead trumpet player Michael Harris. They started touring with the band in 1975 and played on all EWF albums from 1975 until 1983. Satterfield and Earth, Wind & Fire bass player and Maurice White's younger brother Verdine White wrote a book, Playing the Bass Guitar, first published by Almo in 1978.[5] 1979 saw the arrival of trumpeter Rahmlee Michael Davis for the recording of the album I Am. In 1981, the foursome joined Genesis drummer Phil Collins and producer Hugh Padgham in the studio for the recording of Collins's debut solo album, Face Value. Five of the musically diverse album's 12 tracks featured horns, with a sixth, a rendition of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows", featuring electronically manipulated samples of the section. The group's extreme precision was put to good use in up-tempo numbers like "Behind the Lines" and the mostly instrumental "Hand in Hand". The section also joined Collins's band Genesis on the song "No Reply at All" on their album Abacab, as well as on "Paperlate", a song from the band's EP 3×3, which was also included on the U.S. release of the album Three Sides Live.

The foursome developed a strong kinship with Collins and elected to join him on tour and for the recording of subsequent albums, while still performing and recording with EWF intermittently. Early concert footage shows the section doing considerably more than playing their instruments by singing and playing percussion on virtually every song that does not feature horns. During the extended intro to "Hand in Hand", the foursome join Collins at the front of the stage for a vocal call and response. Satterfield played baritone saxophone to brighten the section's sound for certain parts. Following the 1985–1986 tour, Michael Harris departed the group and was replaced by Harry Kim, and the horn section saw a diminished role in Collin's live shows. Following the 1990 live album and video Serious Hits... Live! Don Myrick also departed, largely due to continued struggles with drug addiction. Myrick was shot to death by a Santa Monica Police Department officer in the doorway of his home in 1993.[6][7] He was replaced by erstwhile EWF co-saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk. By the time of the recording of 1996's Dance into the Light, the Phenix Horns had dissolved. They were replaced by the Vine Street Horns, featuring Phenix Horns replacements Woolfolk and Harry Kim along with 2nd trumpet Daniel Fornero, and trombonist Arturo Velasco.

Louis Satterfield performed until his death on September 27, 2004, in Chicago. He was 67.[1]

Discography

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Year Album Artist Genre Type Label Credit
1965 Soul Sounds The 3 Souls Soul Studio MCA Electric bass
1967 Blues Is King B.B. King Blues, rock Live BluesWay, MCA Bass
1967 Rotary Connection Rotary Connection Electronic, jazz, rock Studio Cadet, Chess, MCA Bass
1967 Groovin' with the Soulful Strings The Soulful Strings Funk, soul Studio Cadet, Chess Bass
1967 Mellow Yellow Odell Brown & The Organ-izers Blues, funk, soul, jazz, Latin Studio Chess Bass
1967 The James Cotton Blues Band The James Cotton Blues Band Blues Studio Verve Forecast Trombone
1968 Electric Mud Muddy Waters Blues Studio Cadet Bass
1968 His Best - The Electric B.B. King B.B. King Blues Compilation MCA Bass
1968 On the Beach Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble Jazz Studio Zulu Bass, trombone
1969 Upchurch Phil Upchurch Funk, soul, jazz Studio Cadet Bass
1969 After the Rain Muddy Waters Blues Studio Cadet Bass
1969 The Howlin' Wolf Album Howlin' Wolf Blues, rock Studio Cadet Electric bass
1969 The Way I Feel Upchurch, Phil Studio Cadet Bass
1970 Everything Is Everything Donny Hathaway Soul Studio Atco Bass
1970 Free Delivery Odell Brown Funk, soul, jazz Studio Cadet Bass
1971 Willie Dixon's Peace? Willie Dixon Blues Studio Yambo Bass
1971 The Awakening The Pharaohs Funk, soul, jazz Studio Scarab Bass, Cowbell, vocals, mixing
1972 Back in the Alley: The Classic Blues of B.B. King B.B. King Blues Studio Bluesway, MCA Electric bass
1972 What Color Is Love Terry Callier Funk, soul Studio Cadet Bass
1972 The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits The Dells Funk, soul Studio Cadet Bongos, congas
1972 The New Chicago Blues Clarence Wheeler Funk, soul Studio Atlantic Electric bass
1973 I Just Can't Help Myself Terry Callier Funk, soul, jazz Studio Cadet Bass
1973 Watch Out Geoffrey Stoner Folk, world, country, funk, soul Studio Ovation Bass
1973 Catalyst Willie Dixon Blues Studio Ovation Bass
1973 Crouching on the Outside Shel Silverstein Rock, folk, world, country Compilation (2×LP) Janus Bass
1974 Chicken Heads Mighty Joe Young Blues, funk, soul Studio (promo) Ovation Bass
1975 Gratitude Earth, Wind & Fire R&B, jazz Live (2×LP) Columbia, CBS Trombone
1976 Flowers The Emotions R&B Studio Columbia Trombone
1976 Mighty Joe Young Mighty Joe Young Blues Compilation Ovation Bass
1976 Spirit Earth, Wind & Fire Funk, soul, jazz Studio Columbia, CBS Trombone
1976 Moods and Grooves Ju-Par Universal Orchestra Funk, soul Studio Ju-Par Bass
1976 Happy Being Lonely The Chi-Lites Funk, soul Studio Mercury Trombone
1977 Rejoice The Emotions Soul Studio Columbia, CBS Trombone
1977 Family Tree The Staple Singers Funk, soul Studio Warner Bros. Trombone
1977 Just a Stone's Throw Away Valerie Carter Funk, soul, rock Studio Columbia, CBS Bass
1977 For the First Time Out Teresa Wiater Funk, soul, pop Studio United Artists Trombone
1977 Song Bird Deniece Williams R&B Studio Columbia, CBS Trombone
1977 The Eugene Record Eugene Record Funk, soul Studio Warner Bros. Horn
1977 The Gap Band The Gap Band Soul, funk Studio Tattoo Horn
1977 Come Go With Us Pockets Funk, soul Studio Columbia, CBS Trombone
1977 All 'n All Earth, Wind & Fire Electronic, funk, soul, pop, rock Studio Columbia, CBS Trombone
1978 Closer to the Source Leroy Hutson Electronic, jazz Studio Curtom Bass, horn
1978 Chanson Chanson Disco Studio Ariola Horn
1978 Heaven and Earth Heaven & Earth Funk, soul Studio Mercury Bass
1978 Music of the Sun LaMont Johnson Funk, soul Studio Tabu Horn
1978 Sunbeam The Emotions R&B Studio Columbia Trombone
1978 You Fooled Me Grey and Hanks Funk, soul Studio RCA Victor Horn
1978 Trying to Get to You Eugene Record Funk, soul Studio Warner Bros. Bass, trombone
1979 Bad for Me Dee Dee Bridgewater Disco Studio Elektra Trombone
1979 I Am Earth, Wind & Fire Soul, disco, funk Studio CBS Horn section, trombone
1979 The Changing of the Gard Stargard Funk, soul Studio Warner Bros. Horn
1979 The Gap Band The Gap Band Soul, funk Studio Mercury Horn
1979 Whisper in Your Ear The Whispers Soul, funk Studio S.O.L.A.R. Trombone
1979 Sky Sky Soul, funk, jazz Studio EMI Trombone, lead vocals, writer
1979 So Delicious Pockets Funk, soul Studio ARC, Columbia Trombone
1979 Come into Our World The Emotions Electronic, funk, soul Studio ARC, Columbia, CBS Trombone
1979 Welcome to My Fantasy Eugene Record Funk, soul Studio Warner Bros. Saxophone
1980 Back for More Al Johnson Funk, soul Studio Columbia Brass
1980 Faces Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Studio ARC, Columbia Soloist, trombone
1980 La Toya Jackson La Toya Jackson Pop, dance, soul, R&B, disco Studio Polydor Horn
1980 Routes Ramsey Lewis Soul, funk, jazz Studio Columbia, CBS Trombone, musical assistance
1980 Celestial Sky Starship Orchestra Funk, soul Studio CBS Trombone
1980 Love Uprising Tavares Funk, soul Studio Capitol Trombone
1981 Face Value Phil Collins Pop, rock, R&B Studio Virgin, Atlantic Trombone
1981 New Affair The Emotions Funk, soul Studio ARC Trombone
1981 Tender Togetherness Stanley Turrentine Jazz Studio Elektra Horns arrangements, trombone
1981 Raise! Earth, Wind & Fire Soul, R&B, funk Studio CBS Trombone
1981 The Electric Collection Ramsey Lewis Jazz Compilation Columbia Trombone
1981 Blues for the Night Owl Ramsey Lewis Jazz Compilation Columbia Trombone
1981 Whatever Turns You On The Dells Funk, soul Studio 20th Century Fox Trombone
1981 Me and You The Chi-Lites Featuring Eugene Record Funk, soul Studio 20th Century Fox Trombone
1981 Endless Flight Rodney Franklin Funk, soul Studio Columbia Horn
1981 This Kind of Lovin' The Whispers Funk, soul Studio RCA Trombone
1982 Live at the Savoy Ramsey Lewis Jazz Live Columbia, CBS Trombone
1982 Earland's Jam Charles Earland Jazz Studio CBS Trombone
1982 Changes Keni Burke Studio RCA Electronic, funk, soul Horn
1982 Something's Going On Frida Pop Studio Polar Music, Epic, Atlantic Trombone
1982 Hello, I Must Be Going! Phil Collins Pop rock, soft rock Studio Virgin, Atlantic, WEA Horn, trombone
1982 Weekend Fly to the Sun Toshiki Kadomatsu Funk, soul, pop, reggae Studio (promo) RCA Trombone
1982 The Key to Your Heart Superior Movement Funk, soul Studio C.I.M. Horn
1983 Earth, Wind & Fire: In Concert Earth, Wind & Fire Electronic, funk, soul, jazz Video Vestron Bass, trombone
1983 Powerlight Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Studio Columbia Trombone
1983 The Luxury Gap Heaven 17 Synthpop Studio Virgin Trombone
1983 MCB MCB Funk, soul Studio Epic Trombone
1983 The Greatest Sides Billy Stewart Funk, soul Compilation Chess Bass
1983 Live at Perkins Palace Phil Collins Rock, pop Video Picture Music International, Palace Benelux, EMI Trombone
1983 Hot on a Thing The Chi-Lites R&B Compilation BR Music Trombone
1984 My Rhythm George Kranz Electronic Studio Pool, Ariola Trombone
1984 How Men Are Heaven 17 Synthpop Studio Virgin Trombone
1984 Chinese Wall Philip Bailey Pop, soul, rock Studio Columbia Trombone
1984 His Greatest Sides Little Milton Blues Compilation Chess Bass
1985 No Jacket Required Phil Collins Pop, rock Studio Virgin, Atlantic, WEA Trombone
1985 Souljazzz Rahmlee Michael Davis Soul, jazz Studio Honest Violin
1985 Between a Rock and a Hard Place Australian Crawl Rock Studio Freestyle Trombone
1986 Pleasure One Heaven 17 Synthpop Stucio Virgin Trombone
1986 From Cotton with Verve James Cotton Blues Compilation Black Magic Trombone
1987 Vini Pou Kassav' Zouk Studio Columbhia Trombone
1988 The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 2 Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Compilation Columbia Trombone
1988 Le Tour De France France Gall Chanson Live Apache Trombone
1988 The Best of Chess Rhythm & Blues Volume Two Various artists Funk, soul Compilation Chess Bass, electric bass
1988 One More Time: The Chess Years Billy Stewart Funk, soul Compilation Chess Electric bass
1989 ...But Seriously Phil Collins Pop rock, soft rock Studio Virgin, Atlantic, WEA Trombone
1989 Majestik Zouk Kassav' Zouk Studio Columbia, CBS Trombone
1990 Serious Hits... Live! Phil Collins Pop, rock Live Virgin, Atlantic, WEA Trombone
1990 Live at Knebworth Various artists Rock Live (2×CD) Eagle Trombone
1990 Knebworth: The Album Various artists Rock Live (2×CD) Polydor Trombone
1991 Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two British Electric Foundation Electronic, funk, soul Studio Virgin Trombone
1991 Milans Jocelyne Béroard Zouk Studio Columbia, CBS Horn
1991 What It Takes: The Chess Years Koko Taylor Blues, funk, soul Compilation Chess Bass
1991 Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947–1974 Various artists R&B Box set Atlantic Bass
1991 The Ballads Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Compilation Sony Music Distribution Trombone
1992 The Best of Ronnie Laws Ronnie Laws Jazz Compilation Blue Note Electric bass
1992 ...But Seriously, The Videos Phil Collins Pop, rock Video Warner Music Vision Trombone
1992 Chess Blues Various artists Blues Compilation Chess, MCA Bass
1992 King of the Blues B.B. King Blues Box set MCA Bass
1992 Din Daa Daa: The Album George Kranz Electronic, pop, rock Compilation Hot Productions Trombone, trumpet
1992 None But the Righteous: Chess Gospel Greats Various artists Gospel Compilation Chess Bass
1992 Rescued: The Best of Fontella Bass Fontella Bass R&B Compilation Chess, MCA Bass
1992 Shake It All About Little Richard Rock and roll Studio Disney Trombone
1992 The Eternal Dance Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Box set Columbia Trombone
1994 3 Harp Boogie James Cotton Blues Compilation Tomato Trombone
1994 Chess Rhythm & Roll Various artists R&B, pop, rock Compilation Chess Bass
1994 Welcome to the Club: The Essential Chess Recordings Little Milton Blues, R&B Compilation Chess, MCA Bass
1994 The Best of Gap Band The Gap Band Funk, soul Compilation PolyGram, Mercury, Chronicles Horn
1995 Best of the Verve Years James Cotton Blues, pop, rock Compilation Verve Trombone
1995 Dance Tracks Earth, Wind & Fire Dance Compilation TriStar Music Trombone
1996 Best of My Love: The Best of the Emotions The Emotions R&B Compilation Columbia Trombone
1996 Gonna Take a Miracle: The Best of Deniece Williams Deniece Williams R&B, pop, eocj, soul Compilation Sony Music Distribution Trombone, trumpet
1996 The Best of Walter Jackson: Welcome Home - The OKeh Years Walter Jackson Soul Compilation Sony Music Distribution Bass
1996 Elements of Love: Ballads Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Compilation Columbia Trombone
1996 How Blue Can You Get? Classic Live Performances 1964 to 1994 B.B. King Blues, R&B Live compilation MCA, Interscope Bass
1996 Feelin' Good James Cotton Blues Compilation Eclipse Trombone
1996 History of Chess Jazz Various artists Jazz Compilation Chess Bass
1996 In the Basement The Pharaohs Funk, soul, jazz Live Luv N' Haight Bass, Cowbell, vocals, mixeding
1997 It Only Takes a Minute: A Lifetime with Tavares Tavares R&B Compilation EMI, Capitol Trombone
1997 Chess Blues Classics: 1957–1967 Various artists Blues Compilation Chess Bass
1997 This Is Jazz, Vol. 27 Ramsey Lewis Jazz Compilation Sony Trombone
1997 Greatest Hits (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) Little Milton Blues, R&B Compilation Chess, MCA Bass
1997 Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest Various artists Soul Compilation (2×CD) Chess Bass, guitar
1998 ...Hits Phil Collins Pop, rock Compilation Face Value, Virgin, Atlantic, WEA Trombone
1998 By George & Ira: Red Hot on Gershwin Various artists Jazz Compilation Verve Bass
1998 Greatest Hits Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Compilation Legacy Trombone
1998 I Think I Got the Blues Willie Dixon Blues Studio Prevue Bass
1998 Leavin' the Plantation Gashouse Dave Pop, rock, blues Studio Terra Nova Photography
1998 More Where that Came From: The Best of Leroy Hutson, Vol. 2 Leroy Hutson R&B Compilation Deep Beats Bass, Horn
1999 Essential Blues, Vol. 3 Various artists Blues Compilation (2×CD) House of Blues Bass
2000 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billy Stewart Billy Stewart R&B Compilation Chess, MCA Bass, electric bass
2000 Anthology B.B. King Blues, R&B Compilation (2×CD) MCA Bass
2002 That's the Way of the World: Alive in 75 Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Live Columbia Percussion, trombone
2002 The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Compilation Columbia Flugelhorn, trombone
2002 Live in Rio Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Live Kalimba Trombone
2003 Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Godfathers and Sons Various artists Blues, R&B Compilation Hip-O Bass
2004 Chicago Soul Various artists Soul, blues, R&B Compilation Soul Jazz Bass
2004 Love Songs Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Compilation Columbia Trombone
2004 The Platinum Collection Phil Collins Pop, pop rock Box set Virgin Trombone
2004 Hits Live 1990/1997 Phil Collins Rock Live compilation (CD+DVD) WEA Trombone
2004 Anthology: Sound+Vision B.B. King Blues, R&B Compilation, video (2×CD + DVD) MCA, Geffen Bass
2005 Chronicles: Live at the Regal / Blues Is King / Live in Cook County Jail B.B. King Blues, R&B Live box set MCA, Geffen Bass
2005 Chess Northern Soul Various artists Funk, soul Compilation Chess Bass
2006 Beautiful Ballads Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Compilation Columbia Trombone
2006 Best of B.B. King B.B. King Blues Compilation (3×CD) Madacy Bass
2007 The Malcolm X Memorial (A Tribute in Music)
A 1968 recording at the Afro Arts Theater in Chicago of Philip Cohran's tribute to the life of Malcolm X. Originally self-released on LP in 1968, in an edition of 1000.
Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble Jazz Live compilation Mississippi Bass
2007 Singles Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble Jazz Compilation Midday Music Bass
2008 Original Album Classics Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Box set Columbia, Sony Trombone
2009 The Music of Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Box set Columbia, Sony Trombone
2009 Ultimate Blues Various artists Blues Compilation Decca Electric bass
2011 The Columbia Masters Earth, Wind & Fire R&B Box set Sony Trombone
2011 Unbelievable / Cross My Heart: Chess Recordings 1964–1969 Billy Stewart Pop, rock, R&B Compilation Shout!, UMC Bass
2011 Armageddon
Album conceived in 1958 and written down in 1963. This performance was recorded live at the Affro Arts Theatre, Chicago, on February 11, 1968.
Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble Funk, soul, jazz Live compilation Tizona Bass
2012 Atlantic Soul Legends: 20 Original Albums from the Iconic Atlantic Label Various artists Soul Box set Rhino, Warner Bros. Bass
2012 Ladies and Gentlemen… Mr. B.B. King B.B. King R&B, blues Box set Universal, Hip-O Bass
2012 The Spanish Suite (Martina, Delores & Marguirite)
Live performance at the Afro Arts Theatre, Chicago, in February 1968.
Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble Folk, world, country, jazz Live compilation Tizona Bass

[1]

Bibliography

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  • White, Verdine; Satterfield, Louis (1978). Norman Schwartz (ed.). Playing the Bass Guitar. Hollywood: Almo. ISBN 0897050118. OCLC 6606541.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Louis Satterfield at AllMusic
  2. ^ Sudo, Chuck (December 20, 2010). "One for the Road: The Pharaohs". chicagoist.com. The Chicagoist.
  3. ^ "First Listen: Philip Bailey helps Keith Satterfield find "Eternal Wisdom"". soultracks.com. Soul Tracks. August 14, 2017.
  4. ^ In The Basement at Discogs
  5. ^ Verdine–Satterfield 1978.
  6. ^ Chazanov, Mathis (May 15, 1993). "Obituary". The Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ "Lawsuit settled in Donald Myrick's death". Associated Press. August 4, 1995.

Further reading

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