Cornell Dupree, Studio guitarist, is dead at 68

The cause was emphysema, said David Kramer, his agent and longtime friend, who had organized a benefit concert for him in New York in March.

The average listener cannot su name of Mr. Dupree ("not many people read the back of the album," it acknowledged in a 1997 interview in The Observer in Dallas), but millions knew that his game. His licks are an indispensable element of a number of the most successful of Mrs. Franklin, "Rainy Night in Georgia of Brook Benton" and many other records.

By his own estimation, he played on approximately 2 500 sessions. Jerry Wexler, Atlantic Records Executive who produced hits for Dr. Franklin and many others, has stated on several occasions that he often used three guitarists on the sessions he supervises, to get that full sound that possible, until he realized by Mr. Dupree was the only one he needed.

Although known as a player of rhythm and blues, accompanying artists like Wilson Pickett and b.b. King, Mr. Dupree also performed or recorded with Joe Cocker, Barbra Streisand, Laura Nyro, Bonnie Raitt, and Mariah Carey, among other pop stars. He played on the 1973 hit album of Mr. Simon "Needless Rhymine Simon" and album of R & B - influenced Mr. Starr Ringo 4."

For funky, more contemporary sound, Miles Davis, the great jazz trumpeter, was research in the 1970s, Mr. Dupree was among musicians, he has used on his album "get up with it."

Mr. Dupree more sustainable associations were with Dr. Franklin and saxophonist King Curtis. He joined King Curtis and the pivots in 1962 (Jimi Hendrix was briefly in the band with him) and was still a member when Dr. Franklin incurred to accompany him on tour in 1967. King Curtis died in 1971, but Mr. Dupree remained with Mrs. Franklin until 1976.

At the time, he left Dr. Franklin, he and a number of session musicians began to record and perform as a group. Known as Stuff, they made several all-instrumental for Warner Brothers albums and toured.

Mr. Dupree has also recorded as a conductor; his last album for the label tone Austin has not yet been issued.

Cornell Dupree Jr. was born on December 19, 1942, in Fort Worth, the only child of Cornell and Bernice Dupree. His first instrument was the saxophone, but he started to play guitar in his teens.

He is survived by his wife, the former Erma symbol; three children, James Cornell, Cornell III and Celestin Maria; and nine grandchildren.