Dennis Coffey

Dennis Coffey

    Official Biography (courtesy of Dennis Coffey)

    Legendary jazz/funk guitarist Dennis Coffey started his playing career by doing his first record date at the age of 15.  While still in his early twenties, he had a choice to make that would impact his musical journey.  He was offered a job to tour with jazz legend organist Groove Holmes and offered a job to play with the famous Funk Brothers as a studio musician at Motown. Dennis had a family to support so he made the decision to work at Motown. He has worked with Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, and The Four Tops in Detroit and LA.  He has also worked with Quincy Jones, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Earl Klugh and Jazz Crusaders - Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder. 

    His career encompasses eleven solo albums and CD's and a movie score for Black Belt Jones from Warner Bothers. He has had two international top ten hits himself with "Scorpio" and "Taurus" and has two gold singles and one gold album.  His CD, "Under the Moonlight," was number four in the country on the New Adult Contemporary Chart in Radio and Records. He has won numerous awards from Billboard Magazine and BMI . 

    Dennis has performed in the UK supporting his book that reached number four in London , England called, "Guitars, Bars and Motown Superstars".  He is also in the documentary, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown", the PBS Special "Rhythm, Love, and Soul", and appeared in the TV Special, "The Four Tops 50th Anniversary Show".  In 2006, Dennis has also appeared in Memphis at The Ponderosa Stomp with Buckwheat Zydeco on B3 organ and Lil' Buck Senegal's band from New Orleans .  Dennis also appeared with the same group in 2007 at South by Southwest in Austin , Texas , and The Ponderosa Stomp at the House of Blues in New Orleans .

    Dennis has recently completed a new CD entitled, "Dennis Coffey - Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit ".  This CD is raw jazz and funk recorded in front of a great live audience at Baker's.  This is Dennis Coffey doing what he does best - creating great music for his fans!