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Duke Levine
Duke Levine
Duke Levine
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Duke Levine (born November 29, 1961) is an American guitarist,[1] known primarily for his rock and country music playing as a session musician.

Levine was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.[2] He has recorded and performed with Shawn Colvin, Peter Wolf, Lucy Kaplansky, Bill Morrissey, Jonatha Brooke, John Gorka, David Maxwell, Dennis Brennan, Jeanie Stahl, Ellis Paul, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Slaid Cleaves and many others.[2] From 2009 to 2015, he was the touring guitarist for The J. Geils Band and is currently playing with Bonnie Raitt. He frequently performs live with The Duke Levine Band and Slaid Cleaves.

Discography

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  • 1992: Nobody's Home
  • 1994: Country Soul Guitar
  • 1997: Lava[2]
  • 2007: Beneath the Blue
  • 2016: The Fade Out
  • 2021: Left To My Own Devices
  • 2025: Duke Levine & The Super Sweet Sounds of the ’70s

References

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Duke Levine

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Duke Levine is an American guitarist known for his versatile session work in rock and country music, his instrumental solo recordings, and his role as a touring musician with Bonnie Raitt since 2022. A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Levine has established himself as a respected player in the Boston music scene and beyond, contributing to numerous recordings and live performances across genres. He has released several albums of instrumental music, often characterized by a distinctive blend of styles, and leads projects such as Duke Levine & The Super Sweet Sounds Of The '70s. His tenure with Bonnie Raitt, where he stepped in following longtime guitarist George Marinelli's departure, has brought him wider recognition for his guitar work on tour and in live settings. Levine's career reflects a long-standing commitment to guitar playing that began in his youth, encompassing collaborations with various artists and a focus on both electric and acoustic techniques.

Early life

Childhood and musical beginnings

Duke Levine was born Robert Levine on November 29, 1961, in Worcester, Massachusetts. As the youngest of five children, he grew up in a family where older brothers Rick and Elliot already played guitar and provided his first informal lessons on basic chords. His interest in the instrument ignited at age eight when he began playing on his brother Rick's guitar, which had been tuned to an open chord to make it easier for beginners. By age 12, Levine was performing publicly with the rock cover band Cloudy Heaven (later renamed Landslide), joining older teenagers for gigs at local churches and high school dances. At age 15, he started taking formal guitar lessons with jazz guitarist Rich Falco, marking his transition to more structured training. During his high school years, he worked at Union Music in Worcester, an experience that deepened his knowledge of guitars and equipment.

Education and formal training

Duke Levine received his formal musical training at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied jazz performance with instructors Mick Goodrick and Bob Moses. This background provided a foundation in jazz improvisation and guitar technique during his post-high school years.

Career

Early professional bands and local scene

After graduating, Duke Levine joined Walter Crockett’s band, Crockett, where he performed originals and covers ranging from bluegrass and punk to rock and ska. He released a series of early solo instrumental albums, starting with Guitar Talk in 1989, followed by Nobody’s Home in 1992, Country Soul Guitar in 1994, and Lava in 1997. Levine led a long-running residency titled “Super Sweet Sounds of the ’70s” at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge during the 1980s, featuring instrumental re-imaginings of 1970s pop and rock arrangements with a band that included Kevin Barry, Mike Rivard, Paul Schultheis, Dean Johnston, and Yahuba. He contributed guitar to Club d'Elf, formed by bassist Mike Rivard in 1998 at the Lizard Lounge. Levine received the Unsung Hero award at the 2006 Boston Music Awards.

Session work and major collaborations

Duke Levine has established himself as a prolific session musician, particularly known for his versatile guitar work, including electric, acoustic, slide, banjo, and mandolin contributions on numerous studio recordings across roots, rock, blues, and Americana genres. Among his most notable collaborations are his contributions to several albums by Mary Chapin Carpenter, including A Place in the World, TimeSexLove, and The Age of Miracles, where he provided guitar support on tracks that helped define her sound during that era. He has also worked extensively with Peter Wolf, adding his guitar playing to the albums Fool’s Parade and Sleepless. Levine's session credits further include work with artists such as Aimee Mann, Robbie Fulks, Lucy Kaplansky, Jonatha Brooke, Dennis Brennan, Otis Rush, and Lee Ann Womack, among others, showcasing his ability to adapt across diverse musical styles. He has maintained long-term collaborative relationships with several singer-songwriters, including John Gorka, Patty Larkin, Martin Sexton, and Ellis Paul, contributing to multiple albums and projects over extended periods.

Touring highlights

Duke Levine has built an extensive career as a touring guitarist, performing live with a wide range of acclaimed artists across blues, rock, folk, and roots music. He joined Bonnie Raitt's band in early 2022, replacing longtime guitarist George Marinelli, and continues to tour with her as a key member of her live lineup. His touring resume includes extended stints with Peter Wolf, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Aimee Mann, Rosanne Cash, Robbie Fulks, the J. Geils Band from 2009 to 2015, The Story, Del Fuegos, and blues legend Otis Rush. Levine has also made notable live appearances with Club d’Elf, the Dennis Brennan Band, Slaid Cleaves, and the Boston Pops Orchestra, including special performances alongside Bono, Yo-Yo Ma, and Shawn Colvin. His television performances have featured high-profile slots on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the Grammy Awards, Austin City Limits, and the Super Bowl Pre-game Show.

Solo projects and recordings

Duke Levine has continued to release instrumental recordings under his own name in the years following his early career. He released the instrumental album Beneath the Blue in 2007. In 2016, he issued the solo album The Fade Out, produced by Chris Rival and Duke Levine, recorded and mixed by Chris Rival at Middleville Studio in North Reading, Massachusetts, with additional engineering by Doug Batchelder and mastering by Dave McNair. This work features Levine's guitar-focused interpretations and marks a continuation of his instrumental output. In 2021, Levine released the EP Left To My Own Devices, consisting of six instrumental guitar arrangements of songs including "Across The Universe," "Wild Mountain Thyme," "Better Times Will Come," "Loch Lomond," "At Seventeen," and "Before The Next Teardrop Falls." Performed, recorded, and mixed entirely by Levine between April and December 2020, with arrangements by him and mastering by Chris Rival, the EP highlights his solo guitar work during that period. Levine also leads the ongoing project Duke Levine & The Super Sweet Sounds Of The '70s, a revival and extension of a residency he held in the 1980s, focused on instrumental reinterpretations of early 1970s songs with period-appropriate sounds and extended arrangements. The project debuted live in October 2017 at The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and released its self-titled album in 2025. Performances have continued, including a series of shows scheduled for January 14, 21, and 28, 2026, at the Lizard Lounge.

Film and television work

Composing and scoring credits

Duke Levine has received composing credits for several short films and documentary projects, primarily in the realm of independent and public television productions. He provided the original score for the 2003 short film New York to Malibu and the 2020 short documentary Vanishing Chinatown: The World of the May's Photo Studio. In 2000, Levine co-composed original music with Mason Daring for two episodes of the PBS series American Experience, including the documentary George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire, which explored the life and political career of the former Alabama governor. These credits highlight Levine's occasional work in composing for visual media, complementing his primary career as a session guitarist and musician.

Music department and session contributions

Duke Levine has frequently contributed to the music departments of films and television productions as a session musician, most notably providing guitars, mandolin, banjo, and slide guitar performances. He has had an ongoing collaboration with composer Mason Daring, contributing instrumental work to several films directed by John Sayles, including Lone Star (1996), Limbo (1999), Sunshine State (2002), Silver City (2004), and Honeydripper (2007). His guitar playing in these projects often added distinctive roots and blues-inflected textures to the soundtracks. Levine's additional film credits as a session musician include Where the Heart Is (2000), Amigo (2010), and Go for Sisters (2013). He has also performed on various PBS documentary series, providing instrumental contributions to episodes of American Experience from 2000 to 2006, Frontline in 2007, and Nova in 1998.

On-screen appearances

Duke Levine's on-screen appearances are notably limited, consisting primarily of a single acting credit in film. In the 2013 comedy Grown Ups 2, he is credited as part of The Party Band in a cameo role. This appearance features Levine performing with the band in a party scene, aligning with his background as a guitarist rather than an actor. He has no other listed acting credits in film or television, though he has occasionally appeared on-screen as a musician during live performances or TV segments.
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