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Jeff Coffey

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Jeff Coffey
Born (1967-09-11) September 11, 1967 (age 56)
OriginOrlando, Florida
GenresRock, jazz-rock, pop
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass, guitar
Years active1990–2011, 2014–present
LabelsSmoke Tree Records, Jet Pack Label Group
WebsiteOfficial website

Jeff Coffey (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the bassist and background vocalist for Don Felder.[1] From 2016–18 he was bassist and co-lead vocalist for the band Chicago.[2][3][4]

Early career

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Coffey grew up in Eustis, Florida[5] in the Orlando area, and attended University of Central Florida where he traveled with their jazz band to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. He spent much of the 1990s in the Gainesville, Florida-based band House of Dreams,[6] which released a self-titled CD in 1994.[7]

In 2007, Coffey released his second CD Long Way Home. From 2011–14, Coffey took a hiatus from music to focus on family and life. He returned to music on New Year's Eve 2014.[8]

Chicago

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In Spring 2016, Coffey received a call from Chicago guitarist Keith Howland asking if he would be interested in auditioning to fill in for longtime bassist/vocalist Jason Scheff. Coffey auditioned and won the gig, making his debut on May 21, 2016, in Findlay, Ohio at a private event.[9] His first public performance with Chicago was the following day, May 22, 2016, also in Findlay, Ohio.[10]

Following Scheff's departure in October 2016, Coffey became an official member of the band.[11][12] The announcement welcoming Coffey was made via Chicago's official Facebook page on October 25, 2016. Although joining the band after the production of their CNN documentary Now More than Ever, he was included in pre-broadcast interviews with the band featured on CNN in which he described the impact and legacy of Chicago's music.[13][14][15] On January 19, 2018, Coffey announced his resignation from the band.[16]

Post-Chicago career

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On February 27, 2018, Coffey released a new single titled "Got To Get Away".[17] Jeff also announced via Facebook on April 15, 2018 that he would be touring as a bassist with Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles.[18] Following his departure, Chicago and Rhino Records released 2 live CD/DVD combos, Chicago II: Live on Soundstage and Chicago: Greatest Hits Live, both recorded in November 2017 for the PBS show Soundstage and aired nationally over PBS stations in the summer of 2018. In early 2019, Coffey crowd-sourced funding for his new album of classic covers, "Origins: Singers and the Songs That Made Me" which will be released in late 2019 by Jetpack Label Group.[19]

Ahead of its release, Coffey released music videos for "Back On My Feet Again" (recorded by The Babys) [20] and "I Can't Make You Love Me" (originally by Bonnie Raitt)[21] the latter which features Michael Omartian on production and piano.[22] Also among the guest musicians include former Chicago bandmate Tris Imboden covering a Kenny Loggins song that Imboden performed on the original recording and Chris Rodriguez, current member of Peter Cetera's touring band.[23]

Discography

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  • 1994: House of Dreams (with House of Dreams)
  • 2003: Jeff Coffey
  • 2007: Long Way Home
  • 2018: Got To Get Away (Digital Single)
  • 2018: Chicago II on Soundstage (With Chicago)
  • 2018: Greatest Hits Live (With Chicago)
  • 2019: Origins: Singers and the Songs That Made Me
  • 2019: "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Digital Single) Jetpack Label Group
  • 2021: This Time Around

References

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  1. ^ "Don Felder Adds Ex Chicago Lead Singer To His Touring Band". YouTube. 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  2. ^ "Chicago Replace Longtime Singer and Bassist Jason Scheff". 25 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  3. ^ "Chicago has Replaced Singer Jason Scheff with Jeff Coffey: What Happened?". Smooth Jazz Now. October 29, 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  4. ^ Cohn, Paulette (3 July 2017). "Robert Lamm Talks 50 Years of Chicago for the Rockumentary Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago". parade.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Seminole County News". Lake Mary News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Jeff Coffey profile". chicagotheband.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  7. ^ "House of Dreams – House of Dreams – User Reviews". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  8. ^ Miskus, Bev (July 27, 2016). "JEFF COFFEY SPENDING HIS SATURDAYS IN THE PARK WITH CHICAGO". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  9. ^ "Chicago Setlist at Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, Findlay". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  10. ^ "Chicago Concert Setlists (page 7)". setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  11. ^ Bell, Diane (26 October 2016). "Police chief makes pitch for Cleveland Indians". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  12. ^ "Longwood Dad Becomes Permanent Lead Singer For Chicago". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  13. ^ "Chicago: 'This music has transcended time' – CNN Video". CNN. 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  14. ^ "Chicago's Robert Lamm on revisiting 'Chicago II' and the band's long and winding road". Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  15. ^ "His former band is based in Biloxi, but now he sings for Chicago". Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  16. ^ Payne, Ed (19 January 2018). "Lead singer Jeff Coffey exits Chicago, second member to leave band in a week". News and Tribune.
  17. ^ "New Single!". Archived from the original on 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  18. ^ "Jeff Coffey Music". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  19. ^ "Jeff Coffey Artist Page". Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  20. ^ "Back On My Feet Again Video". YouTube. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  21. ^ "I Can't Make You Love Me Video". YouTube. 4 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  22. ^ "Facebook Live Updates". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  23. ^ "Facebook Live Updates". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
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