Last night, Kofi Burbridge suffered a massive heart attack. He is alive and he is stable, according to his brother Oteil Burbridge – who received the news while he was playing bass with Dead & Company last night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga, New York. Kofi had an aortic tear. They replaced his aorta and repaired his valve in Atlanta, Georgia last night.
Oteil flew in to see his brother early this morning, and requests that fans send their prayers to Kofi. We will continue to update fans as we hear more information from the Burbridge family.
Kofi Burbridge is the current keyboardist and flautist of the Tedeschi Trucks Band. His professional career started in Atlanta with a band called Knee-Deep with Oteil and drummer Jeff Sipe. After the band broke up, Oteil and Jeff went on to join Col. Bruce Hampton in the Aquarium Rescue Unit. Kofi joined the ARU shortly after Bruce left. He joined the Derek Trucks Band in 1999 then merged with the Tedeschi Trucks Band in 2010. Kofi Burbridge is now a Grammy Award winner, and cited as Oteil’s biggest musical influence.
We are sending all of our thoughts and prayers to Kofi for a healthy recovery, and strength to the Burbridge family during this difficult time.
*UPDATE* Tedeschi Trucks Band and Oteil have posted that Kofi is currently in recovery surrounded by family, bandmates, and friends. Keep the positive energy flowing!
*UPDATE* 6/22 from Oteil. Things are looking good!