Saxophonist Gene “Daddy G” Barge, who toured with The Rolling Stones and Bo Diddley and produced Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf before trying his hand as actor in films like “The Fugitive” alongside Harrison Ford and “Under Siege” with Steven Seagal — died Sunday at his home in Bronzeville. He was 98.
Mr. Barge died in his sleep from natural causes, his daughter, Gina Barge, said.
“He prided himself on his arrangements but he really loved, just loved playing, the saddest part of the last six years of his life was that he wasn’t able to play sax, which was his first love,” she said. Mr. Barnes was the longtime saxophonist and vocalist for the hard-hitting Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings, who graced the stages of area clubs and the Chicago Blues Festival over the years.
Mr. Barge, who was a longtime resident of Chatham before moving to Bronzeville about 13 years ago to be closer to his daughter, grew up in Norfolk, Virginia.
He moved to Chicago in the 1960s to become a staff musician and producer with Chess Records.
His first big break came when the tune “Quarter to Three” — which Mr. Barge arranged and Gary U.S. Bonds sang — shot up the charts in 1961. He later played on Fontella Bass’ “Rescue Me.”
In addition to touring with the Rolling Stones, Mr. Barge also took to the road with Fats Domino, Bo Diddley and his good friend, Buddy Guy.
Mr. Barge was friends with film director Andrew Davis, a Chicago native who cast him in several of his films, including 1993’s “The Fugitive” in which he played a Chicago cop, and “Under Siege” iin 1992 in which he portrayed a bail jumper.
His wife, Sarah Barge, died in 2008. The couple had been married for more than 40 years.
In addition to his daughter Gina, Mr. Barge is survived by another daughter, Gail Florence, as well as two grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Services are being arranged.