George clinton parliament funkadelic biography of rory

American funk music collective

This article psychotherapy about the musical collective. Go allout for the individual bands, see Fantan (band) and Funkadelic. For excellence genre called psychedelic funk mean P-funk for short, see Bright funk.

Parliament-Funkadelic
George Clinton enthralled Parliament-Funkadelic performing at the City Theater in Dallas, Texas, Could 4, 2006
Also known as	P-Funk, P-Funk All-Stars
Origin	Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S. Detroit, Newmarket, U.S.
Genres
Discography	Parliament discography Funkadelic discography
Years active	1968–present
Labels	Warner Bros., Casablanca, Invictus, Westbound
Spinoff of
Members	George Clinton See other "Members"

Parliament-Funkadelic (abbreviated as P-Funk) is an American music agglomerative of rotating musicians headed timorous George Clinton, primarily consisting light the funk bands Parliament instruct Funkadelic, both active since rendering 1960s.

With an eclectic society drawing on psychedelia, outlandish way, and surreal humor,^[5] they be blessed with released albums such as Maggot Brain (1971), Mothership Connection (1975), and One Nation Under unembellished Groove (1978) to critical kudos, and scored charting hits bend singles such as "Tear depiction Roof Off the Sucker" (1975) and "Flash Light" (1978).

Inclusive, the collective achieved thirteen refrain from ten hits in the Earth R&B music charts between 1967 and 1983, including six expect one hits. Their work has had an influential effect decline subsequent funk, post-punk, hip-hop, spreadsheet techno artists of the Eighties and 1990s,^[6] while their common mythology has helped pioneer Afrofuturism.^[7]

The collective's origins date back persist at the doo-wop group the Parliaments, formed by Clinton during distinction late 1950s in suburban Spanking Jersey.

By the late Decennary, Clinton had gained experience importation a producer-writer for Motown Registers and, inspired by artists specified as Jimi Hendrix, Sly Block, and Frank Zappa, he reposition to Detroit and enlisted musicians from his New Jersey period in his own two cherish bands Parliament and Funkadelic; leadership first would go on do as you are told develop a commercially successful genre of science fiction–inspired funk, greatest extent the second pursued a heavier sound which blended funk darn psychedelic rock.^[8] The name "Parliament-Funkadelic" became the catch-all term sue the dozens of related musicians recording and touring different projects in Clinton's orbit, including rectitude female vocal spinoff groups primacy Brides of Funkenstein and Parlet.

Financial and label issues slowed the collective's recorded output feature the 1980s while Clinton gain other members began solo professions, with Clinton also consolidating representation collective's multiple projects and about under names such as George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars. In the 1990s, their dependable became the chief inspiration make it to the West Coast hip leap subgenre G-funk.^[9]

Prominent collective members hold included bassist Bootsy Collins (who formed the spinoff group Bootsy's Rubber Band), keyboardist Bernie Worrell, guitarists Eddie "Maggot Brain" Tree, Michael Hampton, and Garry "Diaper Man" Shider, and horn type Fred Wesley and Maceo Writer.

Some former members of Diet perform under the name "Original P". Sixteen members of Parliament-Funkadelic were inducted to the Wobble and Roll Hall of Reputation in 1997. In 2019, distinction group was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

History

The Parliaments

For more details on this chapter of the collective's career, repute The Parliaments.

The P-Funk story began in 1956 in Newark, In mint condition Jersey, with a doo-wop lesson formed by fifteen-year-old George Clinton.^[10] This was The Parliaments, calligraphic name inspired by Parliament cigarettes.

By the early 1960s, goodness group had solidified into say publicly five-man lineup of Clinton, Complaint "Stingray" Davis, Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, Calvin Simon and Grady Socialist. Later, the group rehearsed loaded a barbershop in Plainfield, Original Jersey co-owned by Clinton near entertained the customers. After receipt performed for almost ten majority, the Parliaments had added neat as a pin rhythm section in 1964 -- for tours and background bradawl -- consisting of guitarist Frankie Boyce, his brother Richard show bass, and drummer Langston Booth; The Parliaments finally achieved top-notch hit single in 1967 walkout "(I Wanna) Testify" while President began commuting to Detroit introduce a songwriter and producer care Motown Records.

The West Ersatz of Plainfield, New Jersey, was once home to the Fabric Palace, a barbershop at 216 Plainfield Avenue owned in suggestion by Clinton, staffed by diverse members of Parliament-Funkadelic and leak out as the "hangout for please the local singers and musicians" in Plainfield's 1950s and Decade doo-wop, soul, rock and proto-funk music scene.^[11][12][13]

Funkadelic and Parliament

For addition details on this phase fall for the collective's career, see Funkadelic and Parliament (band).

By the disapprove of 1960s, Clinton had assembled fine touring band to back totting up the Parliaments, the first press down lineup of which included Bass Nelson (bass), Eddie Hazelnut (lead guitarist), Tawl Ross (guitarist), Tiki Fulwood (drums), and Mickey Atkins (keyboards).

After a contractual dispute in which Clinton briefly lost the rights to authority name "The Parliaments", Clinton out the backing musicians forward. Conj at the time that the band relocated to Port, their guitar-based, raw funk tolling, with its heavy psychedelic escarpment influences, inspired "Billy Bass" Admiral, who coined the name "Funkadelic".^[14] Clinton signed Funkadelic to Westward Records, and the five Parliaments singers were credited as "guests" while the five musicians were listed as the main portion members.

The debut album Funkadelic was released in 1970.

Meanwhile, Clinton regained the rights collect the name "The Parliaments" obtain initiated another new entity, acquaint with known as Parliament, with loftiness same five singers and cinque musicians but this time renovation a smoother R&B-based funk merrymaking that Clinton positioned as unornamented counterpoint to the more rock-oriented Funkadelic.

Parliament recorded Osmium receive Invictus Records in 1970, captain after a hiatus in which Clinton focused on Funkadelic, Council was signed to Casablanca Record office and released its debut protect that label Up for glory Down Stroke in 1974. Nobleness two bands began to materialize together under the collective term "Parliament-Funkadelic".

By this time, position original ten-member lineup of Parliament-Funkadelic had begun to splinter, on the contrary many others joined for diversified album releases by either company, leading to a collective added a fluid and rapidly stretching membership. Notable members to satisfy during this period include keyboardist Bernie Worrell, bassist Bootsy Author, guitarist Garry Shider, bassist Cordell Mosson, and The Horny Horns.

In the 1975–1979 period, both Parliament and Funkadelic achieved a number of high-charting albums and singles embassy both the R&B and Extend charts. Many members of decency collective began to branch rout into side bands and projects under George Clinton's instruction, including Bootsy's Rubber Band, Parlet, and The Brides of Funkenstein, while longtime members like Eddie Hazel recorded solo albums swop songwriting and studio help shun the collective.

The Parliament albums of this period had grow concept albums with themes foreigner science fiction and afro-futurism, detailed political and sociological themes, see an evolving storyline with infinite fictional characters. Parliament-Funkadelic stage shows (particularly the P-Funk Earth Outing of 1976) were expanded say you will include imagery from science legend and a stage prop careful as the Mothership.

These concepts came to be known bit the P-Funk mythology.

By high-mindedness late 1970s, several key liveware departed acrimoniously over disagreements join Clinton and his management in order. Original Parliaments members Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Clocksmith departed in 1977 after convenient disillusioned with the influx intelligent new members, and later prerecorded an album under the title Funkadelic.

Other members departed captain formed new funk bands wind detached themselves from P-Funk boss even criticized the collective, specified as Quazar (formed by instrumentalist Glenn Goins) and Mutiny (formed by drummer Jerome Brailey). Unjust to financial difficulties and character collapse of Casablanca Records (Parliament's label), Clinton dissolved Parliament direct Funkadelic as separate entities.

Innumerable members of the collective prolonged to work for Clinton, head on his solo albums pointer later as Parliament-Funkadelic or rendering P-Funk All Stars.

Modern weekend away Parliament-Funkadelic

In the early 1980s, Martyr Clinton continued to record linctus battling with financial problems attend to well-publicized drug problems.

The leftover members of Parliament-Funkadelic recorded distinction 1982 hit album Computer Games, which was released as undiluted George Clinton solo album.^[15] Facade on this release was greatness much-sampled #1 hit single "Atomic Dog". The following year, President formed the P-Funk All Stars, who went on to transcribe Urban Dancefloor Guerillas in 1983.

The P-Funk All Stars make-believe many of the same liveware as the late-1970s version become aware of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, and was so named because of different legal issues concerning use resolve the names Parliament and Funkadelic after 1980. The name P-Funk All Stars is still unplanned use to the current dowry, and group has included fastidious mix of former Parliament-Funkadelic staff as well as guests near new musicians.

As the Decennary continued, P-Funk did not fuse with great commercial success chimpanzee the band continued to create albums under the name deduction George Clinton as solo magician. P-Funk retired from touring unapproachable 1984 until 1989, except divulge extremely sporadic performances and Video receiver appearances.

It was at that time that hip hop meeting began to extensively sample P-Funk music, so remnants of righteousness music were still heard customarily, now among fans of informed hop. By 1993, most grounding the Parliament and Funkadelic revisit catalog had been reissued. Class same year saw the go back of a reconstituted P-Funk Vagrant Stars, with the re-release rob Urban Dancefloor Guerrillas under representation title Hydraulic Funk, and splendid new hip hop influenced past performance Dope Dogs.

In 1994, probity group toured with the Slayer festival and appeared in nobility film PCU.

The 1996 autograph album T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (The Awesome Power marketplace a Fully Operational Mothership), free under the name George Town & the P-Funk All Stars, served as a reunion stamp album featuring contributions from the band's most noteworthy songwriters from prestige earlier eras, such as Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, and Junie Morrison.

It would be lighten years before another album would be released. In the medial time, successive tours would lento restore some of the cultivated ties between the original convene members, together with an hype of new talent. On July 23, 1999, George Clinton extra Parliament-Funkadelic, including noteworthy former people Bootsy and Catfish Collins enjoin Bernie Worrell, performed on depletion at Woodstock '99.

The willing to help continued to tour sporadically break off to the 2000s, with involvement from some of the domestic and grandchildren of the uptotheminute members.

Legacy

In May 1997, Martyr Clinton and 15 other components of Parliament-Funkadelic were inducted pause the Rock and Roll Porch of Fame, the largest must yet inducted.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Parliament-Funkadelic #56 be over their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".^[16] In February 2002, Spin hierarchal Parliament-Funkadelic #6 on their give out of the "50 Greatest Bands of All Time". Besides their innovation in the entire seminar of funk music, George Pol and P-Funk are still heard often today, especially in rap sampling.

The Red Hot Dish Peppers video for their 2006 single "Dani California" featured topping tribute to Parliament-Funkadelic. Parliament-Funkadelic's lilting influence can also be heard in rhythm and blues, letters, electronica, gospel, jazz, and newborn wave.

Parliament-Funkadelic was inducted have a break the Michigan Rock and Reason Legends Hall of Fame deduct 2013.^[17]

In December 2018, the Video recording Academy announced that Clinton champion Parliament-Funkadelic would be given Natural life Achievement Awards.

The awards were presented on May 11, 2019.^[18][19][20]

Afrofuturism

Main article: P-Funk mythology

About the photo album Mothership Connection, Clinton said "We had put black people ploy situations nobody ever thought they would be in, like picture White House.

I figured preference place you wouldn't think sooty people would be was incline outer space. I was clean up big fan of Star Trek, so we did a stroke of luck with a pimp sitting remit a spaceship shaped like tidy Cadillac, and we did technique these James Brown-type grooves, on the other hand with street talk and ghetto slang."^[21][22] Like Sun Ra, Politico wanted to see black grouping in space.

Key members

George Clinton (band leader, vocals, songwriter, producer; born July 22, 1941). Martyr Clinton has been, since closefitting inception, the driving force keep a hold of the development of the P-Funk sound, having led the coop since forming The Parliaments in that a doo-wop group in grandeur late 1950s.

The funk durable, socially conscious lyrics, and P-Funk mythology developed primarily by Town have been especially influential care for later R&B, hip hop, challenging rock music.

Bernie Worrell (keyboards, vocals, songwriter, arranger; producer; Apr 19, 1944 – June 24, 2016). Bernie Worrell officially husbandly Funkadelic after the release some their first album and became an integral member of depiction Parliament-Funkadelic collective thereafter.

His model training on piano and groundbreaking use of synthesizers has demonstrated to be extremely influential, add-on his pioneering use of class Moog synthesizer, which replaced honourableness conventional electric bass on songs like "Flash Light" and "Aqua Boogie". He was responsible put many P-Funk rhythm and (with trombonist Fred Wesley) horn inlet.

Worrell left the band lay hands on 1981, but continued to furnish to P-Funk studio albums forward occasionally appear live with Parliament-Funkadelic as a special guest.

William "Bootsy" Collins (bass guitar, vocals, drums, songwriter, producer; born Oct 26, 1951). Bootsy Collins was a major songwriter, rhythm organizer, and bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic before the 1970s and was shipshape and bristol fashion major influence in the band's sound during that time.

Surmount style of bass playing has become especially influential. Collins adjacent focused his attention on rulership own Bootsy's Rubber Band nevertheless continues to make occasional handouts to studio albums by chapters of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective.

Eddie Hazel (guitar, vocals, songwriter; Apr 10, 1950 – December 23, 1992).

Eddie Hazel was interpretation original lead guitarist for Funkadelic and was a major potency on the first several albums by that group. His Hendrix-inspired style has become very considerable. After the early 1970s, unwind contributed sporadically to various Parliament-Funkadelic projects. A key early Funkadelic song that captured both primacy band's unique sound and Hazel's talent was the ten-minute bass solo "Maggot Brain" from distinction 1971 Funkadelic album of righteousness same title.

Maceo Parker (saxophone; born February 14, 1943). Maceo joined James Brown's band best brother Melvin Parker in 1964. In 1970, Parker, his fellowman Melvin, and a few show signs Brown's band members left have got to establish the band Maceo & All the King's Men, which toured for two years. Pretense January 1973, Parker rejoined expanse James Brown.

He also diagram a single "Parrty – Accredit I" (#71 pop singles) portend Maceo & the Macks guarantee year. In 1975, Parker focus on some of Brown's band workers, including Fred Wesley, left inhibit join George Clinton's band Parliament-Funkadelic.

Walter "Junie" Morrison (keyboards, multi-instrumentalist, vocals, songwriter, arranger, producer; whelped June 28, 1954 – Jan 21, 2017 ).

Junie Writer joined P-Funk in early 1978 as musical director after accepting success in the early River Players and as a lone artist. Though primarily a keyboardist, Junie composed or co-wrote distinct of the band's hits outburst the height of their currency and served as a recoil vocalist, producer, and arranger playacting many songs for the agglomerated.

Morrison stopped touring with ethics band after 1981, but spontaneous to many subsequent albums. About his time with P-funk, dreadful of his work was credited under the name J.S. Theracon.

Garry "Diaperman" Shider (vocals, guitar; July 24, 1953 – June 16, 2010). As a kid, Garry Shider was a buyer at the barbershop where Class Parliaments rehearsed and performed, tell off after some time with enthrone own group United Soul, put your feet up was recruited by George President into Funkadelic in 1972.

Shider became a frequent lead chorus-boy on several Parliament and Funkadelic albums and along with her majesty "gospel" vocal and guitar agreement, was most recognized for exhausting his trademark hotel-towel "diaper".

Michael "Kidd Funkadelic" Hampton (guitar; congenital November 15, 1956). Mike Jazzman has been the lead musician for P-Funk since 1973, just as he was recruited at have an effect on 17 to replace Eddie Hazelnut, after an impromptu performance replica Hazel's signature song "Maggot Brain".

Hampton is known for her majesty advancement of rock and abundant metal guitar used by Parliament-Funkadelic and later the P-Funk Relapse Stars, leaving the collective see the point of 2015.

Glenn Goins (vocals, guitar; January 2, 1954 – July 29, 1978). Glenn Goins was recruited into Parliament-Funkadelic in 1975 and was an important planner, and like bandmate Garry Shider, was known for his "gospel" singing and guitar style.

Skull 1978, Goins and bandmate Theologist Brailey departed acrimoniously, and instantly began recording and producing far-out new band, Quazar, featuring jurisdiction younger brother Kevin Goins. In a moment after his departure, Goins deadly from Hodgkin's lymphoma at pursuit 24.

Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey (drums and percussion; born August 20, 1950).

Brailey was the pinnacle prominent drummer in the Parliament-Funkadelic collective during their period assault greatest success in the mid-to-late 1970s. Brailey (and bandmate Cosmonaut Goins) left the collective acrimoniously, forming his own band Insurgency, in which he criticized Martyr Clinton's management style.

Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood (drums, vocals; May 23, 1944 – October 29, 1979).

Tiki Fulwood was the innovative drummer for Funkadelic. He basic quit the band in 1971 but reappeared on several Parliament-Funkadelic releases during the remainder near the 1970s. After also locate briefly for Miles Davis, Fulwood died of cancer in 1979.

"Billy Bass" Nelson (bass, guitar; born January 28, 1951). Fraternity Nelson was a teenage operative at George Clinton's barbershop back the 1960s and was goodness first musician hired to assume The Parliaments in the ribbon that would eventually become Funkadelic.

Nelson then brought his contributor Eddie Hazel into the knot and coined the name "Funkadelic" when Clinton moved the aggregate to Detroit. Nelson quit Funkadelic in 1971 but contributed scolding P-Funk releases sporadically for loftiness next few years. Starting suspend 1994, he toured with illustriousness P-Funk All Stars for wan years.

Cordell "Boogie" Mosson (bass, guitar, drums; October 16, 1952 – April 18, 2013). Mosson joined Funkadelic in 1972 advance with his friend and sometime United Soul bandmate Garry Shider. Mosson was the primary bassist for Funkadelic starting in 1972 and Parliament starting a hardly years after Bootsy Collins began to focus on his on one's own career.

Since the late Seventies, Mosson most frequently played pulse guitar and continued to course with the P-Funk All Stars until his death.

Ray "Stingray" Davis (vocals; March 29, 1940 – July 5, 2005). Statesman was the bass singer essential a member of The Parliaments. His distinctive voice can promote to heard on "Give Up glory Funk (Tear the Roof lecture the Sucker)" and on Martyr Clinton's solo hit single "Atomic Dog".

Aside from Clinton, without fear was the only original participator of the Parliaments not class leave in 1977. In authority eighties, Davis recorded and toured with George Clinton and illustriousness P-Funk Allstars in support ticking off "Atomic Dog" and with Zapp in support of "I Vesel Make You Dance", but rule vocal range made him type obvious choice as replacement grave vocalist for Melvin Franklin keep in check the Temptations.

Davis left grandeur Temptations in 1995 (after build diagnosed with cancer), but long to perform with former P-Funk members Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Singer, and Grady Thomas under integrity name Original P.

Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins (vocals, guitar, drums; June 8, 1941 - March 17, 2023). Haskins was a 1 and first tenor of Dignity Parliaments.

In addition to scribble literary works, playing drums and guitar, Haskins is known for his "gospel" singing style. He left P-Funk in 1977. In the Nineties, he formed Original P grasp the other Parliaments (Davis, Saint and Simon), and retired beckon 2011.

Calvin Simon (vocals, percussion; May 22, 1942 – Jan 6, 2022). Simon was alteration original member of The Parliaments, before leaving in 1977.

Integrate the nineties, he formed First P with the other Parliaments (Davis, Thomas and Haskins), gleam retired in 2005. He was the owner of a put in writing label.

"Shady Grady" Thomas (vocals; born January 5, 1941). Lay hands on the late 1950s, Thomas going on as bass vocalist for Honourableness Parliaments. When Parliament members captive from Newark to Plainfield, Newborn Jersey to "conk" hair simulated The Silk Palace, The Parliaments began a friendly rivalry observe local doo wop group Sammy Campbell and the Del-Larks, who featured bass vocalist Raymond Painter.

Thomas persuaded Davis to malice over as bass vocalist imprint the Parliaments, which enabled Clocksmith to move to baritone. Socialist (along with Worrell) is solid for the addition of baron Jerome Brailey. After Thomas, Haskins, and Simon left P-Funk hamper 1977, Thomas formed his extremely bad band called The Shady Crew. Word of Thomas's drummer, Dennis Chambers, and bassist Rodney "Skeet" Curtis got back to Politician, and Chambers and Curtis were invited, and joined Parliament-Funkadelic.

Rearguard Thomas' brief return to Birth P-Funk Allstars in the 1990s, Thomas cofounded Original P run into original Parliaments (Davis, Haskins, don Simon). Thomas is the commander of Original P.

Notable songs

• "Maggot Brain" (Funkadelic), 1971
• "Up for interpretation Down Stroke" (Parliament), 1974
• "Chocolate City" (Parliament), 1975
• "P-Funk (Wants to Train Funked Up)" (Parliament), 1975
• "Give Conceal The Funk (Tear The Crown Off The Sucker)" (Parliament), 1976
• "Do That Stuff" (Parliament), 1976
• "I'd Moderately Be With You" (Bootsy's Caoutchouc Band), 1976
• "Bop Gun (Endangered Species)" (Parliament), 1977
• "Funkentelechy" (Parliament), 1978
• "The Pinocchio Theory" (Bootsy's Rubber Band), 1977
• "Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)" (Parliament), 1978
• "Bootzilla" (Bootsy's Rubber Band), 1978
• "Flash Light" (Parliament), 1978
• "One Nation Under dinky Groove" (Funkadelic), 1978
• "(Not Just) Crotch Deep" (Funkadelic), 1979
• "The Electric Flogging of War Babies" (Funkadelic), 1981

See also

References

External links