If there’s some FUNKIER new MUSIC in stores right now, PLEASE, let a brother know. While browsing Best Buy recently, I came upon the new Black Keys CD “Brothers.” Priced at 10-dollars, I grabbed it based on the sonic fusion of soul, blues and rock of their last CD “Attack and Release.”
I don’t believe anyone would dispute the unique FUNK stylings of Prince when it comes to his music. Simply a master musician, he’s been categorized as a “Pop / Rock” artist for the most part. His first release, “For You,” was a refreshing contribution to music. It featured songs like “Soft and Wet” and “Crazy You,” which offered a kind of latent hippie sort of vibe. It was the FUNKY rhythm of his first hit, “I Wanna Be Your Lover” from his second self-titled album, that perked up the ears of the R&B community.
George Clinton walked the red carpet at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards for 2010. The living legend talked about his new album with fellow funk-a-teer Sly Stone. The dynamic duo are hoping the new CD is released this year, and Clinton announced that Stone recently got certain rights back to his classic catalog of music. Clinton stressed the importance of supporting the people that are devastated in Haiti and how he wants to do all he can to help them.
Although he wasn’t a member of a FUNK band, his raspy commanding voice was definitely FUNKY! Teddy Pendergrass made his transition recently, and many were saddened. More than feeling blue, I want to inspire everyone to remember the “Joy,” TP brought to so many!!!
Sade is not a funk band, nor is the lead singer for which the band was named a Funk vocalist, but I don’t believe anyone would dispute that they have given us some Funky music. To that end, her voice has definitely lifted many souls from a Funky place with her soothing tone.
America has truly lost an icon of cultural signifigance. As a 20+ year veteran in the business of entertainment, my foundation would not exist, had it not been for him. Percy Sutton, the founder of Inner City Broadcasting – the home of New York’s first and only black-owned radio station, has passed.
This Christmas I was very fortunate to get the gift of music. Two of my favorite people in the world bestowed treasures upon me that I’ll cherish for years to come. On Christmas Eve, as I did the last of the trimming to the tree, I opened my gift from Chantalle. It was a Beatles Christmas tree ornament. A scenic piece of pottery, the “Fab Four” are presented complete with instruments, as if they’re playing music from their early days of fame.
It’s been a minute since my last blog entry. As we approach the end of 2009, the year 2010 has got to be Funky! Chillin’ in my Brooklyn lair, I’m looking forward to the victories and new beginnings that 2010 will bring.
At the peak of his career, Willie Hutch, was a songwriter and producer for Motown Records. It’s his version of the Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There,” that many a funkateer came to know his sound for. In 1973, Hutch wrote the soundtrack for the FUNKALICIOUS flick “The Mack.” The album included the title track and the hit “Brothers Gonna Work It Out.”
Just watched a press conference post the “Beer Summit.” “The Beer Bash,” featuring the brews of Bud Light for Barack; Blue Moon for James; and Red Stripe for Henry. I’d love to know what the sales increase for all three will be.
Ever since his death, music artists, bands, friends and fans have been paying tribute to Michael Jackson. The same week of his passing, BET changed the program of their entire awards show, to pay tribute to “The King of Pop.” BET began the event by playing a clip from a previous year, when Michael Jackson honored “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown. Michael draped JB with a cape, after he performed at the BET Awards that paid tribute to him.
George Clinton took the stage this past week on July 22nd at Englewood, New Jersey’s BergenPAC center. “This is a Homecoming,” said the hype man for George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, as the day marked his 68th birthday.
My friend Kweli reminded me that Michael Jackson sang background vocals on Stevie Wonder’s “All I Do” the other day. It wasn’t that I’d forgotten, I just hadn’t thought it about in years. Communicating via Internet, leaving a comment on one of the many social networks we choose to use these days, I said, “I’m listening to it right now.” In reality I was recounting the vocals of the song in my head, All I doo, is think about you…
What an honor it was to speak to Miriam Makeba. When we got together, she spoke of her relationship with Stevie Wonder, how she enjoys the music of Erykah Badu and her marriage to Black Panther leader Stokely Carmichael.
I spoke to the late Roger Troutman and the group Zapp one summer just before the turn of the century.
When Isaac Hayes made a comeback as a radio disc-jockey, before he took on the role of Chef on South Park, I spoke to him about his endeavor Literacy is the Balm, the World Literacy Crusade, Scientology, film and his historic Oscar win for Shaft.
Shortly after Rick James’ release from Folsom prison, he hit the road to get back in the swing of things.
Kung Fu was FUNK on TV. From David Carradine to Bruce Lee to the Wu-Tang to Jet-Li to Ang Lee to QT aka Quentin Tarantino, the Martial Arts is steeped in FUNK. David Carradine’s death came as a shock to many.
I remember meeting George Clinton at his hotel room when we spoke for this interview. It was not long after he had dropped his albums “Dope Dogs” and “T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (The Awesome Power of a Fully Operational Mothership),” which were released in 1995 and 1996, respectively. He spoke about some of his favorite projects that he released over the years, as well as the success of his visual art.
George Clinton is a living legend. A pioneer of FUNK, his contributions to music parallel James Brown, Rick James, Sly Stone and Prince. The bands Parliament; Funkadelic and the P-Funk All Stars, packaged as three, but essentially one – are on par with FUNK collectives such as Earth, Wind & Fire, The Ohio Players, War, Cameo and Kool & the Gang.
