How Dayton Became the Birthplace of Funk Music
Contents
Dayton, Ohio is the birthplace of funk music. Funk is a style of danceable, rhythm and blues-based music that originated in the mid-1960s. Dayton’s African American community was highly influential in the development of the genre.
Dayton’s Funk History
Funk music has its roots in the African-American community in the late 1960s. The genre is a mix of soul, R&B, and rock. The first funk song is credited to James Brown with his 1968 hit “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine.” Dayton, Ohio is considered the birthplace of funk music. The city has a long history of funk music, dating back to the early 1970s.
The Funk Era in Dayton
The Funk Era in Dayton begins in the late 1960s when a group of young, talented musicians started playing a new style of music that would come to be known as “funk.” These musicians, who came to be known as “The Ohio Untouchables,” developed a sound that was unique to Dayton and quickly gained a following among the city’s African American community.
The Ohio Untouchables’ success helped to launch the careers of several other Dayton-based funk bands, including The Ohio Players and Slave. These bands would go on to enjoy national and international success, helping to put Dayton on the map as the “Birthplace of Funk.”
Today, the legacy of Dayton’s funk era is still alive and well. The city is home to the Funk Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which celebrates the history and influence of funk music. And every year, Dayton hosts the International Funk Fest, which attracts funk fans from all over the world.
The Birth of Funk Music
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new style of music was born in Dayton, Ohio. This style of music combined elements of soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock to create a sound that was both unique and distinctly “funk”. The genre would go on to have a lasting impact on popular music, and today, Dayton is known as the “Birthplace of Funk”.
The story of funk begins with a group of musicians who came together to form the band “The Ohio Untouchables”. This band would eventually come to be known as “The Deleting Means”, and they were the first group to truly pioneer the sound of funk. The Deleting Means were made up of keyboardist Greg Jacobs, bassist William “Billy Bass” Nelson, guitarist Melvin “Wah Wah Watson” Ragin, drummer Tiki Fulwood, and percussionist Roger Troutman.
In 1970, The Deleting Means released their debut album “Doin’ It To De Fat RatWaWaWatkins”. This album is widely considered to be one of the first funk albums ever released. The success of this album led to the band being signed by Atlantic Records, who released their second album “Up For The Down Stroke” in 1974. This album contained the hit single “Flash Light”, which would go on to become one of the most iconic funk songs of all time.
The success of The Deleting Means paved the way for other Dayton-based funk bands such as Zapp and Slave. These bands would go on to have international success with songs like “Zapp & Roger – More Bounce To The Ounce” and “Slave – Slide”. Today, the legacy of Dayton funk lives on through the work of contemporary artists such as Junie Browning and Missy Elliott.
The Funk Sound
Funk is a type of music that originated in the city of Dayton, Ohio in the 1960s. The sound is a mix of soul, R&B, and blues. Theodor Adorno, a German philosopher, once said that funk “is the music of the oppressed.”
The Funk Sound of Dayton
In the 1960s and early 1970s, Cincinnati and Hamilton, Ohio, were hotbeds for top-40, country, and rock & roll music. But a short drive down I-75 from these more populated areas sits the city of Dayton. With a population hovering around 140,000, it doesn’t seem like the most likely place for a musical revolution. But in the 1970s, Dayton became the birthplace of funk music.
The sound of Dayton funk is characterized by a heavy groove and extended instrumentals. The focus is on rhythm rather than melody, and the result is a driving, danceable sound. The style was pioneered by George Clinton and his band Parliament-Funkadelic, who developed their own unique take on funk by blending elements of soul, R&B, and rock & roll.
other Dayton funk bands followed suit, including Zapp, Slave, Lakeside, heatwave Ohio Players . These groups took the basic funk sound and added their own twist, creating a distinctively Midwestern style of funk.
While the Dayton funk scene was short-lived — lasting just a few years in the 1970s — its impact was lasting. The funky sound of Dayton has influenced many subsequent generations of musicians and continues to be an important part of the city’s musical identity.
The Evolution of Funk
The Funk Sound is a sub-genre of Soul music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a slow, syncopated, often sparse rhythm guitar style; a minimalistic approach to horn sections; and a propulsive, driving bassline. The use of electronic keyboards and synthesizers is also common in Funk.
The term “funk” has many different meanings, but in the context of Soul music, it generally refers to a style that combines elements of Soul, R&B, and Gospel with a more groove-oriented approach. The result is a sound that is both deeply soulful and highly danceable.
The Funk sound first emerged in the early 1970s with groups like Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly & the Family Stone. These groups took the basic elements of Soul music and added their own distinctive twist, creating a sound that was both new and exciting. As the Funk sound spread throughout the country, it began to influence other genres of music as well, particularly Hip Hop.
Today, the Funk sound is as popular as ever, thanks in part to artists like Bruno Mars and Outkast who have continued to pushed the boundaries of this ever-evolving genre.
The Funk Scene Today
Funk music is a genre that originated in the 1960s and is characterized by a groove-oriented style and heavy use of bass and drums. The genre developed in the United States, specifically in the city of Dayton, Ohio. Dayton has been referred to as the “birthplace of funk” and is still home to a thriving funk music scene today.
The Funk Scene in Dayton
In the 1970s, Dayton, Ohio, was known as the birthplace of funk music. Influenced by James Brown and Sly Stone, Dayton’s bands developed a new style of rhythm and blues that would come to be known as “The Funk.”
Today, the Dayton funk scene is thriving, with several bands carrying on the tradition. These include The Ohio Players, Lakeside, Heatwave, Slave, and Pleasure.
While the original funk bands from Dayton have long since disbanded, their legacy continues to influence the city’s music scene. In recent years, several tribute concerts have been held in Dayton to honor the pioneers of funk.
The Future of Funk
Funk music is on the rise again, with a new generation of musicians carrying on the legacy of legends like James Brown, George Clinton, and Sly Stone. Dayton, Ohio, is emerging as a hotbed of funk activity, with a thriving scene of clubs, festivals, and recording studios.
Funkadelic Studios is one of the most respected funk labels in the world, and its owner, Bashar “Bash” Wills, is a driving force behind the Dayton funk scene. He’s worked with everyone from Parliament-Funkadelic to Red Hot Chili Peppers, and he’s passionate about keeping funk alive.
The future of funk looks bright in Dayton, with a new generation of musicians carrying on the legacy of the genre’s pioneers. Bash Wills and Funkadelic Studios are leading the way, ensuring that the world will keep dancing to the beat of funk for years to come.
