10 Best Funk Music Bands of All Time
Contents
A list of the 10 best funk bands of all time, including Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band.
The Meters
The Meters are the best funk band of all time. They are the pioneers of the genre and have influenced countless other artists. The Meters have a unique sound that is a mix of New Orleans R&B, soul, and funk. They are also known for their tight rhythm section and use of the call and response style of singing.
Band Members
The Meters originally consisted of keyboardist and vocalist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr., and drummer Ziggy Modeliste.
Neville Brothers saxophonist Charles Neville often sat in with the band during their early years. Modeliste left the band briefly in 1969 but rejoined a few months later. The band’s classic lineup did not last long; by 1971 Nocentelli had departed, to be replaced briefly by Jerry Martini of Sly & the Family Stone fame and then by additional guitarist Reggie Boyd.
Notable Songs
The Meters are an American funk band from New Orleans, Louisiana. Formed in the mid-1960s by Art Neville, George Porter Jr., Leo Nocentelli and Zigaboo Modeliste, they are credited with being one of the progenitors of funk and helped pioneer the genre with a string of hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band went on to back up vocalists such as Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer and Dr. John, and released five studio albums before disbanding in 1977.
Notable songs:
– “Cissy Strut”
– “People Say”
– “I Need More Time”
– “Fire on the Bayou”
– “Just Kissed My Baby”
James Brown and The J.B.’s
James Brown and The J.B.’s is one of the most well-known and popular funk bands of all time. They were a big influence on the development of the funk genre and their music is still loved by many people today. Let’s take a look at some of their best-known songs.
Band Members
James Brown and The J.B.’s were a funk music band that was active in the 1970s. The band was led by James Brown and featured some of the best funk musicians of all time.
The members of The J.B.’s were:
-James Brown (vocals, keyboards)
-Fred Wesley (trombone)
-Pee Wee Ellis (saxophone)
-Maceo Parker (saxophone)
-Bootsy Collins (bass)
-Bobby Byrd (keyboards, vocals)
-Jawara McIntosh (guitar)
-Chank Nocket (drums)
Notable Songs
“Cold Sweat” – 1967
“Give It Up or Turnit a Loose (Remix)” – 1969
“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” – 1970
“(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Pts. 1 & 2” – 1971
“Super Bad, Pts. 1 & 2” – 1971
Parliament-Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band formed in 1968. The band was originally known as The Parliaments, but they changed their name to Funkadelic in 1970. The band was a part of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective which also included the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. The collective was a part of the P-Funk music genre, which was a combination of funk, soul, and rock music.
Band Members
The original lineup of Parliament-Funkadelic featured George Clinton, Ray Davis, Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas, and Tawl Ross. This sextet became the Parliament after signing with Motown Records in 1967. Bootsy Collins joined the group in 1970 and would be featured on most of their subsequent albums. Bernie Worrell, Jerome Rogers (a.k.a. Jerry), and Glen Goins (a.k.a. cordell) were also regular members of the band during this period. The band’s first album as Parliament, Osmium (1970), was not a commercial success; however, it did contain the singles “The Silent Boatman” and “I Call My Baby Pussycat”.
Notable Songs
“Maggot Brain”
“Super Stupid”
“Up for the Down Stroke”
“Doing It to Death”
“Funky Dollar Bill”
“Standing on the Verge of Getting It On”
“Mississippi Queen”
Parliament-Funkadelic, also known as P-Funk, is an American funk music collective of rotating musicians headed by George Clinton, primarily active from 1970 to 1983. Its name is a portmanteau of Parliament and Funkadelic. P-Funk developed an elaborate stage show that featured costumes, pyrotechnics, and theatrical themes established by Clinton and previous Funkadelic bands.
Bootsy’s Rubber Band
Bootsy’s Rubber Band was a Funk Music band that was formed in the year 1976. The band was originally composed of Bootsy Collins, Catfish Collins, Phelps “Catfish” Collins, Frank Waddy, Joel Johnson, Gary Webster, and Rodney Curtis. The band was known for their unique brand of Funk music which was a mix of R&B, Soul, and Psychedelic Rock.
Band Members
Bootsy’s Rubber Band was an American funk band formed in 1976 by bassist and vocalist Bootsy Collins. The band’s membership has included some of the most prominent names in funk music, including Catfish Collins (guitar), Joel Johnson (keyboards), Frank Waddy (drums), and Garry Shider (guitar). Although the band has undergone several lineup changes over the years, they have maintained a consistent sound and style that has made them one of the most popular and influential funk bands of all time.
Band Members:
-Bootsy Collins (bass, vocals)
-Catfish Collins (guitar)
-Joel Johnson (keyboards)
-Frank Waddy (drums)
-Garry Shider (guitar)
Notable Songs
Bootsy’s Rubber Band was an American funk band formed in 1972 by bassist Bootsy Collins. The band’s notable songs include “Stretchin’ Out (In a Rubber Band)”, “The Pinocchio Theory”, and “Psychic Powers”.
The Ohio Players
The Ohio Players were a Funk music band that was formed in the year 1954. The band was originally known as the Ohio Untouchables. The band rose to popularity in the 1970s with their hit songs “Love Rollercoaster”, “Fire”, and “Skin Tight”. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the year 2013.
Band Members
The Ohio Players were an American funk and R&B group, most popular in the 1970s. The group formed in Toledo, Ohio, United States, in 1959 as the Ohio Untouchables, and initially consisted of singer-songwriter/keyboardist/guitarist Junie Morrison, trumpeter/saxophonist/flutist Beckford “Bunky” Green, trombonist Wendell Stewart, drummer Herman Stephens Jr., and bassist Marion Franklin. TheUntouchables signed to Westbound Records in 1969 and changed their name to the Ohio Players the following year.
The group’s first album, Observations in Time (1970), was a moderate success; it was followed by a string of gold and platinum albums throughout the 1970s including Skin Tight (1974), Fire (1974), Honey (1975), Contradiction (1976),orgasm(1977) and clout(1978). The Ohio Players disbanded in 1980. In 1984, Green, Morrison and Stewart reformed the band with new members; this version of the group toured extensively until 1986 when they recorded one final album before disbanding again.
The Ohio Players had ten band members over their career: Joseph “Diamond Joe” Walton (vocals); Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner (guitar, vocals); Marshall “Rock” Jones (bass guitar); Clarence “Satch” Satchell (saxophone); Marvin “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks (trombone); William “Billy Beck” Cooper(trumpet); Walter “Junie” Morrison(keyboards, vocals); Phillip Wolfe(drums); James Wilkerson III(percussion); Beckford “Bunky” Green(trumpet).
Notable Songs
The Ohio Players began in 1964 as a soul group called the Ohio Untouchables. The band enjoyed moderate success in the late 1960s and early 1970s with hits like “Funky Worm,” “Skin Tight,” “Fire,” and “Love Rollercoaster.” The group’s career was derailed by legal troubles in the mid-1970s, but they made a comeback in the 1980s with the album Back to the Good Life. The Ohio Players are considered one of the best funk bands of all time and have influenced generations of musicians.
Notable songs:
-Funky Worm
-Skin Tight
-Fire
-Love Rollercoaster
Slave
Slave was an American funk band from Dayton, Ohio, best known for their hit singles “Watching You” and “Just a Touch of Love” in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group’s name was a reference to the group’s position in the music industry, as they felt they were “slaves” to the record labels. The band was formed in 1975 by Steve Arrington, Mark Hicks, Starleana Young, and Mark Adams.
Band Members
Slave was an American funk band from Dayton, Ohio, led by singer/songwriter Steve Arrington. The group’s most successful lineup included Arrington, Mark Hicks, Walter Morrison, and espite their success, Morrison and Hicks left the band in 1977 and were replaced by star drummer Garrett Shider and guitarist/singer Paul Laurence.
After leaving Slave, Arrington embarked on a successful solo career. He was replaced in Slave by singer Calvin Simon, who helped lead the band to its final albums as a commercial entity: Stone Jam (1980) and Show Time (1981). Today, original members Arrington, Morrison, and Simon are all deceased.
Notable Songs
“I’d Rather Be with You”
“Just Funnin'”
“Watchdog”
“Stone Cold People”
“Funken townsend ”
“Scratching’ the Surface”
“Reprise (I Wanna Be Your Slave)”
The Gap Band
The Gap Band was an American funk band that rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s. The band was originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was composed of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson. The Gap Band is best known for their hits “Outstanding”, “You Dropped a Bomb on Me”, and “Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”.
Band Members
The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band which rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band originated from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was led by brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson. The group’s hits included “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!)”, “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”, “Party Train”, “Outstanding”, and “You Dropped a Bomb on Me”.
The Gap Band had its roots in a family band called The Greenwood Archer & Pine Street Junction which formed in the 1960s in Tulsa. When the brothers’ parents divorced in 1972, they moved with their mother to Los Angeles. Not long after they began attending Wilson High School, they met Floyd Smith, who would become their manager. Under his tutelage, the group began developing a funk sound.
In 1977, The Gap Band was signed by Mercury Records and released its first album, entitled Magician’s Holiday. The album did not gain much attention, but the song “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance” became a hit on the R&B charts. After touring to support the album, the band recorded its next album, The Gap Band II. This album featured another hit song,”Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”.
Notable Songs
The Gap Band was an American funk music band that rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s. The band was formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson. The group’s signature sound was a mix of sharp vocal harmony, strong rhythm guitar, and heavy bass lines. The Gap Band had several hits, including “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head),” “Party Train,” and “You Dropped a Bomb on Me.” The band was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Brick
Band Members
-Eddie Hazel: vocals, guitar (died 1992)
-Billy Bass Nelson: vocals, bass
-Tiki Fulwood: drums (died 1979)
-Bootsy Collins: vocals, drums (joined band in 1971)
Brick was an American funk band that was popular in the 1970s. The band was influenced by James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone. They had a hit with the song “Dazz” in 1976.
The band members were Eddie Hazel (vocals, guitar; died 1992), Billy Bass Nelson (vocals, bass), Tiki Fulwood (drums; died 1979), and Bootsy Collins (vocals, drums; joined band in 1971).
Notable Songs
Brick is an American Funk band that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The band is best known for their hit songs “Dazz” and “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody”, both of which were featured on the band’s debut album, Brick.
Other notable songs by Brick include “Dusic”, “Sweat (Til You Get Wet)”, “Dazz (Reprise)”, and “Dance the Night Away”.
Lakeside
If you’re looking for a band that personifies the term “funk,” then look no further than Lakeside. This group was one of the most popular funk bands during the 1970s, and they continue to be a force in the music industry today. With their signature blend of R&B, soul, and funk, Lakeside has created some of the most iconic funk songs of all time.
Band Members
Lakeside is an American funk music band, formed in Denver, Colorado in 1969. The band’s hits include “Your Love”, ” Raiders of the Lost Ark”, and “Fantastic Voyage”. The band has had four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and six number-one singles on the Billboard R&B chart.
Band members:
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The original members of Lakeside were brothers Steve Arrington (drums, lead vocals) and Bernard Arrington (bass guitar), Raymond Hudson (guitar), Anthony Smith (keyboards), Malik Taylor (trumpet) and Mark Woods (saxophone).
Notable Songs
“Lakeside”, a 1977 funk classic by the Ohio-based band of the same name, is one of the most enduring and well-known funk songs of all time. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B chart and has been covered by a number of artists, including George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Snoop Dogg. The original band Lakeside is still touring and performing today.
“Brick House”, a 1977 song by The Commodores, is another well-known funk tune. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is often cited as one of the best examples of 1970s funk music. The Commodores were a hugely successful Motown group that featured Lionel Richie and had a number of other hits in the 1970s and 1980s.
“Flash Light”, a 1977 song by Parliament-Funkadelic, is another classic funk tune. The song was one of Parliament’s biggest hits, reaching number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Flash Light” features a distinctive bassline that has been imitated by many other artists over the years.
Other notable funk songs include “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” by Parliament-Funkadelic, “Super Freak” by Rick James, “I Want Your (Hands on Me)” by Sly and the Family Stone, and “Sex Machine” by James Brown. Funk music was popular in the 1970s and 1980s but has seen something of a resurgence in recent years with bands like Vulfpeck delivering modern takes on the classic sound.
Con Funk Shun
Con Funk Shun is an American funk band that was formed in the 1970s. The band gained popularity in the 1980s with their hit singles “Ffun” and “Shake and Dance with Me”. Con Funk Shun is considered one of the best funk bands of all time because of their ability to fuse R&B, soul, and funk together.
Band Members
Con Funk Shun is an American funk band whose style also incorporates elements of soul, R&B, and disco. They were popular in the 1970s and 1980s with hits like “Shake and Dance with Me” and “Too Tight.” The band’s influences include James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
The original lineup of the band consisted of lead vocalist Felton Pilate, bassist Cedric Martin, drummer Karl Fuller, guitarist Louis Aison, keyboardist Michael Cooper,percussionist Paul Humphrey, and trumpet player Jerry Martini. The band has undergone several lineup changes over the years; Pilate is the only original member still with the group.
Con Funk Shun’s musical style is a hybrid of funk and R&B that incorporates elements of soul, disco, and pop. The band is known for its danceable grooves, catchy melodies, and tight vocal harmonies. Con Funk Shun’s music is often upbeat and positive in nature, with lyrics that celebrate love and relationships.
Notable Songs
“Ffun” is a song by the band Con Funk Shun. It was released in 1978 as the second single from the album Secrets. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the UK Singles Chart.
” Shake and Dance With Me” is a song by Con Funk Shun. It was released in 1979 as the third single from the album Loveshine. The song peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the UK Singles Chart.
“Got to Be Enough” is a song by Con Funk Shun. It was released in 1980 as the fourth single from the album Candy. The song peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart.
