The Best Funk Music Artists You Need to Know

Looking for the best funk music artists to add to your collection? Check out our list of the top performers in the genre, including some of the most influential names in the business.

James Brown

James Brown was an American musician who played a key role in the development of funk music. He was a prolific singer, songwriter, and bandleader who helped to make funk a dominant style in popular music. Brown’s career spanned six decades, and he was a major figure in the music industry. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame.

About James Brown

James Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer and bandleader. The founder of the James Brown Band and the eponymous recording studio, Brown was a prolific singer with several hits such as “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”, “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”. A progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century popular music and dance, he left his mark on numerous genres such as R&B, soul, gospel and funk. He is often referred to as the “Godfather of Soul”.

Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, Brown rose to fame in the early 1960s as a leading figure of the new sound of soul music. He also became notable for creating the dance style known as the “James Brown Dance”. His success peaked in 1965 with the live album James Brown Presents The Famous Flames Singing Live at the Apollo. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, Brown increasingly focused on his personal life and drug abuse problems while alienating many sections of his African-American fan base with his pro-Black Power stance during the highly charged political climate of those years. By 1973, he had been referred to as “the godfather” of soul music by music critic Dave Marsh.

In 1974 James Brown started losing favor with black radio due to changing musical tastes. Disco had taken over much of popular black music on urban radio stations. Although disco records were initially played only on daytime programs aimed at young adults that were dance-oriented (” adult discos “), they quickly became popular among all listeners. As disco records began crossing over to Top 40 radio stations (a phenomenon known as “disco rocketing”), white America became more aware of this type of music. At first they attempted to co-opt it by putting white artists like Debby Boone and The Village People in front of black performers like Thelma Houston , but this approach quickly lost steam due partially to a backlash from black audiences who felt that these artists were not accurately representing them or their culture.

Best Funk Songs

Funk is a genre of music that originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a groove-oriented sound and a strong emphasis on rhythmic groove. Funk’s close cousins include soul, R&B, and disco.

Some of the best funk songs include:

-“I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown
-“Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
-“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown
-“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament
-“Flash Light” by Parliament
-“Can You Get to That” by Funkadelic
-“Atomic Dog” by George Clinton

Parliament-Funkadelic

Led by the always flamboyant George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic was a collective of over 50 musicians who created some of the most influential and innovative music of the 1970s. Funkadelic’s self-titled debut album is often cited as one of the most important funk albums of all time.

About Parliament-Funkadelic

Formed in the late 1960s by musician and producer George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic was a funk and soul band that blended elements of R&B, psychedelic rock, and acid jazz. The band’s unusual sound was influential in the development of disco and hip hop music, and they are often credited as being one of the progenitors of the funk music genre.

In addition to Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic featured a large and ever-changing lineup of musicians over the years, including bassist Bootsy Collins, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, guitarist Eddie Hazel, and saxophonist Maceo Parker. The band released a number of successful albums throughout the 1970s, including Funkadelic (1970), Maggot Brain (1971), One Nation Under a Groove (1978), and Uncle Jam Wants You (1979).

Following Clinton’s retirement from touring in 1981, the Parliament-Funkadelic name was retired and the group’s members pursued solo careers. However, Clinton continued to work with many of the band’s former members on occasion, and in 1993 he reformed Parliament-Funkadelic for a reunion tour. The band has continued to perform sporadically in the years since then, with Clinton typically appearing as the sole link to Parliament-Funkadelic’s classic lineup.

Best Funk Songs

There are many great funk songs out there, but here are some of the best:

-“Can You Get to That” by Parliament
-“Flash Light” by Parliament
-“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament
-“Ain’t It Funky Now” by James Brown
-“Super Bad” by James Brown
-“Sex Machine” by James Brown
-“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown
-“Soul Power” by James Brown
-“Pass the Peas” by The JBs
-“The Payback” by James Brown

Bootsy Collins

Funk music would not be the same without the influence of Bootsy Collins. He was born in 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio and his music career spans over 50 years. He is a singer, songwriter, bassist, and record producer. Bootsy Collins has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he has won numerous Grammy Awards.

About Bootsy Collins

Funk pioneer and Godfather of the Funk, Bootsy Collins has been making hits since the 1970s. With his flashy style and powerful bass playing, he has helped shape the sound of Funk and R&B.

Collins was born in Ohio in 1951. He grew up playing in various R&B and Funk bands before joining James Brown’s band in 1970. He became one of Brown’s most trusted bandmates, appearing on many of his most famous recordings.

In the early 1970s, Collins began working with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. He appeared on some of their most seminal recordings, including “Mothership Connection” and “One Nation Under a Groove”. He also started his own band, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, which had a series of hit records in the 1970s and 1980s.

Collins has continued to stay active in music, recording and performing with a variety of artists over the years. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Best Funk Songs

“Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-American artists in the mid-1960s. It relies on a strong, repetitive bassline and is often funkier and more syncopated than other forms of popular music. Some of the best funk songs ever recorded areowerful anthems that make you want to move your feet.”

” Bootsy Collins is one of the most well-known and respected funk musicians in the world. He has played with some of the biggest names in the business, including James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Bootsy’s own group Bootsy’s New Rubber Band. He is also a highly respected solo artist, with several Grammy nominations under his belt.”

“Here are some of the best funk songs ever recorded, featuring Bootsy Collins and other great funk musicians.”

1. “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown
2. “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown
3. “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by James Brown
4. “Super Bad” by James Brown
5. “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament-Funkadelic
6. “(Not Just) Knee Deep” by Funkadelic
7. “One Nation Under a Groove” by Funkadelic
8. “Aqua Boogie (A Psychic Odyssey Through The Outlands Of Aquarius)” by Parliament
9. “Flash Light” by Parliament

Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone was a band that was most active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band was led by Sly Stone, and featured his brother Freddie on guitar, Larry Graham on bass, Rose Stone on keyboards, and Greg Errico on drums. The band’s sound was a mix of soul, R&B, rock, and funk, and they were one of the first interracial bands in the US.

About Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, the group was led by singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, and featured stone’s brother and sister Freddy on saxophone and Rose on vocals. The band’s music merged elements of rock, soul, funk, psychedelia, and R&B.

The group recorded several hit singles before their 1969 LP Stand! made them international superstars. Stand! includes the songs “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Everyday People”, which both reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album was ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

After a series of lineup changes, Sly and the Family Stone released 1971’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On. The album peaked at number one on both the Billboard 200 chart and the R&B/soul albums chart; it has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album was ranked by Rolling Stone as number 494 in their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time; it is also included in their 2010 list of The Best Funk Albums of All Time.

Best Funk Songs

There are so many great funk songs out there, it’s hard to choose just a few. But if we had to narrow it down, these would be our top picks.

-“ Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
-“I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5
-“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament
-“Flash Light” by Parliament
-“Get Down On It” by Kool & The Gang
-“Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan
-“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Prince

Prince was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a pioneer of the Minneapolis sound, a funk rock subgenre that blended rock music with funk and R&B. Prince was also known for his eclectic and often controversial work, which explored race, sexuality, and gender. He was born in 1958 and died in 2016.

About Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and filmmaker. A prominent figure in popular music, he is known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, extravagant fashion sense and use of makeup, and wide vocal range. His music integrates a wide variety of styles, including funk, rock, R&B, pop, soul and psychedelia. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards throughout his career.

Best Funk Songs

Funk is a style of danceable, rhythmic music originating in African-American communities in the mid-1960s. It began as a reaction to both the tame pop music of the time and the violent gang culture of many inner cities. Funk de-emphasizes melody and chord progressions in favor of a strong, steady groove played by bass and drums. The best funk songs have an infectious beat that will make you want to get up and dance.

Here are 10 of the best funk songs of all time:

1. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
2. “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown
3. “Brick House” by The Commodores
4. “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5
5. “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations
6. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
7. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
8. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” Justin Timberlake
9. “That’s the Way (I Like It)” by KC and The Sunshine Band
10. “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder