5 Funk Music Bands You Need to Know About

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

If you’re a fan of funk music, then you need to check out these five bands. They’ll get you grooving and dancing in no time!

Funk bands are characterized by a strong bass line, catchy melodies, and often a horn section. If you’re looking to get your groove on, here are 5 funk bands you need to know about.

1. Parliament-Funkadelic
Formed in the 1970s, Parliament-Funkadelic is a Funk and R&B group that has been credited with influencing the sound of Hip Hop. The group is led by George Clinton and features a rotating cast of musicians. Some of their well-known songs include “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker),” “Flash Light,” and “One Nation Under a Groove.”

2. Bootsy Collins and Bootsy’s New Rubber Band
Funk bassist and singer Bootsy Collins got his start playing with James Brown in the 1970s. He went on to form his own band, Bootsy’s New Rubber Band, and released several solo albums. His signature style of playing is often imitated but never duplicated. Some of his most popular songs include “I’d Rather Be with You,” “Bootzilla,” and “Party on Plastic.”

3. Ohio Players
Originally formed in 1959 as The Ohio Untouchables, The Ohio Players are a Funk and R&B band best known for their hit song “Fire.” The band went through several lineup changes over the years but always maintained their signature sound. Other well-known songs by The Ohio Players include “Love Rollercoaster,” “Skin Tight,” and “Funky Worm.”

4. Sly and the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone was a Funk and Soul band formed in 1967 by singer-songwriter Sly Stone. The group was known for their eclectic blend of genres and for featuring both male and female vocalists/musicians. Some of their well-known songs include “Everyday People,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),”and “I Want to Take You Higher.”

5 . The Meters
The Meters were a Funk band formed in 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band was originally made up of keyboardist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr., and drummer Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste Jr.. They were one of the house bands at the iconic nightclub The Ivanhoe during the late 1960s/early 1970s which helped them gain popularity. Some of their well-known songs include “Cissy Strut,” “Look-Ka Py Py,” “People Say,” “Chicken Strut,”and “Fire on the Bayou.”

1. Parliament-Funkadelic
2. James Brown and the J.B.’s
3. Sly and the Family Stone
4. George Clinton
5. Bootsy Collins

Funk music is a genre that is often overlooked but has produced some great bands over the years. If you’re looking for something different than the usual pop and rock, then give funk a try. Here are 5 funk bands you need to know about:

1. Parliament-Funkadelic
2. The Meters
3. Sly and the Family Stone
4. Funkadelic
5. Bootsy’s Rubber Band

1. Parliament-Funkadelic
Formed in the late 1960s by George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic is a collective of musicians who created a unique blend of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Over the years, the band has featured many different musicians, but its core members have always been Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell.

2. Funkadelic
Funkadelic was another band formed by George Clinton in the late 1960s. While Parliament-Funkadelic was more of a soul/funk/rock band, Funkadelic was more of a pure funk band. Their self-titled debut album is considered to be one of the greatest funk albums ever made.

3. Sly and the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were a hugely successful soul/funk/rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Sly Stone and featured such legendary musicians as bassist Larry Graham and trumpeter Cynthia Robinson. The band’s sound was a unique mix of styles that influenced many future funk bands.

4. James Brown
James Brown is often referred to as “The Godfather of Soul” and is one of the most influential musicians in history. He started his career in the 1950s as a rhythm and blues singer but quickly developed his own style which became known as “funk.” His signature sound was created by his backing band, The JBs, which featured such greats as Bootsy Collins and Fred Wesley. Throughout his career, James Brown continued to evolve his sound and influence countless other artists.

5. Prince
Prince is one of the most popular and influential musicians of the past few decades. He started out in the 1970s with a funky blend of rock, soul, and R&B but later developed his own unique style that blended multiple genres together. His 1984 album Purple Rain is considered to be on par with some of the greatest albums ever made

Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-1960s when African American musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of soul, jazz, and rhythm and blues (R&B). Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground.

Here are five funk bands you need to know about:

1. Parliament-Funkadelic
2. Sly and the Family Stone
3. James Brown and the Famous Flames
4. Bootsy’s Rubber Band
5. The Meters

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