Funk Music Bands: The Best of the Best

A list of the best funk bands of all time, including Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and more.

The Meters

The Meters were an American funk band, active from 1965 to 1977. The band is credited with being one of the main inspirations for the disco and psychedelic funk music of the 1970s. The Meters had a unique sound that was a mix of African and Caribbean rhythms with American R&B, soul, and rock. They were one of the first bands to use drum machines and synthesizers in their music. The Meters were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 1992.

Parliament-Funkadelic

Parliament-Funkadelic is an American funk music band that was most prominent in the 1970s and early 1980s. The group was led by George Clinton, and they released a series of highly successful albums that blended elements of R&B, soul, and rock. The band’s unique style helped to pioneer the genre of funk and they continue to be influence musicians today.

Bootsy’s Rubber Band

Formed in 1972, Bootsy’s Rubber Band was a Funk music band that was originally composed of members of James Brown’s backing band, The J.B.’s. The band’s lineup changed several times over the years, but its core members included Bootsy Collins, Frank Waddy, Fred Wesley, Phelps Collins, and Jabo Starks. Bootsy’s Rubber Band was one of the most influential Funk bands of all time, and their work had a major impact on the development of Hip Hop music.

The Ohio Players

The Ohio Players were an American funk band, formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1959. The group is best known for their hits “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster”, both of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The Ohio Players were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

The group began as the Ohio Untouchables, a group ofimmigrants from the Caribbean who had moved to Dayton in the early 1950s. The group’s first gig was at a talent show, where they won first prize. The Untouchables then began playing clubs around Dayton, and eventually changed their name to the Ohio Players.

The Ohio Players’ first album, Observations in Time, was released in 1968. The album’s single, “Funky Worm”, became a hit on the R&B charts. The group’s next album, Ecstasy, was released in 1973 and featured the hit single “Skin Tight”. The Ohio Players then released Pain, which features the classic singles “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster”.

The Ohio Players are considered to be one of the best funk bands of all time. Their unique blend of R&B, soul, and funk influenced generations of musicians.

Slave

Slave is an American funk band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 1977. Slave was a key band in the 1970s and 1980s Dayton funk movement. The group’s biggest hit was the single “Watching You”, which reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart in April 1980. As of 2018, Slave remains active and continues to tour internationally.

Other notable hits include “Just a Touch of Love” (1979), “Snapshot” (1982), and “Wait for Me” (1983). Slave’s sound was a mix of traditional pop, R&B, soul, and funk, with a heavy dose of synthesizers and drum machines. The group was also known for its sexually suggestive lyrics and stage performances.

Slave’s music has been sampled by numerous artists, including Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, and Kendrick Lamar. The band has been cited as an influence by Prince, Outkast, and Questlove.

Lakeside

Lakeside is an American Funk band from Dayton, Ohio, best known for their hits “Your Love” and “Fantastic Voyage”. The band was formed in 1975 by lead singer Mark Adam wood, keyboardist Stephen shockley, and bassist Maurice Gray.

The band enjoyed great success in the late 1970s and early 1980s with several hit singles and albums. Lakeside’s style of music is a mixture of Funk, Soul, and R&B. The band’s biggest hit was “Fantastic Voyage”, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980.

Other well-known Lakeside songs include “It’s All the Way Live”, “Shot of Love”, and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. The band has released nine studio albums, four live albums, and two compilation albums.

One Way

Funk is a style of danceable music that emerged in African American communities in the mid-1960s. It is characterized by a strong, repetitive bassline, syncopated rhythms, and call-and-response vocals. Funk music was popularized by artists like James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic, and has been influential to subsequent genres like disco, hip hop, and electronic dance music.

One Way was an American R&B and funk band from Dallas, Texas, United States, that enjoyed success in the 1970s and 1980s with hits like “Cutie Pie”, “Music”, “Mr. Groove”, and “Pop It”. The group was originally formed as a quintet in 1976 by Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel. The group later expanded to include Naomi Daniels (no relation to Jeffrey) and Tony Grant.

The group found success with their 1977 self-titled debut album which included the breakout hit single “Cutie Pie”. The album would eventually be certified Gold by the RIAA. Cutie Pie” peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The band’s second album, One Way Featuring Al Hudson was released in 1978. The first single from the album, “Got to Get You Home Tonight”, peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #2 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

The Dazz Band

The Dazz Band is an American funk band that was formed in 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio. The group’s biggest hit song was “Let It Whip”, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1982. Other popular songs by the Dazz Band include “Joystick”, “Hot Spot”, and “Party Right Here”.

Zapp

Zapp is an american musical group that emerged from the early 1980s. The band’s name came from its founding member and leader, Roger Troutman. Their music covers a wide range of genres including R&B, soul, funk, and pop. They have released ten studio albums and have had multiple hit singles throughout their career. Some of their most well-known songs include “More Bounce to the Ounce”, “Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)”, and “Computer Love”. Zapp has been credited with helping to pioneer the use of the talk box in popular music and they have had a significant influence on subsequent R&B and hip hop artists.