Funk Music Legend Bootsy Collins is Still Going Strong
Funk music legend Bootsy Collins is still going strong, with a new album and tour on the horizon. Get the latest on his career and what he’s been up to lately.
Bootsy Collins’ musical career
Bootsy Collins’ musical career began when he was just a child. He started playing the drums at the age of five and by the time he was a teenager, he was already playing in nightclubs. He went on to play with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, and he has also toured with Ringo Starr and The Who.
His start with James Brown
Collins began his career in the mid 1960s, playing bass guitar with James Brown. In August 1970, after a stint in Brown’s band that included the hit singles “Get Up I Feel Like Being Like a Sex Machine” and “Super Bad”, Collins left to form Parliament-Funkadelic with George Clinton.
His work with Parliament-Funkadelic
In the early 1970s, while James was still living in Plainfield, Bootsy and his brother Phelps “Catfish” Collins formed The Johnson Brothers with Frankie “Kash” Waddy and Joel “Razor Sharp” Johnson. The group released two singles on Westbound Records; “I Wanna Testify” and “Stretchin’ Out”, both of which were Top 40 hits on the Billboard R&B chart.
In 1972, the group’s name was changed to Parliament-Funkadelic and they began recording for George Clinton’s Warner Bros. Records-distributed imprints, Westbound Records and Invictus Records. The band’s lineup fluctuated over the years, but Collins remained with the group until 1981 when he decided to focus on his solo career. He was replaced by Frankie “Kash” Waddy.
His successful solo career
After his departure from Parliament, Collins began a solo career that would prove to be just as successful. His first album, Bootsy? Player of the Year, was released in 1976 and featured the singles “I’d Rather Be with You” and “Bootzilla”, which both reached the top ten of the R&B charts. The following year, he released his second album, The One Giveth, The Count Taketh Away, which contained the hit single “Stretchin’ Out (In a Rubber Band)”.
In 1978, Collins released his third album, This Boot is Made for Fonk-N’, which featured the singles “Hollywood Squares” and “Bootsy Gees”. The following year, he released his fourth album, elbowgrease / I’d Rather Be with You Kid, which contained the hit single “Can’t Stay Away”.
Collins’ fifth album, 1980’s Ultra Wave, featured the singles “Body Slam” and “Party on Plastic”. The following year, he released his sixth album, Sweat Bandit / I’d Rather Be with You Kid. In 1982, Collins released his seventh album, Back in the Day: The Best of Bootsy.
Collins’ eighth and most recent studio album is 2014’s World Wide Funk. The album features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Stanley Clarke, Doug E. Fresh, and Musiq Soulchild.
Collins’ impact on funk music
Bootsy Collins is a Funk music legend who has had a huge impact on the music industry. He is best known for his work with Parliament-Funkadelic and his own band Bootsy’s New Rubber Band. He has also worked with James Brown, George Clinton, and many other well-known artists.
His unique style of bass playing
Collins is generally credited with creating the ” Spaceman ” or ” Punk-Funk ” style of bass playing. This style is characterized by a heavy use of effects such as echo and reverb, as well as a high degree of technical proficiency. Collins’ approach to the bass guitar was often very melodic, despite the aggressive nature of much of the music he played on. He was also one of the first bassists to make significant use of two-handed tapping on the instrument.
His use of the wah-wah pedal
In the early 1970s, with Parliament-Funkadelic as his backing band, Collins began experimenting with the wah-wah pedal, which became one of his signature sounds. He used it on such songs as “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” and “Flash Light.”
Collins’ use of the wah-wah pedal helped to give funk its distinctive sound. The pedal added a whole new layer to the music, making it sound more psychedelic and experimental. Collins’ innovative use of the pedal was one of the many things that made him a legend in the world of funk.
His innovative approach to songwriting
With his unique style and approach to songwriting, Bootsy Collins has had a profound impact on funk music. His work with Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s and his solo work in the 1980s and beyond has helped to shape the sound of funk music and make it what it is today. He is a true innovator in the world of funk music, and his influence can still be heard in the work of today’s funk musicians.
Collins’ legacy
Bootsy Collins is a Funk and R&B musician who has been playing since the 1970s. He is best known for his work with Parliament-Funkadelic and his own group Bootsy’s New Rubber Band. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Funk Music Hall of Fame. Collins’ legacy is still going strong today.
His influence on subsequent generations of funk musicians
Collins’ impact on funk music cannot be overstated – he has influenced generations of musicians both within the genre and beyond. His unique style of bass playing, which incorporates elements of country, blues and gospel, has been a major influence on subsequent generations of funk musicians. He is also credited with popularizing the ‘slap bass’ technique, which has become a staple of many modern styles of music.
His induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Funk Music Legend Bootsy Collins is Still Going Strong
His induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
It’s been almost 40 years since Bootsy Collins first burst onto the music scene with his band, Parliament-Funkadelic. Since then, he’s been widely recognized as one of the most influential bass guitarists in history, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
Collins is still going strong today, and he’s just released a new album, “World Wide Funk.” The album features some of today’s hottest musicians, including Snoop Dogg, Doug E. Fresh, and Musiq Soulchild.
We sat down with Collins to talk about his long career, his new album, and what it was like to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
His ongoing work with younger musicians
Though he’s indisputably a legend of the music world, Bootsy Collins isn’t content to ride on his past successes. The 69-year-old bassist and singer-songwriter is still making new music and collaborating with younger artists, helping to keep funk alive for a new generation of fans.
Collins got his start in the late 1960s as a member of James Brown’s backing band, and soon became one of the most in-demand bassists in the business. He went on to play with Parliament-Funkadelic and launched a successful solo career, earning induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In recent years, he’s been working with younger musicians like Janelle Monae and migos, bringing his signature style to a new generation of audiences.
Collins’ legacy is evident in the success of today’s funk artists. His influence can be heard in the music of Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, and many others who are keeping the genre fresh and exciting. As he continues to collaborate with up-and-coming talent, there’s no doubt that Collins will remain an important figure in the world of funk for years to come.
