Live Funk Music in Memphis
Looking for a place to enjoy some live Funk music in Memphis? Check out our list of the best spots in the city to get your groove on!
The Birth of Funk
The Funk music genre originated in the African-American community in the mid-1960s. The term “funk” was first used to describe the music in 1967. Funk is a style of music that is based on a strong groove. The word “funk” can also be used to describe the feeling that you get when you hear the music.
James Brown and the Birth of Funk
In the early 1960s, a new style of music was born in the American south. Driven by a pulsing beat and featuring extended jams, this new genre would come to be known as funk. And at the forefront of this musical movement was the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown.
Born in Barnwell, South Carolina in 1933, James Brown rose to fame in the 1950s with a string of hits including “Please, Please, Please” and “I Got You (I Feel Good)”. But it was in the 1960s that Brown really made his mark, innovating a new style of music that would come to be known as funk.
Funk is characterized by a number of elements including a driving rhythm, extended instrumentation, and often political lyrics. James Brown was a master of all of these elements, using his platform to spread messages of social change while getting people up on their feet and dancing.
While James Brown is considered the godfather of funk, he wasn’t the only one making this new style of music. Other artists like Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic were also helping to shape the sound of funk throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
If you’re looking to get your groove on, there’s no better place than Memphis, TN. Home to some of the best live funk music in the country, Memphis is the perfect place to experience this unique genre firsthand. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to get down!
George Clinton and the Birth of Funk
George Clinton is a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and producer who was one of the most influential figures in funk music. Clinton was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, in 1941. He moved to Plainfield, New Jersey, as a teenager, and formed a doo-wop group called the Parliaments. The Parliaments had a handful of hits in the 1960s, including “(I Wanna) Testify” and “Ain’t Got No) Hive.”
In the early 1970s, Clinton began experimenting with a new sound that blended elements of soul, R&B, and rock. He recruited some of the best musicians in the country to play in his band, which he called Parliament-Funkadelic. Parliament-Funkadelic became one of the most popular funk bands of all time, with hits like “Flash Light” and “One Nation Under a Groove.”
Clinton’s influence extends beyond music. He is also known for his outrageous fashion sense and eccentric personality. He has appeared in movies and television shows, and his songs have been used in dozens of movies and TV shows. Clinton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
The Funk Movement
Funk is a type of music that was created in the late 1960s by African American musicians. The genre is characterized by a heavy rhythmic groove that is meant to be danced to. Funk music is often based on a repeating chord progression and is often played with a bass guitar, drums, and keyboards. Memphis is a city with a strong history in funk music.
The Funkadelics
The Funkadelics were an American band formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1968 by singer George Clinton, bassist Billy Bass Nelson, and guitarist Eddie Hazel. The band blended elements of soul, R&B, psychedelic rock, and funk to create a unique style that was influential during the development of funk and hip hop music. The band’s sound was anchored by Hazel’s guitar playing and Clinton’s distinctive vocals, which often incorporated themes of social consciousness and drug use into the lyrics.
The Funkadelics were one of the most prolific recording artists of their era, releasing 17 albums between 1970 and 1981. They achieved their greatest commercial success with the 1975 album Mothership Connection, which reached #1 on the R&B albums chart and #4 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” and “(Not Just) Knee Deep”, both of which were performed by Parliament-Funkadelic on Saturday Night Live in 1976.
The band disbanded in 1981 but reunited in 1997 for a series of reunion concerts. They continue to perform occasionally, with George Clinton as the sole remaining original member.
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a musical collective headed by George Clinton, and they are often credited with being one of the pioneers of the funk music genre. The group was formed in the late 1960s and they have released a number of albums throughout their career, including some of the most iconic funk albums of all time. They are still touring and performing today, and their live shows are known for being high-energy and dynamic. If you want to experience the true power of funk music, then you need to see Parliament-Funkadelic live.
Bootsy’s Rubber Band
Bootsy’s Rubber Band was one of the most popular funk bands of the 1970s. They were known for their tight, danceable rhythms and their playful, often sexually charged lyrics. The band was led by bassist Bootsy Collins, who was a close collaborator of James Brown. Bootsy’s Rubber Band was one of the first funk bands to achieve mainstream success, and their music has influenced a number of subsequent funk and hip-hop artists.
The Funk Sound
Funk is a genre of music that originated in the 1970s. It is a style of music that is based on a strong groove and is often described as a “danceable” or “groovy” type of music. Funk music is often characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms, sampling, and its use of synthesizers.
The Funk Sound of Memphis
The funk sound of Memphis was born in the clubs and studios of the city in the 1970s. It is a style of music that combines elements of soul, R&B, and funk. The result is a sound that is both danceable and soulful.
The funk sound of Memphis was pioneered by artists such as Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the MGs, and Willie Mitchell. These artists created a new sound that was influenced by the sounds of James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone. The result was a sound that was unique to Memphis.
The funk sound of Memphis has been kept alive by artists such as George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince. These artists have continued to evolve the sound of Memphis funk.
The Funk Sound of New Orleans
New Orleans funk is a subgenre of funk music that originated in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a blend of African and Afro-Caribbean rhythms with elements of R&B, soul, and blues. The sound is often characterized by a strong bass line, hypnotic percussion, and horns.
New Orleans funk first gained national attention in the 1960s with artists like The Meters and The Neville Brothers. In the 1970s, funk bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and The Ohio Players helped to popularize the genre with their unforgettable hits. Today, there are many contemporary artists keeping the New Orleans funk sound alive.
If you’re looking for a live music experience that will get your feet moving, be sure to check out some of the best New Orleans funk bands in Memphis!
The Funk Sound of Detroit
The funk sound of Detroit was a style of music that developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was a fusion of disco, soul, and R&B with a heavy emphasis on electronic instruments and synthesizers. The style was pioneered by artists such as Nile Rodgers and George Clinton, and it became very popular in the clubs of Detroit.
The Funk Scene in Memphis
Memphis is a city known for its rich musical history, and funk music is no exception. The city has produced some of the most iconic funk bands of all time, and the genre is still alive and well in Memphis today. If you’re a fan of funk music, you’ll definitely want to check out the live music scene in Memphis.
The Bar-Kays
The Bar-Kays are a legendary Memphis funk band that got their start in the 1960s. The original lineup included Isaac Hayes, who went on to have a successful solo career. The band has undergone several lineup changes over the years, but they continue to perform and tour regularly. They are best known for their hits “Soul Finger” and “Knock on Wood”.
The current lineup of The Bar-Kays includes founding member Larry Dodson, along with James Alexander, Willie Hall, and Darrell Caldwell. The band has released 13 studio albums, including their most recent, “Do You Remember When”, in 2016. They continue to tour regularly, performing at festivals and clubs around the world.
Booker T. & the M.G.’s
Booker T. & the M.G.’s is an instrumental R&B/funk band that was influential in shaping the sound of soul and funk music in the 1960s and 1970s. The band was founded in 1962 by keyboardist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson, Jr.
The band’s signature instrumentals, such as “Green Onions” (1962) and “Hip Hug-Her” (1967), have been staples of R&B, soul, and funk music ever since. In addition to their own recordings, Booker T. & the M.G.’s served as the house band for Stax Records, backing up such artists as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, and many others. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
The Memphis Horns
The Memphis Horns were a horn section based in Memphis, Tennessee, active from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. The group performed on countless recordings through the years with a wide variety of artists, including Elvis Presley, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Willie Nelson and many others. The Memphis Horns won a Grammy Award in 1972 for their work on the album “Shaft” by Isaac Hayes.
