The Best of Modern Day Funk Music
From Bruno Mars to Anderson .Paak, here are the best modern funk songs to get you grooving.
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
George Clinton is a true pioneer of funk music. He began his career in the 1950s with doo-wop group The Parliaments, before branching out in the 1970s with his group Parliament Funkadelic. Clinton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his music has influenced countless other artists. Let’s take a look at some of the best modern day funk musicians who are carrying on Clinton’s legacy.
George Clinton’s musical influences
George Clinton’s music is often described as a mix of funk, rock, and R&B. He has cited James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and Sly Stone as major influences on his sound. Clinton has also said that he was heavily influenced by the work of Motown producer Norman Whitfield.
The formation of Parliament Funkadelic
In the late 1960s, Clinton was a member of the Staples Singers, singing lead on Woman’s Gotta Have It and I Can’t Turn You Loose. When the group found out that he was also working with another band, they kicked him out. Clinton then formed a band called The Parliaments, which had a hit single with (I Wanna) Testify in 1967. The Parliaments eventually dissolved, and Clinton went on to form Parliament Funkadelic, which became one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands in funk music.
The success of Parliament Funkadelic
Since the release of their debut album in 1970, Parliament Funkadelic have been one of the most influential and successful funk bands of all time. With a career spanning over three decades, they have released dozens of albums and singles, toured the world countless times, and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music.
In spite of their success, Parliament Funkadelic have always been a bit of an outsider band. They never quite fit in with the mainstream music scene, and their unique blend of R&B, soul, rock, and funk was often too experimental for radio. But that didn’t stop them from becoming one of the most popular live acts of all time, with a devoted following that continues to this day.
Parliament Funkadelic are often credited with being the pioneers of modern funk music, and their influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary artists. If you’re a fan of funk music, or just looking to expand your musical horizons, there’s no better place to start than with Parliament Funkadelic.
Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins is an undeniable legend in the world of funk music. He has been credited as one of the most influential bass guitarists of all time, and his work with Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s is some of the most iconic in the genre. His bass playing is characterized by a deep, groove-heavy sound, and his style has been highly influential to subsequent generations of funk and R&B bassists. In addition to his work as a bassist, Collins is also a highly accomplished singer and songwriter, and he has released a number of solo albums that showcase his versatility as an artist.
Bootsy Collins’ musical influences
Bootsy Collins has cited James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly and the Family Stone as his main musical influences. Collins’ first experience with an electric guitar was in church: “I remember sitting in church, and my cousin Rebecca played this guitar riff. I thought it was so funny the way she was playing it. I started laughing, and my daddy knocked me out of the pew.” Later he saw Brown perform at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum.
The formation of Bootsy’s Rubber Band
In March 1976, Bootsy’s Rubber Band was formed as Parliament-Funkadelic’s backup band. The original lineup included Catfish Collins (guitar), Chicken Gunnells (drums), Frank Waddy (drums), Joel Johnson (keyboards), Gary Mudbone Cooper (percussion), Robert Kellum (rhythm guitar) and Bootsy Collins (bass). Their first album, The Pack is Back, was released in August 1976 on Warner Bros. Records.
The success of Bootsy’s Rubber Band
Bootsy’s Rubber Band was one of the main driving forces behind the success of Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. The band’s mix of Funk, R&B, and Soul helped to keep the group’s sound fresh and funky, while Collins’ bass playing and vocals added a sense of fun and good times. Even when George Clinton was not around, Bootsy’s Rubber Band was able to keep the P-Funk sound alive and well.
The Meters
The Meters are a band that has been around since the 60’s, and their sound has been described as a combination of Funk, R&B, and Rock. They have been credited as being one of the first Funk bands, and their music has influenced many other artists. The Meters have released many great albums, and they are still touring today.
The Meters’ musical influences
The Meters were a highly influential Funk band from New Orleans in the 1960s and 1970s. The band was hugely influential in shaping the sound of Funk music, and their unique style has been cited as an influence by many modern Funk bands.
The Meters’ sound was a unique blend of R&B, Blues, and New Orleans Jazz. The band’s infectious grooves and soulful vocals helped to define the sound of Funk music. The Meters’ music is still hugely popular today, and the band’s influence can be heard in the work of many modern Funk bands.
The formation of The Meters
The Meters are a funk band formed in 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band originally consisted of keyboardist and vocalist Art Neville, bassist George Porter Jr., guitarist Leo Nocentelli and drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste. The band performed and recorded their own songs as well as serving as the backing band for other artists, including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John and Paul McCartney.
The Meters disbanded in 1977. In 1989, the group reformed with Porter, Nocentelli and Modeliste joined by Neville’s nephew Ivan Neville on keyboards and Russell Batiste on drums. In 1996, the group was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. In 2018 they were awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The success of The Meters
Since their beginning in the late 1960s, The Meters have been one of the most influential funk bands of all time. With a focus on groove and feel, rather than on technicality or showmanship, The Meters created a style of music that has been adopted and adapted by countless other artists. Though they never achieved commercial success on the level of some of their contemporaries, The Meters’ impact on popular music is undeniable.
The Meters were formed in 1965 by keyboardist Art Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr., and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste. The group served as the house band for Allen Toussaint’s Sansu Enterprises label, and their records were mostly instrumental at first. In 1969, The Meters signed with Reprise Records and released their debut album,, which featured vocals by Neville on several tracks. This was followed by 1970’s,, which saw the band began to experiment with different sounds and styles.
The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reunited sporadically over the next few decades for live performances. In 1996, they released an album of new material,, which was followed by another reunion album,, in 2000. The band has continued to perform together sporadically since then, and their legacy continues to influence funk and R&B artists to this day.
Funkadelic
Funkadelic is a subgenre of funk music that originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by a heavy bassline, syncopated rhythms, and often psychedelic or acid rock-influenced sounds. Funkadelic is often seen as a precursor to or influence on disco and hip hop music.
Funkadelic’s musical influences
Funkadelic’s musical influences are varied, with the group’s sound incorporating elements of psychedelic rock, soul, R&B, and even doo-wop. The band was also notable for their use of funk-inspired guitar licks and liberal use of improvised jams. All of these elements combined to create a unique and influential musical style that would go on to have a profound impact on the development of both funk and hip-hop music.
The formation of Funkadelic
Funkadelic was originally formed in 1968 in Plainfield, New Jersey by George Clinton, Ray Davis, Calvin Simon, and Grady Gaines. The group’s first release was the single “(I Wanna) Testify” in 1967, which peaked at number 49 on the Billboard R&B chart. The band was signed to Motown Records in 1968 and released their self-titled debut album Funkadelic. The album reached number 31 on the Billboard 200 chart and number five on the R&B chart, fueled by the success of the single “I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody’s Got a Thing”.
The success of Funkadelic
While George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective enjoyed only modest success with their first three albums, Funkadelic (1970), Free Your Mind… and Your Ass Will Follow (1970), and Maggot Brain (1971), the group finally broke through to a wide audience with the release of America Eats Its Young in 1972. The double album was aTop 20 hit, reaching number 18 on the Billboard 200 chart, and spawned the Top 40 R&B single “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” which helped to establish Parliament-Funkadelic as one of the most popular bands of the era. The group would go on to enjoy their greatest success in the late ’70s with a string of platinum-selling albums, including Mothership Connection (1975), The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976), Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome (1977), One Nation Under a Groove (1978), and Uncle Jam Wants You (1979).
