Trouble Funk and the Legacy of Lock It Gogo Music
Contents
Trouble Funk was one of the most important bands in the history of lock it gogo music. They brought the sound of Washington, D.C. to the world and inspired a generation of musicians.
Introduction
Trouble Funk is an American go-go band from Washington, D.C.. Trouble Funk was one of the first go-go bands to gain national attention. The band’s sound is a mix of funk, soul, rap, and disco. They are best known for their hit song “Pump Me Up”, which has been sampled by many hip hop artists.
Go-go is a musical style originating in the Washington, D.C. area during the mid-1960s60s. Go-go is a subgenre of funk music characterized by a dense, insistent beat and repetitive rhythms. The name “go-go” comes from the call and response nature of the music.
Trouble Funk was formed in 1978 by vocalist/percussionist Big Tony Fisher and guitarist Roger “Butch” Davis Jr.. Fisher and Davis were childhood friends who had grown up in the same neighborhood in Washington, D.C.. They were both inspired by the musical talent they saw around them and decided to start their own band.
The pair recruited bassistStanley “Sticks” Johnson and drummer Earl Young to complete the lineup. The band began playing small clubs and parties around Washington, D.C.. They soon developed a following among go-go fans. In 1980, Trouble Funk released their first album, entitled Drop the Bomb. The album was a hit in the Washington, D.C., area and helped to popularize go-go music nationwide
What is Trouble Funk?
Trouble Funk is a go-go band from Washington, D.C. that was formed in 1978. The band is best known for their song “Drop the Bomb”, which was released in 1982. Trouble Funk has been credited as being one of the pioneers of the go-go genre and their music has influenced many other artists.
The sound of Trouble Funk
Lock It Gogo music, better known simply as go-go, is a subgenre of funk originating in the Washington, D.C. area in the mid-1970s. Unlike its parent genre, go-go is characterized by a percussive sound built around drums, bass guitar, and cowbell, as well as extended live improvisation and call-and-response vocals.
Trouble Funk was one of the earliest and most successful purveyors of go-go music. Formed in 1978 by singer/guitarist Big Tony Fisher and drummer Stanley Kellum, the band became a major player in the D.C. go-go scene with their debut album Drop the Bomb (1982). Trouble Funk’s music was rooted in funk and R&B but also incorporated elements of hip hop and reggae; their sound was often described as “thick” or “sludgy.”
In addition to their recorded work, Trouble Funk were also known for their notoriously high-energy live shows, which often lasted for hours on end. They became one of the most popular bands in the D.C. area and continued to perform and record into the 21st century. While they never achieved widespread commercial success outside of the Washington area, Trouble Funk’s influence can be heard in subsequent generations of go-go musicians as well as in other genres such as house music and Miami bass.
The members of Trouble Funk
E.U. (Eric unfunktional Griffin) – drums, percussion
“Big” Joe MaAfee – congas, percussion
Tony Fisher – bass guitar
Emilio Thomas – lead vocals,congas
“Sticky” Icky Mango – lead vocals
Melvin Webb – timbales, percussion
Frank Waddy – lead vocals, congas
Dennis “Skip” Daniels – tambourine, percussion
Trouble Funk is an African American go-go band from Washington, D.C., United States. The band was formed in 1978 by bass player and singer Tony Fisher and drummer Stanley Karnow. The group is best known for its 1982 hit single “Drop the Bomb”.
The legacy of Trouble Funk
Trouble Funk was a Washington, D.C. go-go band that was influential in the development of the go-go sound. The band was formed in 1978 and was led by guitarist and singer/songwriter D.C. Spells. The band’s name is a play on the word “trouble,” which was a common theme in their songs. The band was known for their high-energy live shows and their unique brand of go-go music.
Trouble Funk’s influence on go-go music
Trouble Funk is a go-go band from Washington, D.C. that was instrumental in the development and popularization of the go-go genre of music. Go-go is a type of funk music that originated in the early 1970s in Washington, D.C. It is characterized by a heavy rhythm section, call-and-response vocals, and percussion instruments such as congas and cowbells.
Trouble Funk was formed in 1978 by vocalist/guitarist Big Tony Fisher and drummer/vocalist Emerson Williams. The band’s first album, E Flat Boogie, was released in 1980 on the independent label DBS Records. The album’s title track was an instant hit in the go-go clubs of Washington, D.C., and Trouble Funk soon became one of the most popular bands in the city.
In 1982, Trouble Funk released their second album, In Times of Trouble, on Sugar Hill Records. The album’s lead single, “Pump Me Up”, became a breakout hit, reaching #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Pump Me Up” helped to introduce go-go music to a national audience and cemented Trouble Funk’s place as one of the pioneers of the genre.
Trouble Funk would go on to release eight more albums over the next two decades, establishing themselves as one of the most successful go-go bands of all time. The band’s music has been influential to subsequent generations of go-go musicians and has helped to keep the genre alive and thriving in their hometown of Washington, D.C.
Trouble Funk’s influence on hip hop music
While Trouble Funk may not be a household name, the band has had a significant influence on hip hop music. The group’s unique blend of funk, soul, and disco made them one of the most popular party bands of the 1980s, and their sound can be heard in the work of some of hip hop’s biggest stars.
Trouble Funk’s biggest hit was “Drop the Bomb,” a song that became a staple of the electro-funk genre. The track was later sampled by artist like Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and N.W.A., helping to spread the band’s sound to a new generation of listeners.
While Trouble Funk may not be as well-known as some of the groups they’ve influenced, their contribution to hip hop music is undeniable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Trouble Funk and the legacy of Lock It Gogo Music has been an important and influential part of the go-go music scene in Washington, D.C. for many years. The band has helped to shape the sound of go-go music and has influenced many other go-go bands that have come after them. They are considered to be one of the most successful and popular go-go bands of all time.
