Tag Archives: funk
RIP Bernard Wright (1963 – 2022)
Bernard Wright was an American musician working in funk and jazz, known for such compositions as “Haboglabotribin” (1981) and “Who Do You Love” (1985).
RIP Betty Davis (1944 – 2022)
Betty Davis was an American composer and singer working in the funk and soul idioms.
She is known for such songs as “Anti Love Song “.
RIP Wah Wah Watson (1950 – 2018)
This happened in 2018, but I only found out today.
Wah Wah Watson was an American guitarist who was a member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for Motown Records.
This track from Elementary (1976), his only solo album, reminds me somehow of “Rapper Dapper Snapper” (1980) by Edwin Birdsong.
RIP Ronnie Wilson (1948 – 2021)
Ronnie Wilson was American musician, co-founder with his two brothers, of The Gap Band, known for such compositions as “Oops Up Side Your Head (1979), “Outstanding” (1982) and “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” (1982).
Charlie Wilson the only living member of the band.
I give you “Outstanding”
RIP William Shelby (1954 – 2021)
William Shelby was an American musician known for his work with Dynasty and Lakeside.
Dynasty is best known for their musical composition “I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself) ” (1979).
Lakeside is best known for their musical composition “Fantastic Voyage” (1980).
I did not have time to research if Shelby was involved with these two recordings.
However, while researching “I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself) ” (1979) I stumbled upon these other specimina of African-American musical compositions from the 1970s and 1980s that feature the word “freak” in their title: “I Want’a Do Something Freaky To You” (1975) is by Leon Haywood; “Le Freak” (1978) by Chic; “Super Freak” (1981) by Rick James and “I Need a Freak” (1983) by Sexual Harassment.
RIP Pee Wee Ellis (1941 – 2021)
Pee Wee Ellis was an American composer, musician and saxophonist, best-known for co-writing “Cold Sweat” (1967) and “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) with James Brown and writing “The Chicken” (1969).
RIP Dennis Thomas (1951 – 2021)
Dennis Thomas was one of the co-founders of Kool & the Gang.
It’s not clear to me how many writing credits Thomas has in the band’s oeuvre; but he did co-write “Jungle Boogie” (1973).
RIP Hal Singer (1919-2020)
Hal Singer was an American R&B and jazz bandleader and saxophonist. He was the last surviving male survivor of the Tulsa race massacre.
He is known for such instrumentals as “Malcolm X” on the album Paris Soul Food (1969), produced by Bernard Estardy.
If you are a melomaniac, I’d check the latter’s “Ombilic Contact” en “Cha Tatch Ka”.
RIP Bonnie Pointer (1950 – 2020)
Bonnie Pointer was an American singer, part of the The Pointer Sisters.
The Pointer Sisters also did background vocals on “God Make Me Funky” (1975) by The Headhunters, the American jazz-funk fusion band led by Herbie Hancock.