An African American style of music developed mainly by James Brown and his band members on the one hand and groups like [The Meters]? on the other hand. In the 1970s, George Clinton developed a new kind of funk he termed P Funk. At the same time, in the Bronx, NY, Jamaican DJ Kool Herc first tried to make people dance to reggae tunes. That however did not work so he started to use funk records. |
A vigorous African American style of music developed mainly by James Brown and his band members on the one hand and groups like [The Meters]? on the other hand. In the 1970s, George Clinton developed a new kind of funk he termed P Funk. Other prominent representatives of the genre in the 1970s: [Bootsy Collins]?, [Larry Graham]?, [Ohio Players]?, Commodores, War, [Earth, Wind and Fire]?, [Mass Production]?, Slave, Lakeside?, and many more. In the 1980s, funk lost some of its audience as bands became more commercial and music more electronic. Today, hip hop artists regularly sample old good funk tunes to wake them up to new recognition Funk can be best recognized by syncopated rhythm, thick bass line (often based on "on one" beat), razor-sharp rhythm guitars, yowlish vocals (as that of Cameo or Bar-Kays), strong rhythm-oriented brass section, percussion instruments, happiness in style, African tones, dance floor audience, and strong jazzy influences (e.g. as in Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Eddie Harries, and others). Most famous/typical funky song of all time: #Commodores - Brick House #James Brown - Sex machine #[Earth, Wind and Fire]? - Jupiter #[Ohio Players]? - Fire #Temptations? - Shakey Ground #[Tower of Power]? - Love bug #Lakeside? - Fantastic voyage |
Funk can be best recognized by syncopated rhythm, thick bass line (often based on "on one" beat), razor-sharp rhythm guitars, yowlish vocals (as that of Cameo or Bar-Kays), strong rhythm-oriented brass section, percussion instruments, happiness in style, African tones, dance floor audience, and strong jazzy influences (e.g. as in Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Eddie Harries, and others).
Most famous/typical funky song of all time: