Funk Music

Bobby Rush won his first GRAMMY at the age of 83 in 2017, some sixty years after his first professional gig as a bluesman. Beginning in the 1950s, Bobby performed live and recorded in Chicago with such artists as Bo Diddley, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Little Walter and Muddy Waters. Moving to...
Archie Bell, a native of Houston, Texas, grew up listening to his mother sing in the Baptist church. Out of her seven sons she singled out Archie and suggested that he should try to be a singer. After seeing Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke in concert together, Archie decided that would be his path as...
Karl Denson has played the saxophone alongside Lenny Kravitz, The Rolling Stones, Jack DeJohnette, Switchfoot, and the Blind Boys of Alabama (among others). He was the co-founder of the acid jazz band The Greyboy Allstars, which was formed in 1993.  The band originally got together for a CD release...
Eric Burdon participated in the British Invasion of the 1960s as an original member of The Animals. It was an exciting time in music that brought popularity to rock bands from England to America such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Eric was greatly influenced by jazz and the blues, which...
Steve Madaio played trumpet on most of Stevie Wonders recordings during the innovative and creative period between 1971 and 1976.  Stevie was experimenting with electric keyboards and synthesizers, which Steve witnessed and took part in, including working on the classic album Songs in the Key of...
Joan Gand followed her drummer to a gig while still in high school.  There, he introduced her to a guitarist from another school who eventually became her future husband, Gary Gand.  Together they formed a very successful music store in Highland Park, Illinois that focused on the innovative...
Pat Rizzo heard Sly Stone was looking for a sax player to join the band.  He went backstage at a concert with his horn and Sly told him to go into the bathroom. Sly asked if he was good and Pat said, "Yes, I am."  At which Sly said, "You are hired."  That fast job interview launched Pat into a long...
Stevie Wonder has earned the title of the "Mayor of the NAMM Show" for his countless visits to the show floor over the years.  He has become an important part of the music products industry not only in promoting new technologies, but in working with companies to design and improve instruments. ...
Michael Hampton is also known as Kidd Funkadelic thanks to his long association with the funk band Parliament-Funkadelic.  He joined the band at the tender age of 17, having impressed the band members for his soulful guitar licks and feel.  Michael performed on each of the recording sessions and...
Nathan East began playing the bass following his introduction to soul music, which his uncle and father often played on the radio and from records.  Over his storied career, Nathan has been active in supporting music education programs, such as those created by NAMM.  In 2015, he was inducted into...

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