The Story of Pop

Funkadelic

Funkadelic

Funk is an African American musical style originating in the 1960s and emerged as a distinct genre by the 1970s. it is characterized by intensely syncopated danceable rhythms, prominent bass lines and powerful rhythm-oriented horns and percussion. It is considered as a major influence on the development of disco and, later, hip hop music. “You can't talk about Funk without mentioning the Minister of the Super Heavy Weight Funk himself, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business - James Brown!” (Britannica, 2002). In 1965, James Brown released "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag” which is generally regarded as the first ever funk track.

George Clinton		Earth, Wind and Fire

It is regarded that the innovation of James Brown (in the 1960's) helped funk to be regarded as a distinct genre. The funk bands of the 60s had an instantly recognizable style using a two-four beat (or backbeat). Brown changed the rhythmic emphasis to a one-three beat. This pumping, one-three beat became a signature of classic funk. Funk is all about fusion and experimentation and it forms the basis for some of the most exciting music of the 70s. Miles Davis fused it with Jazz and along with Herbie Hancock and Grover Washington, Jr, created "Jazz-Funk".

In the 1970s, new groups developed a "Funk-Rock" approach innovated by George Clinton and his main bands ‘Parliament’ and ‘Funkadelic’. He produced a new kind of funky sound heavily influenced by jazz and psychedelic rock. This was so popular it gave rise to the expression "P-Funk," which specifically referred to the music by George Clinton, and defined a new subgenre. The 1970s was to become the pinicle of the funk era. Two bands in particular, Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power, took the rhythmic power of funk and added to it more complex songs and adding large instrumental arrangements.

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