Funk Music Origins & Key Playas

Star WarsLoves Funk

Where does the word Funk come from?

The word funk basically refers to a strong, generally offensive odor.

Both jazzmen and Africans use funky and lu-fuki to praise persons for the integrity of their art, for having 'worked out' to achieve their aims ... This sign of exertion is identified with the irradiation of positive energy of a person.

Hence 'funk' in American jazz can mean earthiness, a return to fundamentals.”

In early jam sessions, musicians would encourage one another to "get down" by telling one another, "Now, put some stank on it!”

New Orleans born drummer Earl Palmer was the first to use the word 'funky' to explain to other musicians that their music should be made more syncopated and danceable.”

FUNK MUSIC

WEEK 6MUSIC GENRES

Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late

1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music.

So in what kind(s) of music do you hear its tradition of

BASS in yo FACE?!

Saaaay Whaaaa…??

Funk Music Instruments

Like much African-inspired music, funk typically consists of a complex groove with rhythm instruments such as:

Electric guitar

Electric bass

Hammond organ

Drums

Horn section of several saxophones, trumpets and in some cases, a trombone.

Funk Music Origins Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a

strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground.

It's characterized by syncopated rhythms (unexpected sounds/beats), distinctive grooves, melodic basslines and thoughtful lyrics often expressing political views or social commentaries.

Funk creates an intense groove by using strong bass guitar riffs and bass lines. Technique called the Bass Slap

Funk songs used bass lines as the centerpiece of songs… Like Motown recordings. (Aretha Franklin, Dianna Ross)

Along with R&B/Soul, right before, and Rap/Hip-Hop, right after, Funk is one of the most enduring new popular music forms to emerge out of the American black community.

The Bass Slap

The Bass Slap

Slap bass is a mixture of thumb-slapped low notes and finger "popped" (or plucked) high notes to create a drum-like rhythmic role that emphasizes the intensity of the beat, particularly the 1st beat.

Seinfeld TV Opening is an example of slap bass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epb5HCZNBZQ

Larry Graham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-vPM-MlCLs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipjTvRe7-Zg

RECALL with elbow partner…

What are some of the major contributions to music from…

Jazz happening?

Jazz Musical Characteristics Most Impacting Modern Music

• Improvisation- the ability to create new music spontaneously. A technique embraced and spearheaded by Jazz musicians that remains as one of the 2 fundamental impacts on modern music forms, particularly in live performance.…think of improvisation as the soloist speaking a sentence

• Syncopation- the uneven beats in jazz music. Jazz musicians take apart even, regular patterns and break them up, making them uneven. They also put accents in unexpected places.

Artist Spotlight: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American alternative rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983.

The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk rock, hip hop, and psychedelic rock.

“Look Around”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnisBb2rVOg&ob=av3e

FUNKYOU!

The word funky will probably never disappear from common slang…O-G to Newbie all use it

Artist Spotlight: Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist.

Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of eleven and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day.

“Superstition”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE

Look at your Music Tree and consider what genre of music he must have begun his career in and grown

up listening to?

Artist Spotlight: Sly and The Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California.

Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music.

Headed by singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, and containing several of his family members and friends, the band was the first major American rock band to have an "integrated, multi-gender" lineup.

Family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ptrc2cWRxU&feature=related

Music Affects Culture…Culture Affects Music…

Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Act of 1964 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr speeches Black Power Movement

What’s one example we have discussed in which music pushed social boundaries and helped promote changes in culture

at the very beginning of “Pop Music”

What was happening during the 1960s that would inspire Black communities in particular?

Black Power Movement

Funk and Black Power Movement

“Funk is probably the most positive expression that we have had in a long time, not only about our music…but ourselves as a people. Funk epitomizes the successful end to the civil rights struggles of the 1960’s and signaled the dawning of a new beginning for Black folks in the 1970’s.”

The upbeat and rich sounds of funk produced a feeling of positive strength, power and humanity in the black community.

The sounds of funk began emerging in the 1960’s. It was a sign of the times. The 60’s were a revolutionary era with a very unsettled feel. It was then that the Vietnam War was being fought, and black leaders were pushing the idea of civil rights.

The first funk record to be released was called “Outta Sight” by James Brown in 1956. He moved music in the funky direction and soon became known as the “Godfather of Funk and Soul.” His music moved people to dance and to listen to his message.

He recorded a song that supported the Black Power movement called “Say It Loud (I’m Black And I’m Proud)”. The song became very popular in the Black Power movement. It was an anthem that showed black pride and defiance

“I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VRSAVDlpDI

Artist Spotlight: James Brown

James Brown is the undisputed "Godfather of Funk." The "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" demonstrated the use of scratching rhythm guitar on the influential hit “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag”.

Over the years James continued to produce more rhythmically sophisticated Funk recordings, and he spread the gospel of Funk in his wild stage shows.

James Brown was the man with the groove. James had the most outspoken voice in soul music and had a groove that would be proven to be the future of Funk music. His outspoken voice had a theme song…

“Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VRSAVDlpDI

James Brown was one of the first artists that began to develop the genre of Funk. Look at your Music Tree and tell what genre of music he must have begun his career in and

grown up in before becoming the “Godfather of Funk”

Artist Spotlight: George Clinton/Parliament

In the 1970's, George Clinton emerged as the leaders of the Parliament-Funkadelic conglomeration of bands. They brought Funk forward as a powerful force in popular music. Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk) and Flashlight brought Funk to the attention of mainstream audiences. Through most of the 1970's, Funk was rarely heard in discos.

George Clinton had created two new funk bands, one called Parliament (formerly The Parliaments) and the other called Funkadelic. Parliament had emphasis on horns and Funkadelic had emphasis on guitars, but both had a deep, rhythm filled groove.

Parliament “Flash Light”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbYKFbD1Ysc

“One Nation Under a Groove” Funk DocumentaryYou watched part of this documentary last Friday. Recall the main points made in the film regarding

the fundamentals of Funk music & culture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_dXS8UMrxE

“P-Funk” (Parliament & Funkadelic) under the leadership of George Clinton impacted African American

communities and music at the time and future Listen to how Funk in the 60s & 70s spread a message

of hope and liberation to Black people in this country

The documentary you have now watched in its entirety (1st Friday Funk was covered and the rest now) is named after one of the most famous Funk songs of all time!

Funkadelic “One Nation Under a Groove”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WOZwwRH6XU

Bootsy Collins

William Earl "Bootsy" Collins (born October 26, 1951) is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.

Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk. Collins is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

“Stretchin Out” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIHrdLwa_y8

On your Artist Spotlight sheet for Funk you now have several key

performers and groups listed.Read some off your lists out loud…

All of them so far were large influences on another artist we have studied. When we studied this other artist, the influential musicians that

inspired him wereJames BrownStevie Wonder

Sly & the Family Stone

Who is it?

Artist Spotlight: Prince

One of the most influential artist to all people in regards to funk and dance music.

Prince released his first full-length record in 1978, titled "For You", and from there would go on to blend many styles of music together into a danceable and soulful presentation of art.

His self-titled release "Prince" was funky and sexy, but without talk of drug use or "sexploitation". The album artwork featured him riding nude on a white horse, which was very controversial to the media.

Prince was the only artist to blend all of the previous genres (that contributed to funk) together with many other genres of music, like disco/dance, European/new romantic, new wave, folk, techno/electronic, Latin and world music, and hip-hop.

This new genre of music that emerged from Prince' unique blend was called New Funk.

“Kiss”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZQ6e_dv01c

Funk Sub Genres

Funk by 1980 began to diversify into a wide range of sub-genres.

Funk music has influenced an ever increasing range of music in both popular and underground modern music genres.

Take notes on the sub-genres of Funk we discuss moving forward as that is one aspect you will be tested on.

RockersLove Funk

Artist Profile: Jimmy Hendrix Funk rock: a style of music fusing Funk with heavy Rock influences that began in the 1960s

by artists such as Jimmy Hendrix, Frank Zappa, & Herbie Hancock in which the emphasis is on the electric guitar as well as the heavy use of Bass Slap techniques. Originally the fusion was with Psychedelic Rock, but now continues to be played with more commonly with wah-wah guitar and Bass Slap with a more straight ahead Rock sound mixed with Funk rhythms.

Artist Spotlight: Rick James

In the mid to late 70's, Rick James began to funk the world with his party music. James was known for the major hit "Superfreak" in the early 80's. Rick James' fun and sexy style of music, blended with the dance grooves of the times, was a major influence to many different races of people.

“Superfreak”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M

Artist Spotlight: Kool and the Gang

Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.

They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and funk, progressing to a smooth pop-funk ensemble, and in the post-millennium creating music with a modern, electro-pop sound.

“Jungle Boogie”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57oBC_WLsYA

Artist Spotlight: Newcleus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMBb-VvJS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWe0PxUEVoc

Electro Funk was the original B-Boy & Breakdance music. It helped begin a culture and tradition that exists across the world today! What a segment video

showing where it has come to nowadays

Boogie: Boogie (or electro-funk) - an electronic music using a minimalism approach that consisted of synthesizers and keyboards helped to establish funky breaks and house music. It emphasizes the slapping techniques of bass guitar but also bass synthesizers. Early artists include Herbie Hancock, Afrika Bambata, Jonzun Crew, & Newcleus

Impact on new musical genres by Funk

The emphasis Funk put on heavy rhythmic sound made for dancing has HUGELY influenced almost all dance music and Top 40 produced

today. Funk drew inspiration from the SYNCHOPATED rhythms of Jazz mixed with tribal patterns, but accentuated the 1st beat of each

measure (4/4 time signature/meter), which has carried through to this day.

The largest genre impact Funk has had on music in general was the direct evolution of Hip Hop out of Funk beginning in the early 80s.

Around the time Hip Hop began separating into a unique genre, Funk had begun to incorporate spoken word and rudimentary rap

techniques that would be further developed by Hip Hop genre. Electro-Funk evolved alongside early Hip Hop. Both of the 2 styles were not differentiated at first. Break-dancers, or “B-Boys”, most.

Artist Spotlight: Warren G

Warren G (born Warren Griffin III, November 10, 1970) is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer.

His biggest hit is the song "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994.

“Regulate”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plPyJdXKIY&ob=av2e

G-funk: G-funk is a fusion genre of music which combines gangsta rap and funk. It is generally considered to have been invented by west coast rappers, made famous by Warren G.

Artist Spotlight…tba in EDM Unit

Funky House/Funky Breaks: a hybrid of electronic music and funk. It essentially follows the same form as funk, and retains funk's characteristics, but is made entirely (or partially) with a use of electronic instruments and computers. Often it samples original Funk songs or elements used in early Funk like wah wah guitars or horns.

It is a sub-genre of EDM or House Music that has gained significant popularity over the years, and often has club nights or special events strictly dedicated to the style.

Funk Documentaries

George Clinton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itejCyGICEw

Funk Music History: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_sO5e5xhfo&feature=related

Funk Music Used in Today’s Class

“Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)" by James Brown ”Jungle Boogie” by Kool and the Gang ”One Nation Under a Groove” by Funkadelic ”Superstition" (album) by Stevie Wonder “Superfreak” by Rick James “Flashlight” by Parliament ”Kiss” by Prince “Family” by Sly & The Famly Stone “Jam On It” by Newcleus