History of American Pop Music
Chapter 27: Funk Music

Chapter 27: Overview

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Chapter 27 traces the transformation of African American popular music during the late 1960s and 1970s as soul evolved into funk alongside the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Artists such as James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Parliament-Funkadelic combined new rhythmic approaches with political commentary, while Blaxploitation films and Soul Train brought Black music, fashion, and culture to national audiences

Important Terms

Soul Music – A genre combining gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, and pop that emphasizes emotional vocal expression and African American musical traditions.

Funk – A style of music centered on interlocking rhythms, syncopated bass lines, strong downbeats, and groove rather than harmonic complexity.

Groove – A repeating rhythmic pattern that drives a song and encourages dancing.

Syncopation – Placing rhythmic emphasis on weak beats or unexpected parts of the measure.

Vamp – A short repeated musical pattern that forms the foundation for improvisation or extended performance.

Call-and-Response – A musical exchange in which a lead singer or musician is answered by another performer or group.

Downbeat – The first beat of a measure, often heavily emphasized in funk.

Drum Break – A section in which the drummer performs alone or is prominently featured.

Slap Bass – A bass-playing technique using the thumb and fingers to create a sharp, percussive sound.

Tape Hiss – Background noise created by repeated use and overdubbing of analog tape.

Concept Album – An album whose songs are connected by a common story or theme.

Afrofuturism – A cultural movement combining African diasporic history with science fiction, fantasy, technology, and visions of Black futures.

African Diaspora – Communities of people of African descent living outside Africa because of slavery, migration, and historical displacement.

Black Power Movement – Movement promoting Black self-determination, cultural pride, and political empowerment.

Black Panther Party – Political organization founded in 1966 that advocated community self-defense, social programs, and racial justice.

COINTELPRO – FBI counterintelligence program that monitored and disrupted political organizations, including the Black Panther Party.

Soul Chart – Billboard chart renamed from the Rhythm and Blues chart in 1969 to reflect the growing popularity of soul music.

Blaxploitation – A film movement of the early 1970s featuring predominantly Black casts, Black protagonists, and soundtracks rooted in soul and funk.

Soul Train Line – Dance feature on Soul Train in which dancers performed individually between two lines of participants.

P-Funk – George Clinton's interconnected musical universe built around Parliament and Funkadelic, combining funk, science fiction, and Afrofuturism.

Mothership – Symbol in Parliament's mythology representing liberation, Black identity, and the return of funk.

One Nation Under a Groove – George Clinton's vision of unity and empowerment through funk music.

Artists Discussed

Sam Cooke – Soul singer, songwriter, and civil rights advocate whose music inspired later generations.

Curtis Mayfield – Singer, songwriter, and producer whose music combined soul with social commentary.

The Impressions – Soul group led by Curtis Mayfield.

James Brown – Singer, songwriter, producer, and performer known as the "Godfather of Soul."

The Famous Flames – Vocal group that launched James Brown's career.

Clyde Stubblefield – Drummer whose performances became among the most sampled in music history.

The Temptations – Motown vocal group that embraced psychedelic soul.

Diana Ross – Singer and actress who began a successful solo career.

The Jackson 5 – Motown family group.

Michael Jackson – Lead singer of the Jackson 5 who later became a solo superstar.

Sly and the Family Stone – Funk band known for racial and gender integration.

Marvin Gaye – Singer, songwriter, and producer whose socially conscious recordings transformed Motown.

The Four Tops – Motown vocal group.

Stevie Wonder – Singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.

The Spinners – Soul group that recorded songs written by Stevie Wonder.

Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) – Founder and leader of Sly and the Family Stone.

Larry Graham – Bassist who pioneered slap bass.

Sun Ra – Jazz composer, bandleader, and early Afrofuturist.

The Arkestra – Sun Ra's long-running ensemble.

Maurice White – Founder and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Earth, Wind & Fire – Funk, soul, and R&B group known for elaborate stage productions.

Philip Bailey – Lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Ohio Players – Funk band known for "Funky Worm."

Kool & the Gang – Funk band known for "Jungle Boogie."

Tower of Power – Funk band recognized for its horn section.

War – Funk and soul band blending Latin rhythms and rock.

Miles Davis – Jazz trumpeter whose later work incorporated funk.

Herbie Hancock – Jazz pianist and keyboardist who blended jazz with funk.

The Crusaders – Jazz-funk ensemble.

Weather Report – Jazz fusion band.

George Clinton – Founder of Parliament and Funkadelic and creator of P-Funk.

The Parliaments – Vocal group that preceded Parliament.

Funkadelic – Psychedelic funk band led by George Clinton.

Parliament – Funk band led by George Clinton.

Bootsy Collins – Bassist who joined Parliament-Funkadelic after playing with James Brown.

Catfish Collins – Guitarist who joined Parliament-Funkadelic after playing with James Brown.

Isaac Hayes – Singer, songwriter, and composer of the Shaft soundtrack.

Don Cornelius – Creator and host of Soul Train.

Songs Referenced

  • "A Change Is Gonna Come" – Sam Cooke

  • "People Get Ready" – The Impressions

  • "Keep On Pushing" – The Impressions

  • "We Shall Overcome" – Pete Seeger

  • "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" – James Brown

  • "Please, Please, Please" – James Brown and the Famous Flames

  • "Try Me" – James Brown

  • "Think" – James Brown

  • "Live at the Apollo" – James Brown (title track/performance referenced)

  • "I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)" – James Brown

  • "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" – James Brown

  • "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" – James Brown

  • "Funky President (People, It's Bad)" – James Brown

  • "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" – James Brown

  • "Cold Sweat" – James Brown

  • "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" – James Brown

  • "Out of Sight" – James Brown

  • "I Got You (I Feel Good)" – James Brown

  • "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" – James Brown

  • "Funky Drummer" – James Brown

  • "Love Child" – Diana Ross and the Supremes

  • "Cloud Nine" – The Temptations

  • "I Can't Get Next to You" – The Temptations

  • "Psychedelic Shack" – The Temptations

  • "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" – The Temptations

  • "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" – The Temptations

  • "I Want You Back" – The Jackson 5

  • "ABC" – The Jackson 5

  • "The Love You Save" – The Jackson 5

  • "I'll Be There" – The Jackson 5

  • "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Ain't That Peculiar" – Marvin Gaye

  • "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Baby I'm for Real" – The Originals

  • "The Bells" – The Originals

  • "What's Going On" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Trouble Man" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Let's Get It On" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Got to Give It Up, Pt. I" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Fingertips" – Stevie Wonder

  • "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" – Stevie Wonder

  • "Superstition" – Stevie Wonder

  • "Living for the City" – Stevie Wonder

  • "Dance to the Music" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "Everyday People" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "Family Affair" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "Stand!" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "I Want to Take You Higher" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "You Can Make It If You Try" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "If You Want Me to Stay" – Sly and the Family Stone

  • "Wade in the Water" – Ramsey Lewis Trio

  • "Shining Star" – Earth, Wind & Fire

  • "September" – Earth, Wind & Fire

  • "Funky Worm" – Ohio Players

  • "Jungle Boogie" – Kool & the Gang

  • "Low Rider" – War

  • "Flash Light" – Parliament

  • "Chocolate City" – Parliament

  • "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" – Parliament

  • "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication" – Parliament

  • "P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)" – Parliament

  • "One Nation Under a Groove" – Funkadelic

  • "Theme from Shaft" – Isaac Hayes

  • "Freddie's Dead" – Curtis Mayfield

  • "Superfly" – Curtis Mayfield

Albums

  • Live at the Apollo

  • What's Going On

  • Trouble Man

  • Let's Get It On

  • Music of My Mind

  • Talking Book

  • Innervisions

  • Fulfillingness' First Finale

  • Songs in the Key of Life

  • Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants

  • There's a Riot Goin' On

  • Fresh

  • Headhunters

  • Southern Comfort

  • Black Market

  • Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow

  • Maggot Brain

  • Mothership Connection

  • Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome

  • One Nation Under a Groove

  • Eric Burdon Declares War

  • All Day Music

  • The World Is a Ghetto

Films

  • Space Is the Place

  • Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

  • Shaft

  • Super Fly