What’s Up Y’all:
I was listening to “Funky Drummer” by James Brown (R.I.P.) the other day and got to wondering… exactly who is this funky drummer? So onto the net and found some goodies!
Here is my first Artist Spotlight: Mr. Clyde Stubblefield
The cat on Funky Drummer is Clyde Stubblefield from Chattanooga, TN. Mr. Stubblefield was also the drummer on James Brown’s “Cold Sweat, “I Got a Feelin”, “Say it Loud-I’m Black and I’m Proud” and countless others by the Godfather of Soul.
According to Wikipedia, Mr. Stubblefield is the most widely sampled musician in the world! As a matter of fact, “Funky Drummer” is believed to be the worlds most sampled record! Ain’t that something?
Currently Mr. Stubblefield resides in Madison, Wisconsin where he is suffering from kidney failure and undergoes dialysis treatment and is on the transplant list. Regardless of his illness Mr. Stubblefield plays a weekly gig at the Frequency in downtown Madison. He has collaborated with John “Jabo” Starks, another James Brown drummer and formed Funkmasters. As a team Stubblefield and Jabo have worked with Fred Wesley and Bootsy Collins just to name a couple. They also have appeared in instructional drumming videos.
I checked youtube and found a really cool clip of the Funky Drummer being well… funky.
So here is some trivia for you.
Comment on this post with three songs that have used the “Funky Drummer” sample for a chance to win a copy of Stix Bones “Groove Like This” after all he is our FUNKY DRUMMER! The winners and answers will be posted on next weeks Artist Spotlight.
Until next time…
Keep Jammin