|
Those of you who listen to the radio in the SF-Oakland Bay Area probably know Rickey Vincent as The Uhuru Maggot, a man who spins excellent funk shows for various radio stations in Northern California. It would be hard to come up with a better person to write the history of funk than this very knowledgeable funkateer.
As Rickey points out in the book, there are tons of books on jazz, blues and rock, but very few on The Funk. Rickey covers the expected artists, such as James Brown, Parliament, Funkadelic, Sly Stone, The Ohio Players etc., but the real treat for those who seek unknown artists is Vincent's coverage of lesser known stars. If you like Funkadelic, then you will probably love Undisputed Truth's "Higher than High", and there is more where that came from.
Rickey doesn't just cover the music, but also how all of this music relates to African American culture and history. Yes, funk is essentially a black thang, but Rickey is a generous guy and also covers those 'outsiders' who are drawn to the funk and have made their own contributions, including artists like The Average White Band and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Even the Beatles' psychedelic years are included as an influence.
This book is highly recommended for both the already devoted funk fans, as well as those who want to explore and learn. Its a fun and easy read from start to finish.
|