Who invented Funk? I guess the main contenders would be James Brown and Sly Stone. What would people here say? Seems like no matter whose biography you read, they often state that either of them invented Funk.

But, who is it?

I don't know, but I have read articles were Bootsy credits the Meters as the orginators of funk's syncopated rhythms.

I'd put it at James Brown. It's possible that there was some funkin' before that, but James certainly popularized it, put it on the map, as a style of music....everybody wanted to Funk like James, and later on, Sly took it to the next level...


...

imo,its gotta be james that gets the patent 4 the invention of funk. because of the fact that everyone who came after him borrowed or put a twist from some shit his band had done.

Rusty Lee and Des O'Connor

There wasn't funk before James Brown.

Ellie said:

Who would that be?

calldapplwondery83 said:

You KNWO it'[s true

James Brown. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag. The "brand new bag" was a new style called funk.

calldapplwondery83 said:

Dr. Funkenstein

lilgish said:

His funk was the best
He took my body and gave it mind
To funk with the rest


No but 4real...James B.

Soul Brotha' #1!!!

Stax said:

I would have to say that James certainly took a page from The Meters. It is, perhaps, more accurate to call it proto-funk. James crafted it into what we now think of as Funk.

As for Sly and George, they certainly deserve the credit for taking this style to new levels previously undreamed of. Still, James is the originator of true Funk.

Ellie said:

You are NOT taking this seriously!

Slave2daGroove said:

TALK!!!


The true groove came from J.B.

JB was the man (anyone see the cool docu on him last night?)..but honorable mentions go to Bo Didley, Lee Dorsey, and Bill Doggett. There were doing their type of funk in the 50's.

CinisterCee said:

I agree and Little Richard helped in his own way also!

Yeah, I would go with James Brown. But then Sly, Jimi, and Geroge took it to new dimensions.

Better ask who invented "blaknuss" cuz that's what you're gettingat. Folks been funkin' since they been in Africa and especially since they got enslaved and shipped over here. It's your very essence of Black music. (Crossover dreams been makin' white folks think they funky too. S'ok; I'm down w/it).

Now if you wanna know who named the music "funk" then that goes to James Brown. He actually called it that.

New Orleans funk (a la The Meters, Prof Longhair, Dr. Jonh etc) predates JB and it's a bit different with more syncopation but less relianc eon THE ONE; they even call it "fonk" down there

NWF said:

yep..that's right....

PFunkjazz said:

Good observations...

Out of Sight had it...



...Papa's Got a Brand New Bag called it.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

^^ yup.

theAudience said:

Brotha TA, you are correct. He was one of the creators of the on the one groove pattern which is the basic groove pattern of good Funk that you can smell ya dig. Bootsy served as the Funk co-pilot with his rhythmic bass.
[Edited 9/6/05 20:51pm]

Another Funk Inventor would have to Sly & The Family Stone.

Everythang's on tha 1

mrwigglesdaw1rm said:

Especially When It's Funkin.

MadameS said:

I CAN DIG IT!!!!