parliament funkadelic

Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk music collective headed by George Clinton. It specialized in the style of music known as P Funk and performed under the names Parliament and Funkadelic (two bands consisting of the same members, recording for different labels), but also in a score of offshoot groups and solo ventures. Recording under myriad names, this group had thirteen Top Ten hits in the U.S. R&B music charts between 1967 and 1983, including six number one hits in the R&B Charts. They were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums and memorable live performances.

Today the band tours as either "George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars" or "George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic". Some former members of Parliament perform under the name "Original P."

The etymology of the term "P-Funk" is subject to multiple interpretations. It has been identified typically as an abbreviation of "Parliament-Funkadelic". Another suggested definition is "Plainfield Funk", referring to Plainfield, New Jersey, the hometown of the band's original line-up. The liner notes of CD versions of the Motor Booty Affair album suggest that the 'P' stands for 'Pure'. It has also been suggested that it is an abbreviation of "Psychedelic Funk". The breakout popularity of Parliament-Funkadelic elevated the status of "P-Funk" to describe what is now considered to be a genre of music in its own right. Fans of this genre of music often refer to it as "The P". Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Early development 1.2 Transition to Funkadelic 1.3 The reemergence of Parliament 1.4 The P.Funk Earth Tour 1.5 Popularity & Expansion 1.6 Modern Day P-Funk 2 Legacy 3 Key Members 4 Notable songs 5 See also 6 References 7 External links //

History

Early development

The P-Funk story began in 1956 in Plainfield, New Jersey, with a doo-wop group formed by fifteen-year-old George Clinton. This was The Parliaments, a name inspired by Parliament cigarettes. By the early 1960s, the group had solidified into the five-man lineup of Clinton, Ray "Stingray" Davis, Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, Calvin Simon and Grady Thomas.

In 1964 Clinton added a backing band made up of the young Plainfield musical talent that came into Clinton's barbershop, including Frankie Boyce, Richard Boyce and Langston Booth. The 1960s were a difficult decade for The Parliaments. In a recorded interview on one of his "Family