What better to commemorate the first installment of "Friday Funkdown" than with one of the funkiest bands of all time: Parliament Funkadelic. This song is titled "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" and it is the title track from their most acclaimed album; Mothership Connection (1975).
George Clinton was the leader of the group and accompanied by a some famous defectors from James Brown's backing bands including Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and Bootsy Collins, all of which would go on to have successful solo careers.
This group has remained influential throughout the music industry and has had a major impact on the hip-hop community. I was introduced to their music as a child (1980ish). My mother always had music on in the house. She would play anything from funk to rock to reggae. I was immediately drawn to the bugged out album covers which often contained the song lyrics either on the back of the album or on the record sleeve itself. I would listen and read along, bobbing my head to the beat. As I got older, I immediately picked up on the massive amount of samples used by artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, N.W.A. and the entire west coast hip-hop movement of the early 1990's.
Believe it or not, these cats are still doing shows. Although most of the original members have moved on or passed away, George Clinton (he'll be 70 in July) is still available for booking.
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