funk | Musicosity

funk

Paris Wells

Watching Paris Wells in her support slot at Robyn's recent Melbourne show was a joy. While most artists in her position would use such a slot as an opportunity to air as much of their own music as possible, Wells seemed to understand that no one was particularly interested in a half-hour of previously unheard music from an unknown artist. Instead, she spent the better part of her set dropping party-starting covers of recent and classic R&B hits. By the time she got around to singing her debut single, Dat Du Dat, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand.

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Pretty Lights

Pretty Lights, real name Derek Vincent Smith, is an electronic music artist from Colorado. Since July 2010, Adam Deitch has assisted during live performances. The name comes from a Pink Floyd poster that read "Come and watch the pretty lights!" Smith's music is the byproduct of digital sampling and crosses many genres, forming a combination of "glitchy hip-hop beats, buzzing synth lines, and vintage funk and soul samples."

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Nile Rodgers

Nile Gregory Rodgers (born September 19, 1952 in New York City) is a musician, composer, arranger, guitarist and music producer, and co-founding member of the seminal multi-platinum hit R&B band Chic, with influential bassist, the late Bernard Edwards. Rodgers began his career as a session guitarist in New York, playing with the Sesame Street band in his teens, and then working in the house band at Harlem's renowned Apollo Theater, backing artists like Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Nancy Wilson, and Parliament Funkadelic.

Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Paul Merriweather, born February 17th 1982 in Melbourne, Victoria is an Australian R&B singer/songwriter. His first commercially released recording was a guest appearance on the track "All I Want" from Australian dance act Disco Montego's self-titled album in 2002. In 2007 Daniel Merriweather put his voice to Mark Ronson's "Stop Me" (cover of The Smiths track) which reached #2 on the UK singles charts, and also co-wrote and featured on Wiley's third single, from his fourth album, Cash In My Pocket which reached #18 on the UK singles chart.

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Direct Influence

Direct Influence is one of Australia’s premier reggae acts. Described as a mixture of the deep rooted reggae of the Wailers, the sounds of Che Fu and a little Damian Marley, Direct Influence create a fusion of Hip Hop and Roots Reggae whilst also encompassing the hearty soulful music carrying messages of peace and hope. An electrifying combination of sweet reggae licks, a monstrous rhythm section and a multi-talented vocalist who can both sing and rap, Direct Influence create exciting and energised live shows that leave audiences across the country wanting more.

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Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint (born January 14, 1938) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer and one of the most influential figures in New Orleans R&B who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was a prolific writer, producer and arranger, creating numerous hits for a variety of artists including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, The Showmen, The Meters, Betty Wright, Solomon Burke and Willie West. He produced material for Dr John, LaBelle, Chocolate Milk and Aaron Neville amongst many more.

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George Clinton

George Clinton (born July 22, 1941) is an American musician, widely considered one of the forefathers of funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and was a solo funk artist as of 1981. He was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, and currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida. In Plainfield, he ran a barber salon, where he straightened hair, and soon formed a doo wop group, inspired by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, called The Parliaments.

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Mark Ronson & The Business Intl

At the launch of his most recent Gucci pop-up store in London, Ronson confirmed the name of his new album Record Collection, and said that he hoped to have it out by September 2010. Additionally, Ronson announced the name of his new band, "The Business Intl.'", which is the alias adopted by Ronson on the third studio album. The first single "Bang Bang Bang". which featured rapper Q-Tip and singer MNDR was released on 12 July 2010, where it peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Ronson his fourth Top 10 hit.

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