The United States singer and musicianJames Brown was one of the first funk musicians. James Brown recorded a song in 1965 called "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" which is considered the first funk song. Other musical groups copied the rhythms and musical style developed by James Brown and his band. A band calledThe Meters played funk music inNew Orleans. The Meters had hit songs such as "Sophisticated Cissy" and "Cissy Strut" in 1969. Another funk group,The Isley Brothers, had a hit song in 1969 called "It's Your Thing".
In the 1980s, funk music changed. Funk musicians began using electronic instruments such assynthesizer keyboards and electronicdrum machines instead of electric bass, electric organ, trumpets, saxophones, and drums.Rick James had hits in the 1980s with funk songs such as "Give It To Me Baby" and "Super Freak." The bandQueen had funk songs such as "Another One Bites The Dust." The musician and singerPrince had hit songs such as "1999".
Some famous early 1980s funk artists include:Cameo,One Way,Zapp, TheGap Band,Tom Browne, TheBar-Kays, and TheDazz Band.
In the later 1980s, two new styles of funk developed called "funk rock" and “funk metal”. These styles of music mixed funk music withrock andmetal music. Funk rock and funk metal bands includeRed Hot Chili Peppers,Living Colour,Jane's Addiction,Prince,Urban Dance Squad,Primus,Fishbone,Faith No More andRage Against the Machine.
Funk music influenced 1980ship hop music. Many hip hop musicians use funk songs by James Brown or George Clinton to compose new hip hop songs.
In the 1990s and 2000s, hip hop influenced funk and funk rock bands includedOutkast, andVan Hunt.
In the late 1990s, the bandPhish developed a live sound that is sometimes called "cow funk" or "space funk", which included extended danceable grooves that accented beat 1 of the 4/4 rhythm (i.e. classic funk), while often using a lot of heavy "wah" pedal and otherpsychedelic effects from the guitar player and layeredClavinet from the keyboard player.[1]
In the 1990s and 2000s, hip hop musicians continued to use funk songs by James Brown, George Clinton or Roger Troutman to compose new hip hop songs. There was also a popularWest Coast hip hop genre that mixed rap with funk called "G-funk".
Amadou & Mariam have produced music that mixes traditionalMalian music with rock guitars, Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets, Egyptianney flute, Indiantablas andDogon percussion. These elements have been called "Afro-Funk".[2]
