The glorious story of Funk from James Brown to Off The Wall

About this episode

Lloyd Bradley discusses the evolution of funk music from James Brown to Michael Jackson, exploring its cultural significance and key figures.

Old friend of the podcast Lloyd Bradley wrote Bass Culture, the defining account of reggae, and he’s now turned his attention to funk, from its deepest roots and via the jazz, arts, TV, radio and pop culture that flavoured it. The main 10-year focus of ‘Funk Has Its Own Reward’ is from James Brown’s ‘Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud’ to Michael Jackson’s ‘Off The Wall’ but free your mind and all this will follow! …   … the importance of radio being “colourblind”   … Cab Calloway’s Jive Dictionary and the impact of DJs Martha Jean ‘the Queen’ Steinberg and Daddy-O Daylie   … how James Brown floor-tested his records and saved a fortune making them     … funk’s deep roots in America’s marching bands   … why jazz is funk’s closest relative and what it stole from white rock     … how the Family Stone’s Larry Graham made bass the place   … how solo singers gave way to the ‘funk gangs’     … how Richard Pryor gave mainstream America a window on a whole new world.   … the influence of Soul Train and Sesame Street (19-year-old Nile Rodgers on guitar!) in bringing funk to the masses   … George Clinton – “I…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mark Ellen, David Hepworth, Alex Gold

Guest: Lloyd Bradley

Topics covered

• funk music
• history of funk
• influence of jazz
• cultural impact
• radio and music
• notable funk artists

Keywords

• funk
• James Brown
• Michael Jackson
• cultural history
• music influence
• radio
• DJs
• Soul Train
• Funkadelic

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Soul Train, Sesame Street, Funkadelic, The Chambers Brothers

Books & works: Bass Culture, Funk Is Its Own Reward, Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud, Off The Wall

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