Funk in the News
fDeluxe (The Band Formerly Known as The Family) is set to participate in celebrations around Prince’s birthday. Their web site shows that they will be holding Q&A sessions on June 5 and 6.
Prince created the band from the remnants of The Time (Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson, and Paul Peterson), adding saxophonist Eric Leeds and singer Susannah Melvoin (guitarist Wendy’s twin sister). The Family album dropped in June 1985, but as had been the case with Time albums, Prince recorded nearly everything himself, adding Leeds’ saxophone and St. Paul and Susannah’s vocals later. The Family played one legendary show in Minneapolis but then it was over. They regrouped in 2011; Prince didn’t allow them to use the original band name, so they became fDeluxe.
PBS has dropped a new documentary on its Independent Lens program: We Want the Funk!
An NPR story on the doc quotes Professor Todd Boyd (“The Notorious Ph.D.”), who says the following about the funk:
Well, it’s funky. But beyond that, I don’t know if I can describe it. But when you hear it, you know what it is. And, perhaps more importantly, you know it when you feel it.
Erykah Badu will drop a new album in 2025, her first since 2010! Even though she’s not been recording much other than guest appearances on other artists’ albums, she tours eight months out of the year, so she’s stayed plenty busy.
Bootsy got a new album coming out April 11! Album of the Year #1 Funkateer. Here’s the title track:
“Questlove Confronts the ‘Burden of Black Genius’ in a New Sly Stone Documentary,” Fresh Air, NPR, February 10, 2025.