Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame
Clarence Eugene “Fuzzy” Haskins, an unique member of the influential musical collective Parliament-Funkadelic, has died. He was 81.
The Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame, which inducted Haskins together with different core Parliament-Funkadelic members in 1997, confirmed the demise to NPR in a assertion.
Born in Elkins, W.V., in 1941, Haskins began out singing within the Fifties and ’60s in New Jersey within the doo-wop vocal quintet The Parliaments.
Named after the American cigarette model and led by charismatic musician and producer George Clinton, the group did not obtain nice success till they scored successful in 1967 with “I Wanna Testify.”
After their small Detroit file label dissolved, Clinton teamed The Parliaments up with a bunch known as Funkadelic. Ultimately often known as Parliament-Funkadelic or P-Funk, the musical collective made a big effect on the Seventies R&B and funk scenes.
Based on his biography on Clinton’s web site, “He was identified, throughout stay P-Funk exhibits, to don skin-tight bodysuits and gyrate towards the microphone pole as he whipped the gang right into a frenzy, particularly after they carried out ‘Standing on the Verge of Getting It On.’ “
“Parliament-Funkadelic pushed boundaries additional and additional on traditional albums like Mothership Connection and Maggot Mind, and set a futuristic tempo for Black music,” mentioned Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame spokesperson Daybreak Wayt. “However Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins stored issues related to their avenue nook concord roots.”
Beginning within the mid-Seventies Haskins developed a solo profession, however continued to carry out and file with varied P-Funk members on and off over time.
P-Funk member Bootsy Collins paid tribute to Haskins in an e mail to NPR. Collins mentioned:
“Fuzzy was not solely a proficient singer & musician, he was a pacesetter & staff participant. He was all the time a light-weight on the get together, the exhibits or wherever he would go.
He commanded consideration on stage & off.
Not in a boastful approach, however simply being his pure Werewolf self. He may have performed the Wolfman. That was an inside joke that received on the market within the ambiance.
Fuzzy was a lot enjoyable to hang around with. However on stage is the place he gave his full consideration to entertaining the viewers.
He was devoted to his household & pals however anyone that knew Fuzzy is aware of that he would give u the shirt off his again. He shall be missed dearly. R.I.P. my good friend.”