The Bar-Kays: Masters Of Funky R&B

The Bar-Kays, a popular funk ensemble, reached the height of popularity with R&B hits through the ‘70s and ‘80s. Read more

Shuggie Otis: One Of The Best Songwriters In The Business

One of the best songwriters, record producers, and funk, rock, blues and American R&B singers is Shuggie Otis who was born as Johnny Alexander Veliotes on 30th November, 1953 in Los Angeles, California. ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ is one of his popular compositions that The Brothers Johnson had covered and this number had topped the Billboard R&B chart while finding its place in the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the 5th position in 1977. 1975 also saw his hit single ‘Inspiration Information’ making it to the R&B chart at the 56th position. Read more

The World Of Funk & Disco

Funk Funk music is a musical style which originated in America in the mid to late 1960’s. This musical genre blends together Rhythm and Blues, jazz and soul music into a trendy and danceable style.

Funk concentrates on a strong rhythmic groove from the rhythm section melody and harmony are de-emphasised. Back line instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass, Hammond organ and drums are used to play interlocking grooves. Most funk songs, unlike other musical styles such as soul and R and B, comprise of very few chords sometimes as little as a vamp on one chord. A horn section (saxophones, trumpets and sometimes trombones) is often used in funk bands to provide stabs and punches to accentuate rhythms and grooves.

Performers in this genre include James Brown with songs such as ‘I feel good’, Earth, Wind and fire, Kool and the Gang who had a hit single with ‘Celebration’, and Tower of Power. Funk has had a large influence on more recent forms of music such as disco and hip hop.

Disco Nothing sets of a party better than a bit of disco music, the genre which blended together two favourite music genres, soul and funk. Disco music became popular in the 1970’s and took over the mainstream pop music charts. This music form relies heavily on a very steady four to the floor bass drum beat, a quaver or semi quaver hi-hat pattern using an open hi-hat on the off beat, and a solid, often syncopated electric bass line. The vocals are high impact and use a great deal of reverb. Electric instruments including guitars, pianos, string sounds, often played on synthasisers, play in the background and are less important than the high impact drums and vocals. Popular artists in this genre include ‘The Jackson Five’, ‘The Bee Gees’ and ‘Donna Summer’, music by these artists is bound to get any aged person tapping or too their feet! Disco music helped the creation of techno and house in the 1990’s.

Charlotte Jones - Groove Online

Tell Us What You Think About Soul Music TV!

In this section we’ll appreciate your comments on our 24 hour Soul Music TV channel. Whether good or bad! Read more