Parliament-Funkadelic singer Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins has died aged 81

Clarence Eugene “Fuzzy” Haskins, an original member of the influential musical group Parliament-Funkadelic, has died. He was 81.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted Haskins in 1997 along with other prominent Parliament-Funkadelic members, confirmed the death to NPR. statement.

Born in 1941 in Elkins, WV, Haskins began singing in the doo-wop vocal quintet The Parliament in New Jersey in the 1950s and ’60s.

Named after an American cigarette brand and led by charismatic musician and producer George Clinton, the group did not achieve major success until they scored a “hit” in 1967.I want to testify.”

After their small Detroit record label disbanded, Clinton teamed up with a group called Parliaments Funkadelic. Eventually known as Parliament-Funkadelic or P-Funk, the musical collective made a huge impact on the R&B and funk scenes of the 1970s.

According to this His biography On Clinton’s website, “He was known for wearing skin-tight bodysuits and gyrating against a microphone pole at live P-Funk shows as he whipped the crowd into a frenzy, especially when they performed ‘Standing on the Face of Getting It On.’ “

“Parliament-Funkadelic pushed the boundaries further and further on classic albums The motherhood connection and Maggot brainand set the future pace for black music,” said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame spokesman Don Waite. “But Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins kept things connected to their street corner harmony roots.

In the mid-1970s Haskins developed a solo career, but continued to perform and record with various P-Funk members.

P-Funk member Booty Collins paid tribute to Haskins on social media. “We lost his frequency today,” the musician wrote on Twitter. “We will miss you my friend, bandmate and soul brother.”