Bootsy Collins Remembers Clyde Stubblefield & Jabo Starks On New Single

Bootsy Collins remembers drummers Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks on his latest single, “The JB’s Tribute Pastor P.” They all worked together in James Brown’s band and helped Brown create some of his funk classics. Stubblefield will be forever remembered for creating the famous break from “Funky Drummer.” His drums were also immortalized on “Cold Sweat,” “Ain’t It Funky Now,” “Mother Popcorn,” “Say It Loud- I’m Black and I’m Proud,” “Give It Up Or Turn It Loose,” “Get Into It, Get Involved,” “There Was A Time,” and the Sex Machine album. Starks played on “The Payback,” “Sex Machine,” “Soul Power,” “Papa Don’t Take No Mess,” “Licking Stick-Licking Stick,” “Super Bad,” “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing” and “Doing It To Death.” Collin’s tribute has Harry Mack rapping and the band, which includes Brown alumni Fred Wesley on the trombone. Collins’ 23rd album, Album of the Year #1 Funkateer, is due any day now. 



R.I.P. John “Jabo” Starks

[youtube id=”3hSdvuqqiT8″] John “Jabo” Starks who helped provide the backbone of James Brown’s most revered lineup died Tuesday at his home in Mobile, Alabama after suffering from luekemia. The 79-year old drummer was responsible for creating the rhythms some of Brown’s most celebrated work with Clyde “Funky Drummer” Stubblefield including “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine,” “Funky Drummer” and “The Payback.” Starks worked for Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker and  Bobby “Blue” Bland in the early ’60s before joining Brown’s organization. It is Starks’ drums heard on Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It)” that was sampled on Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s “It Takes Two.” He left James Brown in the ’70s and was a member of  B.B. King’s band for a while. A reconnection with Stubblefield led to them releasing music as The Funkmasters and recording the 2007 Superbad soundtrack. They also made instructional videos discussing their legendary sound that has been recycled in hip-hop since its inception.Â