Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins, an authentic member of Parliament-Funkadelic, has died. He was 81.
P-Funk frontman/producer George Clinton introduced the singer and Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame inductee’s loss of life by social media on Friday (March 17). A reason behind loss of life was not offered.
“We’re saddened to announce the passing of an authentic Parliament Funkadelic member Clarence Eugene ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins (born June 8, 1941-March seventeenth, 2023),” Clinton wrote on Instagram alongside pictures of Haskins. He added in a Fb put up, “Surrender the Fuzz, Fly on.”
Former Parliament-Funkadelic member Bootsy Collins additionally paid tribute to his former bandmate on Twitter.
“Prayer’s going out to Clarence ‘Fuzzys’ Haskins household & pals. We misplaced his frequency in the present day 3-17- 23,” Collins wrote on Friday. “He was an authentic Parliament/Funkadelic inducted within the RHOF. We are going to miss u my pal, bandmate & Soul brother! Thx u for ur steering in my pup yr’s. Bootsy child!!”
Born in 1941 in West Virginia, Haskins was a member of the Gel-Airs earlier than becoming a member of group initially often known as the Parliaments, first shaped within the Nineteen Sixties as a doo-wop quintet with Clinton, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas and Ray Davis. The group that later turned often known as Parliament-Funkadelic.
Haskins is credited for his contributions to P-Funk tracks like “I Received a Factor” and “I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You,” based on a put up about Haskins on Clinton’s web site.
“He was a superb drummer as effectively, as he proved on ‘Can You Get to That,’ which he additionally co-wrote,” Clinton’s web site says. “A few of Fuzzy’s greatest vocals appeared on Funkadelic’s 1972 LP America Eats Its Younger, most notably on ‘Ms Lucifers Love.’ However singing wasn’t the one factor that Fuzzy dropped at P-Funk. He was identified, throughout reside P-Funk reveals, to don skin-tight bodysuits and gyrate in opposition to the microphone pole as he whipped the group right into a frenzy, particularly after they carried out ‘Standing on the Verge of Getting it On.’”
Haskins remained a full-time member of P-Funk by the late Seventies. He launched his first solo album, A Complete Nother Thang, in 1976 by Westbound Data. The set featured collaborations with Bernie Worrell, Donald Austin and Collins. Haskins dropped his second solo album, Radio Energetic, in 1978.
Haskins briefly rejoined Parliament-Funkadelic for the group’s P-Funk Stay Earth Tour in 1977 earlier than leaving the group once more for good. “By this time, he claimed he was by with singing all of the ole soiled songs and commenced learning the Lord’s Phrase,” Clinton’s web site says.
In 1981, Haskins joined former P-Funk members Simon, Davis and Thomas to launch the Connections & Disconnections album underneath the Funkadelic title, which prompted a lawsuit by Clinton. In his later years, Haskins turned a preacher and recorded gospel music.
Together with different members of Parliament-Funkadelic, Haskins was inducted by Prince into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1997.
“Funk is a power that tore the roof off the sucker that’s fashionable music,” Prince mentioned of their Rock Corridor introduction.
Clinton and the opposite members of Parliament-Funkadelic acquired a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2019.
