“The Naz”

TOUR DATES:

Sat May 4th- Philadelphia- South Street Festival-4:00pm Legendary Dobbs Stage
Tues May 7th Philadelphia-Legendary Dobbs
Wed May 8th- Providence-The Spot
Fri May 10th- Bethlehem PA- The Funhouse
Sat May 11th- NYC- Zirzamin
Fri May 17th- Franklinville NC- Fox Fest
Sat May 18th- Waxhaw NC- drumSTRONG
Thur May 23- Wilmington NC- The Whisey
Fri May 24- Charlotte NC- The Evening Muse

Cordell passed on April 18th at the age of 60 due to complications from an unspecified illness.

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George Clinton & parliament Funkadelic have created  a memorial page for Boogie here –>  http://georgeclinton.com/boogie/

They posted this video- a collaboration with Garry Shider, another passed PFunk legend, a bio and a letter from bandmate Danny Bedrosian:

United Soul’s “I Miss My Baby” – a song led by Garry Shider with Cordell Boogie Mosson. Their first official single together for the Parliament-Funkadelic empire.

We love and will never forget our brother Cordell Boogie Mosson. He passed away April 18th, 2013. Memorial details will be announced soon.

Here is a brief biography we have about Boogie, but it doesn’t express what a joyful friend and family member Boogie is, or any personal stories.

Then following is a tribute by P-Funk keyboardist Danny Bedrosian

Please let us know of your memories in the comments below.

Cordell “Boogie” Mosson (official name: Cardell Mosson) was born October 16, 1952. A good friend of Garry Shider, the two left Plainfield, New Jersey in their teens to go to Canada. They joined a band called United Soul, which came to the attention of George Clinton, who had known Shider as a youth in Plainfield. In 1971 Clinton produced several tracks by United Soul with input from members of Funkadelic. The songs “I Miss My Baby” and “Baby I Owe You Something Good” were released as a one-off single by Westbound Records in 1971 under the group name U.S. Music with Funkadelic. All the tracks recorded with Clinton in 1971 were released by Westbound in 2009 as the album U.S. Music With Funkadelic. After producing United Soul, Clinton then invited Mosson and Shider to join Parliament-Funkadelic. Two United Soul songs were rerecorded on later Funkadelic albums with Mosson as a member.

Mosson was a prominent contributor to albums by both Funkadelic and Parliament from 1972 until the dissolution of the two groups in the early 1980s, and was the featured on-stage bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic after Bootsy Collins went solo. While Collins is more widely remembered as the P-Funk bassist, Mosson’s contributions were arguably as numerous and are well regarded by fans. Mosson also appeared in the movie PCU as himself, in 1994.

His name as spelled on his birth certificate is Cardell Mosson, and “Cordell” is a common misspelling in the notes for most of the Parliament-Funkadelic albums on which he appeared. Mosson is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

By Danny Bedrosian:

CORDELL “BOOGIE” MOSSON, the ultimate FUNK theologian, one of P-FUNK’s most pivotal and vital musicians (bass, guitar, drums and vocals), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, and one of my teachers, has passed away today. We lost more information, lessons, and vast rare funk knowledge today, then most learn in a lifetime. Much like the last of the samurai, the end of the era of the pyramid builders, and the passing of an age, vast sums of knowledge are now lost. For those few of us to have studied under him (Boog’s tenure with P-funk starts in 1971, and his Plainfield NJ roots go back much further, giving him preponderance in the P-Funk histories), we must go on with the knowledge we have been imparted by Boog’s far seeing vision of funk theory. Boog’s knowledge and understanding of Rhythm, the ONE, the Pocket, and the FEEL of P-FUNK, was UNMATCHED. We in Parliament-Funkadelic, wish to send our prayers to Boog’s family, and with extreme sadness, we say our worldly goodbye to our brother, our uncle, our friend, our teacher, our valued, trusted, master of musical expression: CORDELL “BOOGIE” MOSSON (October 16th, 1952 – April 18th, 2013)

by Daniel P. Bedrosian – PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC (keyboardist)

Who wouldn’t love to see one of the all time legends of funk come to their hometown and rip it up for one glorious evening of funkitude?

Bernie is trying to make it happen for you, baba. There’s barely a week left in his Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a tour vehicle so he can take the Bernie Worrell Orchestra out on the road!!

With nearly $8,000 raised of the $25,000 target, the fundraising campaign expires on March 15th. If the band does not reach their goal by donations, they don’t get any of the funds!! So if you’re a die-hard Bernie fan, prove it today by chipping in and getting some gnarly gifts in exchange– some of the items listed for contributions include rare autographed albums ($50- great deal!), drum heads ($200), an unreleased selection of live gigs in mp3s ($300), a personal Skype session with Bernie! ($350+), and even a keyboard lesson with the legend himself ($600). At the utmost contribution levels of $5000+, Bernie is actually putting up one of his genuine autographed  RCAA Gold Records, or for an extra thousand the band will come and play a personal gig for you!!!

FMN wishes Bernie all the luck in the world!! With help from the amazing support of the funk community, let’s plan that the Bernie Worrell Orchestra hits a city near YOU!

Here’s the link to the fundraiser– tick, tock!! 

Ladies & Gentlemen..WE LOSE YET ANOTHER ONE
Harlem’s own & Apollo Theater Legend Omar Chandler (RIP)

To real Hip-Hop heads, he’s known as the voice singing the classic Frankie Beverly hook for the Rob Base Jam “Joy & Pain”….But to us Apollo Theater regulars, he was known as the dude with the raspy Golden pipes that put him & the late master vocalist David Peaston in constant competition with each other…Though David was technically the better singer, Omar’s sex appeal & stage presence combined with a Teddy Pendergrass vocal edge made him a force to be reckoned with & multiple Apollo Theater winner

Though I saw him twice on the regular Apollo Amateur Night On Wednesday, I remember as a kid when Omar hit the stage on the televised “Showtime At The Apollo” to sing Marvin Gaye “Let’s Get It On”…Unlike most contestants, he was very confident and ready to hit the stage…and when he did, it was pandemonium…Not soon after, Omar was appearing in songs & videos with artists like Shelly Thunder, Audrey Wheeler & Rob Base & even put out a couple of moderate successful albums of his own. It made me feel good to see singers I knew go from rocking the local national stage to being in demand from some of the industry’s best.Up until his untimely death, he was still doing some NYC shows of his own as well as doing spot dates with Rob Base….HE WILL BE MISSED !!!

OMAR CHANDLER (RIP)

BY KITTY SAVAGE

Nigel Hall, the Maine-bred vocalist and pianist, perhaps most known for his leading of Soulive for several years, will be joining The Headhunters for a 2 week tour of Brazil starting March 1st. Nigel told Funk Music News last night that this opportunity is “very humbling” to take over Herbie’s seat in the legendary jazz band.

However, this also means that Nigel will not be performing in Brooklyn Bowl’s annual Bowlive show, a Soulive event that invites other all-star performers such as Citizen Cope, Alecia Chakour, Karl Denson, Rahzel, Lettuce, The London Souls, Big Sam, and John Scofield from around the country to share the stage for 8 crazy nights. Scope a video below of guitarist Kraz and his guest Derek Trucks rippin’ it on “Manic Depression” at last year’s Bowlive. This year’s events run from March 7-9 and March 12-16. You can buy your tickets here for $15 or see every night of the event for $120!!! Party on!!

Details are still pending per the release of information from Byrd’s immediate family, whom, according to Byrd’s nephew, have created a “shroud of secrecy” around the death of his uncle, and so must be having a hard time about it, no doubt.
Byrd was a long-time player, rising up from a jazz background and evolving through funk and hip hop as those genres broke ground over the decades. His experience with Art Blakey in the mid-50′s led to his own indentity being established in the jazz community, and after leaving Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, he shared the stage with many of the finest players of his day, including “John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and later Herbie Hancock.” (wikipedia)
Byrd is also known as a successful crossover artist, finding popularity not just on the jazz scene, but pop and funk charts too. He delved into fusion/r&b with the Mitzell Brothers in the 70′s and they together formed Black Byrd, which in 1973 revealed itself to be the Blue Note label’s highest selling record. Everyone from acid jazz players to hip hop’s Main Source has taken influence from Donald Byrd. Let’s remember him as an artist who truly grew with his surrounding influences and continued to give back that inspiration in bold, authentic expressions. Rest in peace, Donald.

“SCOTT TAYLOR, REST WELL MY BROTHER!!!!

Scott Taylor Saxophones, Clarinet, Flute: Born in Baltimore in 1957, Scott has performed with P-Funk since the summer of ‘97 Smokin’ Grooves Tour.
He has also played with the New Century Platters and the Four Tops and many more…
After A long stay at Bayview hospital our friend, P Funk Horn Player Scott Taylor passed away yesterday…”