Legendary Keyboardist Bernie Worrell Leaves This World
June 26, 2016 8:54 AM Subscribe
Bernie Worrell aka The Wizard of Woo, was probably the most famous keyboardist you've never heard of.
Born in 1944, Worrell was the kind of sideman who was as influential as some bandleaders. A broadly grounded musician, he grew up playing classical piano and was adept at jazz, rock and R&B. He was a musical prodigy who attended Julliard and received an honorary degree from the New England Conservatory of Music.
As a college student, Worrell played with a group called Chubby & The Turnpikes; this ensemble eventually evolved into Tavares.
Musical history was made in the 1970's after meeting George Clinton, leader of a Plainfield-based doo wop group called The Parliaments. Worrell, Clinton, The Parliaments and their backing band, The Funkadelics, moved to Detroit, Michigan; thereafter, both groups became collectively known as Parliament-Funkadelic.
Mainly responsible for creating Parliament's futuristic sound, Worrell's use of the Minimoog bass on the Parliament song "Flash Light", on 1977's Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, heavily influenced the sound of R&B music and served as a bridge between American R&B and the insurgence of new wave, new age and techno.
Worrell was also reknowned for his funky contributions to the works of other musicians. Talking Heads, Adrian Belew, Reggie Watts, Black Jack Johnson and Fela Kuti.
He was a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.
“I mix musics; I don’t stick to one thing,” Mr. Worrell said in a 2013 interview at the Red Bull Music Academy Festival. “I can hear the same scale or mode in a classical piece; you can find the same mode in a gospel hymn. Same mode in an Indian raga, same mode in a Irish ditty, same mode in a Scottish ditty, or whatever you want to call it. Same mode in Latin music, African. It’s all related. It’s how you hear it.”
Diagnosed with Stage-Four lung cancer in January 2016, the musical community rallied with a tribute and benefit concert held April 4 and 5, 2016 to raise funds for Worrell's cancer treatment. It was produced by the Black Rock Coalition and featured musicians with whom Worrell has worked over his career.
Worrell left behind a legacy of incomparable funk. Worldwide tributes celebrate the legacy of this extraordinary musician.
RIP, Wizard of Woo.
Musical history was made in the 1970's after meeting George Clinton, leader of a Plainfield-based doo wop group called The Parliaments. Worrell, Clinton, The Parliaments and their backing band, The Funkadelics, moved to Detroit, Michigan; thereafter, both groups became collectively known as Parliament-Funkadelic.
Mainly responsible for creating Parliament's futuristic sound, Worrell's use of the Minimoog bass on the Parliament song "Flash Light", on 1977's Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, heavily influenced the sound of R&B music and served as a bridge between American R&B and the insurgence of new wave, new age and techno.
Worrell was also reknowned for his funky contributions to the works of other musicians. Talking Heads, Adrian Belew, Reggie Watts, Black Jack Johnson and Fela Kuti.
He was a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.
“I mix musics; I don’t stick to one thing,” Mr. Worrell said in a 2013 interview at the Red Bull Music Academy Festival. “I can hear the same scale or mode in a classical piece; you can find the same mode in a gospel hymn. Same mode in an Indian raga, same mode in a Irish ditty, same mode in a Scottish ditty, or whatever you want to call it. Same mode in Latin music, African. It’s all related. It’s how you hear it.”
Diagnosed with Stage-Four lung cancer in January 2016, the musical community rallied with a tribute and benefit concert held April 4 and 5, 2016 to raise funds for Worrell's cancer treatment. It was produced by the Black Rock Coalition and featured musicians with whom Worrell has worked over his career.
Worrell left behind a legacy of incomparable funk. Worldwide tributes celebrate the legacy of this extraordinary musician.
RIP, Wizard of Woo.
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His work with the Talking Heads alone has enriched my life beyond all measure. Rest in Funk.
posted by sallybrown at 9:13 AM on June 26, 2016 [9 favorites]
His work with the Talking Heads alone has enriched my life beyond all measure. Rest in Funk.
posted by sallybrown at 9:13 AM on June 26, 2016 [9 favorites]
Thanks for all the music. And thanks, yes, for this very well done post.
posted by Songdog at 9:25 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Songdog at 9:25 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
Even though I was a pretty big Talking Heads fan, I wasn't really aware of Bernie until I listened to the soundtrack to the 2004 Bob Moog documentary Moog. His contribution to the album with Bootsy Collins, "When Bernie Speaks", is an unabashed self-advertisement of his musical genius, and it compelled me to seek out all of the records that he played on. He was one of the first players to really find the soul in electronic music, and everything that came after owes him a huge debt.
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:26 AM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:26 AM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by How the runs scored at 9:27 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by How the runs scored at 9:27 AM on June 26, 2016
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey,
I ain't got time for that now
posted by humboldt32 at 9:27 AM on June 26, 2016
I ain't got time for that now
posted by humboldt32 at 9:27 AM on June 26, 2016
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posted by Seekerofsplendor at 9:28 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 9:28 AM on June 26, 2016
He was the best.
posted by haunted by Leonard Cohen at 9:48 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by haunted by Leonard Cohen at 9:48 AM on June 26, 2016
His family made a press release recently, so I've been sort of bracing for this one.
In four consecutive decades he played on Maggot Brain, Stop Making Sense, Transmutation / Sacrifist, and in a Black Rock Supergroup with Mos Def. Then kept going for another 10 years. He was also Chino XL's uncle. His wiki page lists about 50 albums, and the last section just being "selected contributions". One of my favorites, and one of the greats.
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posted by lkc at 9:49 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
In four consecutive decades he played on Maggot Brain, Stop Making Sense, Transmutation / Sacrifist, and in a Black Rock Supergroup with Mos Def. Then kept going for another 10 years. He was also Chino XL's uncle. His wiki page lists about 50 albums, and the last section just being "selected contributions". One of my favorites, and one of the greats.
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posted by lkc at 9:49 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
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posted by pyramid termite at 9:50 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by pyramid termite at 9:50 AM on June 26, 2016
A great and under-recognized genius, even for all the recognition he earned. Like lkc says, he rode on, and influenced, at least three generations of musical styles and improved everything he touched.
posted by ardgedee at 10:00 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by ardgedee at 10:00 AM on June 26, 2016
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posted by defenestration at 10:07 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by defenestration at 10:07 AM on June 26, 2016
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posted by Cookiebastard at 10:42 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:42 AM on June 26, 2016
2016 is taking everyone, it seems. Unbelievable. His contributions to Parliament and Funkadelic alone would be enough to seal his place in musical legend. There is basically almost no popular music today or in the past 30 years that hasn't somehow borrowed, paid homage to, or straight-up lifted and stolen (if not pillaged) from Parliament and Funkadelic.
posted by blucevalo at 10:58 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by blucevalo at 10:58 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
My first real introduction to Bernie was via Praxis (in particular, the song The Interworld and the New Innocence (let's just say 600 mics of LSD plus the latter half of the song w/Bernie on the keyboards led to an underwater adventure in my mind with swaying kelp and various creatures - those pipe looking creaturethings you see in particular).
I'd heard of PFunk (of course, via Dr. Dre in HS but didnt' know much about them except Swing Down samples). Didn't even know Bootsy and Bernie (part of that lineup of Praxis) were in the group.
RIP. You were a true mensch - just watching interviews with him and seeing how fucking down to earth he is is just so great (same with Bootsy, despite his outlandish appearance).
I'd been waiting for this shoe to drop since his wife made the announcement a few weeks ago.
posted by symbioid at 11:15 AM on June 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'd heard of PFunk (of course, via Dr. Dre in HS but didnt' know much about them except Swing Down samples). Didn't even know Bootsy and Bernie (part of that lineup of Praxis) were in the group.
RIP. You were a true mensch - just watching interviews with him and seeing how fucking down to earth he is is just so great (same with Bootsy, despite his outlandish appearance).
I'd been waiting for this shoe to drop since his wife made the announcement a few weeks ago.
posted by symbioid at 11:15 AM on June 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by ocular shenanigans at 11:21 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by ocular shenanigans at 11:21 AM on June 26, 2016
Judging by this and who preceded him, this is a damned dangerous year to be a funky son of a bitch.
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posted by delfin at 11:29 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
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posted by delfin at 11:29 AM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:56 AM on June 26, 2016
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:56 AM on June 26, 2016
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posted by Mister Moofoo at 12:05 PM on June 26, 2016
posted by Mister Moofoo at 12:05 PM on June 26, 2016
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posted by limeonaire at 12:21 PM on June 26, 2016
posted by limeonaire at 12:21 PM on June 26, 2016
Saw the BWO a few years back at the now-departed Johnny D's nightclub. He did an extended Burning Down The House/Genius of Love jam which just kept getting more and more awesome as it went along. I wish him well among the cosmic stars.
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posted by Spatch at 12:24 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by Spatch at 12:24 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
When you said "the most famous keyboardist you've never heard of", I thought oh wow there are TWO Bernie Worrells.
And whereas there most certainly is, there ain't.
Bernie Worrell, of course, is the Bernie Worrell, a legendary musical keyboard-funking genius, and to many of of the world's babies Bernie is famous as George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Michael Hampton, Eddie Hazel, and Gary Shider.
Or in the almight words of Eddie Hazel hisself,
"By the way, my name is Funk
I am not of your world
Hold still, baby, I won't do you no harm
I think I'll be good to you."
Remember, nothing's good unless you play with it. Fly on, Brother Bernie. May the Funk be with you, and you, and you, always. FLY ON!
posted by Mike Mongo at 1:33 PM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
And whereas there most certainly is, there ain't.
Bernie Worrell, of course, is the Bernie Worrell, a legendary musical keyboard-funking genius, and to many of of the world's babies Bernie is famous as George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Michael Hampton, Eddie Hazel, and Gary Shider.
Or in the almight words of Eddie Hazel hisself,
"By the way, my name is Funk
I am not of your world
Hold still, baby, I won't do you no harm
I think I'll be good to you."
Remember, nothing's good unless you play with it. Fly on, Brother Bernie. May the Funk be with you, and you, and you, always. FLY ON!
posted by Mike Mongo at 1:33 PM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
famous as George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Michael Hampton, Eddie Hazel, and Gary Shider.
And the Mothership better damn well make a few more orbits before coming back for those first 3. Blackbyrd, too.
posted by lkc at 1:41 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
And the Mothership better damn well make a few more orbits before coming back for those first 3. Blackbyrd, too.
posted by lkc at 1:41 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
good thing he took out some insurance on his funk
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posted by disso at 1:58 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by disso at 1:58 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was actually listening to The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads, one of the live Talking Heads albums Bernie Worrell performed on, when I heard about this.
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posted by branduno at 2:01 PM on June 26, 2016
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posted by branduno at 2:01 PM on June 26, 2016
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posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 2:16 PM on June 26, 2016
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 2:16 PM on June 26, 2016
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posted by Joey Michaels at 2:22 PM on June 26, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:22 PM on June 26, 2016
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posted by hap_hazard at 2:52 PM on June 26, 2016
posted by hap_hazard at 2:52 PM on June 26, 2016
One of the greats indeed. You did him proud with this great post.
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posted by languagehat at 3:23 PM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by languagehat at 3:23 PM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well crap.
I got to see him in Kalamazoo in '99 or so.
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posted by eclectist at 5:10 PM on June 26, 2016
I got to see him in Kalamazoo in '99 or so.
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posted by eclectist at 5:10 PM on June 26, 2016
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Quite a versatile player as mentioned. Linked to this version of "Come Together" with a mostly Cincy-based (and Bootsy-loving) email group of friends yesterday. If there's a musical heaven, the newbies from 2016 are putting together one helluva band.
posted by CincyBlues at 6:22 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Quite a versatile player as mentioned. Linked to this version of "Come Together" with a mostly Cincy-based (and Bootsy-loving) email group of friends yesterday. If there's a musical heaven, the newbies from 2016 are putting together one helluva band.
posted by CincyBlues at 6:22 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Love Bootsy, but that Mini-Moog bass on "Flash Light" is just beyond sick. For another taste of his chops, listen to how his various keyboards brilliantly frame "Chocolate City."
A giant.
aav.
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posted by the sobsister at 6:29 PM on June 26, 2016
A giant.
aav.
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posted by the sobsister at 6:29 PM on June 26, 2016
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posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 6:53 PM on June 26, 2016
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 6:53 PM on June 26, 2016
After the P-Funk (et al) 25th anniversary show at Summerstage he saw me a backstage looking all starry-eyed. He asked me if I'd had a good time - I told him it was the highlight of my life so far, and I was 30. He laughed (a deeeeeeeep laugh) and shook my hand - I didn't wash it for a week.
posted by jcrcarter at 7:41 PM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by jcrcarter at 7:41 PM on June 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by oneironaut at 7:55 PM on June 26, 2016
posted by oneironaut at 7:55 PM on June 26, 2016
I was lucky enough to see his new(final?) project, Khu.éex' live a month or two ago. It was the best live show I've ever seen, and I've seen hundreds. Completely melted my face off.
RIP to a true legend. I really hope they end up releasing the material they recorded with him. They said it was all recorded, at the show.
posted by emptythought at 8:00 PM on June 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
RIP to a true legend. I really hope they end up releasing the material they recorded with him. They said it was all recorded, at the show.
posted by emptythought at 8:00 PM on June 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
My uncle Bernie Worrell has transitioned from cancer ,without his mentor as a kid there'd be no me💔I will see him again Today is not good
--@ChinoXL
posted by lkc at 8:41 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
--@ChinoXL
posted by lkc at 8:41 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Who the fuck has never heard of Bernie Worrell? NOBODY GOOD THAT'S WHO
posted by Joseph Gurl at 9:08 PM on June 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 9:08 PM on June 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
I was lucky enough to see his new(final?) project, Khu.éex'
Holy crap, he was working with Skerik? on a project like that? God-fucking-damn-it!
Damn.
I knew this was coming since January, knew it was imminent since that announcement, and I'm still totally shook.
This has hit me like an oversized tenderizer.
This guy had an uninterrupted presence in what I've listened to my entire damn life.
David Byrne introducing him at the end of Stop Making Sense (take me to the river)
posted by lkc at 9:30 PM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
Holy crap, he was working with Skerik? on a project like that? God-fucking-damn-it!
Damn.
I knew this was coming since January, knew it was imminent since that announcement, and I'm still totally shook.
This has hit me like an oversized tenderizer.
This guy had an uninterrupted presence in what I've listened to my entire damn life.
David Byrne introducing him at the end of Stop Making Sense (take me to the river)
posted by lkc at 9:30 PM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
I just saw the '15 film 'Ricki and the Flash' (Meryl Streep)...noticed Bernie playing keys in her band.
(Also in the Flash is the recently late bass player Rick Rosas).
posted by artdrectr at 10:52 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
(Also in the Flash is the recently late bass player Rick Rosas).
posted by artdrectr at 10:52 PM on June 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
I know that Garden State turned "this song will change your life" into an eye-rolling cliche, but I can think of a few songs so joyfully astonishing, so captivating, that they really did nudge my life in a different direction. "One Nation Under a Groove" was one of those songs.
I was thinking today -- it only took me eight years and probably a hundred or so listens, but not long ago I finally paid attention to what Bernie was doing on the piano in the last couple minutes of "P-Funk Wants to Get Funked Up." There's that muddy texturing starting around 5:50, then that piano riff at 6:14, then that gorgeous ascending/descending phrase at 7:06, leading into another riff to carry the song out.
Thanks Bernie, for giving me new things to notice after so many listens :)
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 11:52 PM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
I was thinking today -- it only took me eight years and probably a hundred or so listens, but not long ago I finally paid attention to what Bernie was doing on the piano in the last couple minutes of "P-Funk Wants to Get Funked Up." There's that muddy texturing starting around 5:50, then that piano riff at 6:14, then that gorgeous ascending/descending phrase at 7:06, leading into another riff to carry the song out.
Thanks Bernie, for giving me new things to notice after so many listens :)
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 11:52 PM on June 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
Give up the funk, Mr. Worrell.
True story: In the mid 1980's my then-husband was a keyboardist for a Boston-based band that was recording an album with Anton Fier at the helm. Fier at the time was playing with Golden Palominos, a supergroup that Worrell played with.
They were laying down the keyboard tracks, and my husband was asked to come prepared to add some keyboard sounds.
He went to the studio and could not think of a single thing to play. Nothing. He went blank.
Fier told him he could take a few hours but would be replaced if he had nothing by the end of the day.
My ex was completely blank. He couldn't think of anything.
He returned to the studio the next day, looked into the studio and saw Bernie Worrell standing at the keyboard. Worrell smiled and waved at him.
My ex never played keyboards professionally again. When you're replaced by the Wizard of Woo, you just gotta know when to give it up.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 2:48 AM on June 27, 2016 [9 favorites]
True story: In the mid 1980's my then-husband was a keyboardist for a Boston-based band that was recording an album with Anton Fier at the helm. Fier at the time was playing with Golden Palominos, a supergroup that Worrell played with.
They were laying down the keyboard tracks, and my husband was asked to come prepared to add some keyboard sounds.
He went to the studio and could not think of a single thing to play. Nothing. He went blank.
Fier told him he could take a few hours but would be replaced if he had nothing by the end of the day.
My ex was completely blank. He couldn't think of anything.
He returned to the studio the next day, looked into the studio and saw Bernie Worrell standing at the keyboard. Worrell smiled and waved at him.
My ex never played keyboards professionally again. When you're replaced by the Wizard of Woo, you just gotta know when to give it up.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 2:48 AM on June 27, 2016 [9 favorites]
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posted by mikelieman at 3:32 AM on June 27, 2016
posted by mikelieman at 3:32 AM on June 27, 2016
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I just want someone to put me in cold storage and wake me up when this year is over, plz.
posted by the painkiller at 6:30 AM on June 27, 2016
I just want someone to put me in cold storage and wake me up when this year is over, plz.
posted by the painkiller at 6:30 AM on June 27, 2016
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posted by Room 641-A at 7:12 AM on June 27, 2016
posted by Room 641-A at 7:12 AM on June 27, 2016
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posted by entropicamericana at 7:44 AM on June 27, 2016
posted by entropicamericana at 7:44 AM on June 27, 2016
Fier at the time was playing with Golden Palominos, a supergroup that Worrell played with.
the peak of my musical career was probably opening for The Golden Palominos, around that time
posted by thelonius at 10:07 AM on June 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
the peak of my musical career was probably opening for The Golden Palominos, around that time
posted by thelonius at 10:07 AM on June 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
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So long and thanks for all the funk, Bernie.
posted by kram175 at 9:04 AM on June 26, 2016