The foundations of funk were laid down in the mid-1960s, when James Brown began to emphasize the first beat of each measure in his stage-tested and frenzy-inducing R&B songs. Before the decade’s end, ...

“Superstition” by Wonder is one of the greatest funk songs ever. Released in 1972, it has an unforgettable groove, catchy rhythm, and energetic vibe. The funky clavinet riff is instantly recognizable.

Funk allowed Black musicians and their audiences to shapeshift and speak truth to power—even while speaking in tongues. But as Stanley Nelson and Nicole London’s documentary WE WANT THE FUNK! reveals, ...

In a newly published book, CU Boulder Professor Reiland Rabaka delves into the culture and sound of music’s ‘best-kept secret’ Barely two months into the ‘70s, Funkadelic—led by George Clinton, ...

Earth, Wind & Fire was a leading force in funk music throughout the ’70s and a consistent presence in the R&B and pop Top 10 for over a decade. They had racked up enough hits by 1978 that one of the ...