Drummer Clyde Stubblefield passed away in February 2017 in Madison, Wisc., but his indelible mark on music lives on in one of the most sampled drum breaks ever. As a member of the Godfather of Soul James Brown’s band, Stubblefield’s performance on the “Funky Drummer” track has been used as a backdrop for hip-hop and dance classics alike.
Stubblefield was born April 18, 1943 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The self-taught drummer worked alongside the likes of Eddie Kirkland and Otis Redding before landing a spot in Brown’s band in 1965. Fellow self-taught drummer John “Jabo” Starks and Stubblefield provided a lot of the funk and soul groove for some of Brown’s famous tracks, like “Cold Sweat,” “Ain’t It Funky Now,” and “I Got The Feelin,’” among other classics.
However, “Funky Drummer” stands as Stubblefield’s most notable musical contribution. In a studio session led by Brown’s chants and grunts, Stubblefield’s open 20-second drum solo has been sampled by the likes of Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Prince, George Michael and even jazz man Kenny G. (READ MORE)
