Bernie Worrell biografie en discografie
George Bernard 'Bernie' Worrell jr., de legendarische toetsenist van Parliament-Funkadelic, overleed op vrijdag 24 juni op 72-jarige leeftijd in zijn woonplaats Everson, Washington aan de gevolgen van kanker. Funkblog blikt terug op de carrière van de getalenteerde wondertoetsenist en soundpionier van Parliament-Funkadelic.
Worrell werd op 19 april 1944 geboren in Long Branch New Jersey en groeide op in het dichter bij New York gelegen Plainfield. Bernie begon al vanaf zijn vierde jaar met pianospelen en schreef op zijn achtste zijn eerste concerto. Als conservatoriumstudent speelde Bernie in de jaren '60 toetsen bij Chubby & The Turnpikes, een groep die naderhand bekend werd als Tavares. De drummer van die band was toen Joey Kramer, later een van de oprichters van rockband Aerosmith. Van 1967 tot 1969 was Bernie bandleider bij soulzangeres Maxine Brown. Uit deze periode zijn beelden terug te vinden op YouTube, met een hele jonge Bernie achter de piano.
Na een ontmoeting met George Clinton verhuisde Bernie begin jaren '70 naar Detroit om zich aan te sluiten bij de doo-wop groep The Parliaments als bandlid van hun begeleidingsband The Funkadelics. Daaruit zou Parliament-Funkadelic ontstaan, de baanbrekende funkgroep rond dr. Funkenstein George Clinton. Bernie speelt mee op Osmium, het debuutalbum van Parliament.
Worrell was een van de eerste muzikanten die de Moog synthesizer en de Mini-moog van instrumentenbouwer Robert 'Bob' Moog ging bespelen. Met het instrument introduceerde Worrell de revolutionaire bassound van P-Funk, goed te horen in tracks als 'Flashlight'. Andere favoriete toetsinstrumenten van Worrell waren de Wurlitzer elektrische piano, Hohner Clavinet, Hammond B3 orgel, Fender Rhodes en de ARP String Ensemble. De invloed van Worrell op de sound van P-Funk was eigenlijk veel groter dan die van George Clinton.
Na de hoogtijdagen van P-Funk in de jaren '70 ging Worrell in de jaren '80 samenwerken met de Talking Heads, de New Wave-groep uit New York. Hoewel hij nooit officieel bandlid werd, speelde Bernie vaak mee met David Byrne's groep, tot de opheffing van de Talking Heads in 1991. Zo is Bernie onder meer te horen te horen op 'Speaking in Tongues' en het live-album 'Stop Making Sense' en op de solo albums van toetsenist Jerry Harrison, David Byrne en de Tom Tom Club.
Vanaf de jaren '80 startte ook Bernie's langdurige samenwerking met bassist/producer Bill Laswell wat resulteerde in vele obscure door fijnproevers gewaardeerde releases.
Gedurende de jaren '90 en '00 bleef Bernie betrokken bij de P-Funk familie, maar leverde hij, zoals gezegd, ook tal van bijdragen aan andere muziekgenres en bands. Naast projecten met Bill Laswell trad hij op met Gov't Mule; Bernie maakte deel uit van Black Jack Johnson met Mos Def, Will Calhoun, Doug Wimbish en Dr. Know; ook behoorde hij tot Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, een experimentele supergroep bestaande uit bassist Les Claypool, gitarist Buckethead, drummer Bryan Mantia en Bernie. Maar je komt Bernie bijvoorbeeld ook tegen op het album Army Arrangement (1985) van de Nigeriaanse muzikant en politiek activist Fela Kuti. In 2015 duikt Bernie ineens op in de film Ricki en The Flash als toetsenist van Meryl Streep's band.
Samen met George Clinton en de andere originele bandleden van P-Funk werd Bernie Worrell in 1997 ingewijd in de Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Bernie had zijn eigen band The Woo Warriors en trad met hen op tijdens een latere editie van het Woodstock Festival in 1999. Van 2011 tot en met 2015 trad Worrell veel op met zijn nieuwe band The Bernie Worrell Orchestra. Bij die concerten verschenen altijd bijzondere gasten, waaronder Bootsy Collins, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Jimmy Destri, Mike Watt, Rah Digga en Gary Lucas.
Vanaf 1978 bracht Bernie in totaal 13 soloalbums uit waarvan de laatste, Retrospectives, dit jaar verscheen.
Op de website van Bernie Worrell staat een imposante discografie van Bernie. De periode van 1968 tot en met 1996 had funkkenner Marcel Visser in 1996 voor Bernie uitgezocht en naar hem gemaild. Die lijst hebben Bernie en Judie daarna telkens ge-update tot 2008. Marcel heeft de discografie van Bernie inmiddels bijgewerkt tot heden. Een titel met een sterretje is een single of 12". Een discografie is nooit volledig omdat artiesten albums steeds vaker in eigen beheer maken en de info daardoor niet altijd goed is terug te vinden. Maar we durven gerust te stellen dat dit een van de meest complete discografieën is die ooit zijn gepubliceerd.
1968 Rose Williams and The Funkedelics - Whatever makes my baby feel good*
1970 Freda Payne - Band of Gold* 1970 Ruth Copeland - Self Portrait
1970 Funkadelic - Funkadelic 1970 Parliament - Osmium
1971 Ruth Copeland - I Am What I Am 1971 Honey Cone - Want adds*
1971 Funkadelic - Maggot Brain 1972 United Soul - Baby I owe you something good*
1972 Flo - Common law wife* 1972 The Ba-Roz - Mocking bird*
1972 Parliament - Coming in out of the rain 1972 Chairmen of the Board - Bittersweet*
1972 Funkadelic Fish chips and sweat* 1972 Funkadelic - Free your mind
1972 Funkadelic - A whole lot B.S. 1972 Funkadelic - America eats it's young
1973 Chairman of the Board - Skin I'm in 1973 Funkadelic - Let's take it tot he stage
1973 Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop 1974 Funkadelic - Standing on the verge of getting it on
1974 Parliament - Up for the down stroke 1975 Parliament - Chocolate City
1975 Funkadelic - Clone Communicado* 1975 Parliament - Mothership Connection
1975 Jimmy Scott - Backbone* 1975 Parliament - Live up to what she thinks*
1976 Albert King - King Albert 1976 Parliament - The Clones of Dr.Funkenstein
1976 Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin'out 1976 Funkadelic - Tales Of Kid Funkadelic
1976 Johnnie Taylor - Ear-Gas.Sm 1976 Fuzzy Haskins - A whole nother thang
1976 Funkadelic - Hardcore jollies 1976 Funkadelic - In the cabin of Uncle Jam*
1976 Jeannie Reynolds - Cherries, bananas and other fine things 1976 Funkadelic - Clone comunicado*
1977 Brides of Funkenstein - Love is something* 1977 Bootsy's Rubber Band - Player of the year
1977 Parliament - P-Funk Earth Tour 1977 Eddie Hazel - Game dames and guitar thangs
1977 Johnnie Taylor - Rated X-tra ordinaire 1977 The Horny Horns - A blow for me a toot to you
1977 Parliament - Funkentelechy 1977 Dr.Funkenstein & Brides of Funkenstein - Rat kissed the cat*
1977 Brides of Funkenstein - Take my love* 1978 Bernie Worrell - All the woo in the world
1978 Fuzzy Haskins - Radio active 1978 Bobby Womack - Pieces
1978 Johnnie Taylor - Ever ready 1978 Funkadelic - One nation under a groove
1978 Parlet - Pleasure principle 1978 The Glass Family - Crazy
1978 Brides of Funkenstein - Funk or walk 1978 Brides of Funkenstein - Ice melting in your heart*
1978 Dramatics - Do what you wanna do 1978 Parliament - Flatman and Robin*
1978 Parliament - Motorbooty affair 1979 Jesse Rae - It's just the dog in me
1979 Funkadelic - Uncle Jam wants you 1979 Parlet - Invasion of the booty snatchers
1979 Bootsy's Rubber Band - This boot is made for fonk'n 1979 Parliament - Gloryhallastoopid
1979 Parliament - Every booty (get on down)* 1979 The Horny Horns - Say blow by blow backwards
1979 The Horny Horns - Lickity split* 1979 The Brides of Funkenstein - Never buy Texas from a cowboy
1979 Parliament - Does disc with dat* 1980 Sweat Band - Same
1980 Five Special - Special edition 1980 Busta jones - Same
1980 Philippe Wynne - Wynne jammin' 1980 Parliament - Go for yer funk*
1980 Parliament - Thrombipulation 1980 Jessica Cleaves - Send a gram*
1980 Jessica Cleaves - I envy the sunshine* 1981 The Spinners - Can't shake this feeling
1981 Spacer - Stereo radio* 1981 David Byrne - Catherine wheel
1981 Jerry Harrison - The Red and the black 1981 Space Cadets - Idem
1982 Talking Heads - The Name of this band is 1982 The O'Jays - My favorite person
1982 Melon - Do you like Japan 1982 Jesse Rae - Rusha*
1982 Sa'bata - How do you like your music 1982 George Clinton - Computer games
1982 Marc Sadane - Exciting 1982 Revelation - Same
1982 LJ Reynolds - Travelin' 1982 Ron Dunbar - This feets are made for*
1982 Lou Rawls - Now is the time 1982 Stephanie Mills - Tantalizingly hot
1982 Elusion - Show and tell 1983 Dick Smith - Initial thrust
1983 Rita Coolidge - Never let you go 1983 Nona Hendryx - Nona
1983 Mtume - Juicy fruit 1983 Paul Haig - Rhythm of life
1983 Gwen Guthrie - Same 1983 Black Uhuru - Anthem
1983 Talking Heads - Speaking in tongues 1983 New Horizons - Something new
1983 George Clinton - You shouldn't nuff bit fish 1984 Nona Hendryx - The art of defense
1984 Kiddo - Action 1984 Mtume - You me and he
1984 Shango - Shango funk 1984 Talking Heads - Stop making sense
1984 DST - Mean machine* 1984 The 3 Rockies - Stop wasting your time
1984 Fred Schneider - Shake society 1984 Fred Schneider - Same
1984 Lee Fields - Shake it lady* 1984 The Last poets - Oh my people
1984 Gil Scott Heron - Re-Ron 1985 PIL - Same
1985 The Golden Palomino's - Visions of excess 1985 Sly & Robbie - Language barrier
1985 Deadline - Down by law 1985 Jonas Helborg - Axis
1985 Yoko Ono - Starpeace
1985 Parliament ' Funkadelic - Mothership Connection live 1985 Nona Hendryx - The Heat
1985 Manu Dibango - Electric Africa 1985 Jesse Rae - Over the sea
1985 Time Zone - World destruction 1985 Jesse Rae - Part crackers
1985 Zapp - New Zapp IV U 1986 The Golden Palominos - Blast of silence
1986 Bernie Worrell - This time you loose 1986 Ture Kunda - Nathalie
1986 The Pretenders - Get close 1986 Mathew Sweet - Inside
1986 Gwen Guthrie - Good to go lover 1986 Ginger Baker - Horses and trees
1987 Nona Hendryx - Female trouble 1987 Little Steven - Freedom no compromises
1987 Sly & Robbie - Rhythm killers 1987 Chris Stamey - It's alright
1987 Mico Wave - Cookin' from the inside out 1987 Fela Kuti - Fela
1987 Victoria Williams - Happy coming home 1987 Ryuichi Sakamoto - Neo Geo
1987 Jesse Rae - The Thistle 1987 Bob Pfeifer - After words
1988 Keith Richards - Talk is cheap 1988 Drivin' and Cryin' - Whisper tames the lion
1988 Fool Proof - No friction 1988 Jonas Helborg - Bass
1988 Jerry Harrison - Casual Gods 1988 Various artists - Downtown
1988 Afrika Bambaataa - The light 1988 Z-Looke - Take U back to my place
1989 Manquin - Same 1989 Menace - Doghouse
1989 Throwing Muses - Hunkpapa 1989 Syd Straw - Surprise
1989 Jack Bruce - A question of time 1989 The Golden Palominos - A dead horse
1990 Maceo - For all the kings men 1990 P-Funk All Stars - Live at the Beverly Theatre
1990 Niel and the New York Perc. - Same 1990 Something Special - Same
1990 Stevie Salas - Colorcode 1990 Ginger Baker - Middle passages
1990 Bernie Worrell - Funk of ages 1990 Bootsy's Rubber Band - Jungle bass*
1990 Deee-Lite - World Clique 1991 Momma Stud - Cockadooledo
1991 Johnnie Johnson - Johnnie B. Bad 1991 Psychefunkapus - Skin
1991 Material - The third power 1991 Deadline - Dissidents
1991 State of Art - Community 1991 Bernie Worrell - Poppa Chubby*
1991 Marisa Monte - Mais 1992 Robert Musso - Active resonance
1992 Bahia Black - Ritual Beating system 1992 Funkadelic - As good as I can feel*
1992 Masabumi Kikuchi - Dream Machine 1992 Eye & I - Same
1992 Funkadelic - Can't shake it loose 1992 Yoko Ono - Walking on thin ice
1992 Last Poets - Retro Fit 1992 Deee-lite - Infinity within'
1992 Praxis - Transmutation 1992 Suzanne Rhatigan - To hell with love
1993 Zillatron - Lord of the harvest 1993 O.G. Funk - Out of the dark
1993 Malcolm X - Stop the confusion* 1993 Fuzzy Haskins - Gettin' it off*
1993 Material - Live in Japan 1993 Aisha Kandisha's - Shabeestion
1993 Warren Haynes - Tales of ordinary madness 1993 Bernie Worrell - Pieces of Woo
1993 Audio Aussault Attack - Comin'up outta this bitch 1993 Umar Bin Hassan - Be bop or be dead
1993 Noko - Call me nightlife 1993 Bernie Worrell - Blacktronic science
1993 Fernando Saunders - The spin 1993 Jungle Brothers - J-Bees with the remedy
1993 Manu Dibango - Bao bao 1993 Anton Fier - Dreamspeed
1993 Golden Palominos - This is ho wit feels 1993 Electric World - Life is love
1993 Tashan - For the sake of love 1993 Bootsy's New Rubber Band - Blasters of the universe
1993 United Soul - Be what you is* 1993 Zoopadelica - The life and the times
1993 Color Me Badd - Time and change 1993 Praxis - Sacrifist
1994 K-Dee - Ass gas or cash 1994 Yothu Yindi - Freedom
1994 Various artists - Red Hot & Cool 1994 Disciples of Christ - Righteous funk
1994 Lover TKO - Head turner 1994 George Clinton - Hey man smell my finger
1994 Soundtrack - Car 54 where are you 1994 Dave Stewart - Greetings from the gutter
1994 Dave Stewart - Piece in wartime 1994 Eddie Hazel - Rest in P.
1994 Marisa Monte - Rose and charcoal 1994 Various artists - Jazz Funk and Composers
1994 Groove Collective - Same 1994 The Horny Horns - Final Blow
1994 Icehouse - Full Circle 1994 White Trash - Si o Si, que?
1994 Parliament Funkadelic - Live 1972 - 1993 1994 Parliament Funkadelic - Live 1976 - 1993
1994 Jack Bruce - Cities of the heart 1994 Material - Hallucination engine
1994 Strange Parcels - Disconection on U-Sound 1995 Soundtrack - Friday
1995 Axiom Funk - Funcronomicon 1995 Varios artists - In from the storm
1995 George Clinton - Tamarinullis 1995 Julian Schnabel - Every silver lining has a cloud
1995 Soundtrack - Freaked 1995 Soundtrack - Panther
1995 Randy Crawford - Naked Truth 1995 Jack Bruce - Monkjack
1995 Tamio Okuda - 29 1995 Parliament-Funkadelic - Newberg Session
1995 P-Funk All Stars - Dope dog 1995 Aiyb Dieng - Rhythm Magic
1995 Various artists - Axiom ambient 1995 Last Poets - Holy Terror
1995 Various artists - In from the storm 1995 Mike Watt - Ball hog or tugboat
1995 Jah Wobble - Heaven and earth 1995 DJ Quick - Safe and sound
1995 David Steele - I feel liberal alright 1995 Mutiny - Aftershock 2005
1995 XPerience - P Spot 1995 Bootsy's New Rubber Band - Keepin'dah funk alive
1995 YoYo - Honey 1996 Funkadelic - Madowbrook 1971
1996 T.M Stevens - Boom 1996 Nicklebag - Twelve hits and a bump
1996 Lucky Peterson - Lifetime 1996 Pharao Sanders - Message from home
1996 Third Rail - South delta space age 1996 George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars - T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M
1996 Cibo Matto - Viva LA Woman 1996 Third Rail South - Delta Space Age
1996 Fred Wesley - Swing and be funky 1996 Randy Crawford - Best of Randy Crawford
1996 Jonas Hellborg/Niels Jensen/Bill Laswell - Ordinary Day 1996 Arto Lindsay - Mundo Civilizado
1996 Spin Doctors - You've Got to Believe in Something 1996 Various Artists - Myth, Dreams of the World
1996 Marisa Monte - Barulhinho Bom 1996 Bernie Worrell - This Is What You Should've Had
1996 T.M. Stevens - Sticky Wicket 1996 T.M. Stevens - Black Night (Deep Purple Tribute)
1997 Devotees - Gimme Gimme 1997 Nicole - Renee
1997 Tamio Okuda - Fail Box 1997 Bernie Worrell - Free Agent
1997 Various Artists - Live on Letterman: Music from the Late Show 1997 Bootsy Collins - Fresh Outta "P" University
1997 Big Head Todd & the Monsters - Beautiful World 1997 Marisa Monte - Great Noise
1997 Various Artists - Best of Acid Jazz, Vol. 2 1997 Big Head Todd and the Monsters - Beautiful world
1997 Robben Ford - Tiger Walk 1997 Gota - It's So Different Here
1997 Aiyb Dieng/Bill Laswell - Rhythmagick 1997 Jesse Rae - Compression
1997 Various Artists - Live on Letterman 1997 Various Artists - Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame 12th Annual Induction Dinner
1997 Jack Bruce - Sitting on Top of the World 1997 Nicklebag - Mas Feedback
1998 Various Artists - Guitar Zone 1998 Various Artists - Martini Grooves
1998 Bobby Womack - At Home in Muscle Shoals 1998 Bill Laswell & Sacred System - Sacred System: Nagual Site
1998 Bernie Worrell & The WOO Warriors - Live 1998 Fela Kuti - Afrobeat
1999 Gov't Mule - Live...With a Little Help from Our Friends 1999 T.M. Stevens - Radioactive
1999 Herb Alpert - Colors 1999 Fred Wesley - Full Circle: From Be Bop to Hip-Hop
1999 Doug Wimbush - Trippy Notes for Bass 1999 Material - Intonarumori
1999 Bijou Phillips - I'd Rather Eat Glass 1999 Pharoah Sanders - Save Our Children
1999 Various Artists - 4 the Club Headz, Vol. 1 1999 Robert Musso - Innermedium
1999 Jepp - Baby 1999 Mark Lizotte - Soul Lost Companion
2000 Shin Terai - Unison 2000 Robert Musso - Innermedium
2000 Various Artists - Ethnic 2000, Vol. 2 2000 Ida - Will You Find Me
2000 Stir Fried - Last of the Blue Diamond Miners 2000 Spin Doctors - Just Go Ahead Now: A Retrospective
2000 Tom Tom Club - Good, the Bad and the Funky 2001 Gov't Mule - The Deep End Volume 1
2001 Vinyl - Flea Market 2001 Bill Laswell - Filmtracks 2000
2001 Angelique Kidjo - Black Ivory Soul 2001 The Coup - 50.000.000 ways to kill
2001 James Blood Ulmer - Blue Blood 2001 T.M. Stevens - Shocka Zooloo: T.M. Stevens Live
2002 Manu Dibango - Electric Africa 2002 Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Fang Plastique
2002 Bootsy Collins - Play With Bootsy 2002 Angélique Kidjo - Black Ivory Soul
2002 Woodentops - Wooden Foot Cops on the Highway [Bonus Tracks] 2002 Ida - Shhh...
2002 Various Artists - Asana Soul Practice 2002 Various Artists - Jersey Jams, Jersey cares
2002 Matthew Sweet - To Understand: The Early Recordings of Matthew Sweet 2002 Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Plastic Fang
2002 Joe Safsy and Rocking Horse - Cosmic Soul 2002 Bernie Worrell & The WOO Warriors - True DAT
2002 Gov't Mule - Live...With a Little Help from Our Friends 2002 Gov't Mule - The Deep End Volume 2 (Enhanced)
2003 Gov't Mule - Deepest End: Live in Concert 2003 Fins - Bluesprints
2003 Mandeng Elektrik - Same 2003 Freekbass - Air Is Fresher Underground
2003 Simply Red - Home 2003 Mondo Rock - The essential
2003 Jack Bruce - More Jack Than God 2004 O.A.R. - Title unknown
2004 Zigaboo Modeliste - I'm On The Right Track 2004 Mandeng Eletrik - Mandeng Eletrik
2004 Various Artists - Undercover 2004 Various artists - Jamcam chronicles
2004 Various Artists - Boogaloo To The Beastie 2004 John Hickey Band - Down With The Ship
2004 Shine - Heaven and Hell 2004 Matt Angus Thing - Political Pop
2004 Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains - The Big Eyeball In The Sky 2004 Mos Def - The New Danger
2004 Vinyl - All the way life 2004 Soundtrack - Moog
2005 Buddy Guy - Bring 'em in 2005 Vehicle - The grease spot
2005 Jason Miles - Miles to Miles 2005 Smack Darts - Electricity
2006 Gigi - Gold & Wax 2006 John McCarthy - Drive
2007 Baby Elephant - Turn My Teeth 2007 Praxis - Tennesee 2004
2007 Soundtrack - Across the universe 2007 Trilok Gurtu - Twenty years of talking tabla
2007 Shin Terai - Lightyears 2007 T.M. Stevens - Africans in the snow
2007 Bernie Worrell - Improviczario 2007 Robben Ford - Truth
2007 Soundtrack - Superbad 2007 Voltress - Antelopes
2008 Doug Wimbish - Cinemasonics 2008 Burning Spear - Jah is Real
2008 Fany + Bill Laswell - Lodge 2008 Brian Culbertson - Bring back the funk
2008 Activities of Dust - A New Mind 2008 Funkadelic - Toys
2008 DJ Logic and Jason Miles - Global Noize 2008 Science Faction - Living on Another Frequency
2008 Praxis - Profanation 2008 Doriah Cheah - ARA
2009 U.S. Music with Funkadelic - Same 2009 Bernie Worrell - Christmas woo
2009 Lemonade - Skin and bones 2009 Chops - Blowout
2010 Eric McFadden Trio - Delicate Thing 2010 Jack Bruce - Live at the Milky Way 2010
2010 Socialybrium - For you for us for all 2010 Method of Defiance - Jahbulon
2011 The Band Called Fuse - Sucker Punch Gospel 2011 Human Switchboard - Who's landing in my hangar
2011 Loud Apartment - Get up get down 2011 Various Artists - Aspiration
2011 Brady Rymer - Love me for who I am 2011 Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchstra - Plays Sly
2011 Bootsy Collins - Da funk capital of the world 2011 Marisa Monte - O que voce quer saber de verdade
2011 Lee Scratch Perry - Rise again 2011 Bernie Worrell - Standards
2013 Bernie Worrell - Elevation: The upper air 2013 Kelly Richey - Sweet spirit
2012 Various Artists - By a river 2013 Bernie Worrell - Melodestra*
2013 Method of Dance - Nahariama 2013 Bernie Worrell Orchestra - BWO is landing
2014 Funkadelic - First you gotta shake the gate 2014 Bernie Worrell - Phantom Sound Clash cut up method
2015 Doug Whimbish - Frequencies 2015 Freekbass & the Bump assembly - Cincinatti
2015 Midday Veil - This wilderness 2016 Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Karsh Kale - Funkchronomic
2016 Bernie Worrell - Retrospectives