This event will take place at First Parish Church in Harvard Square. $5 tickets are required. Ticket orders must be prepaid.
The long-awaited memoir from one of the greatest bandleaders, hit makers, and most influential pop artists of our time—known for over forty R&B hit singles—George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic.
From the barbershop to the Mothership, from doo-wop to hip-hop, Dr. Funkenstein's tale is filled with honesty, insight, and a whole lot of rhythm goin' round. With this book, George Clinton gives up the funk and then some. The Bomb!" — Alan Light, former Editor-in-Chief of Vibe and Spin magazines
George Clinton began his musical career in New Jersey, where his
obsession with doo-wop and R&B led to a barbershop
quartet—literally, as Clinton and his friends also styled hair in the
local shop—the way kids often got their musical start in the ’50s. But
how many kids like that ended up playing to tens of thousands of rabid
fans alongside a diaper-clad guitarist? How many of them commissioned a
spaceship and landed it onstage during concerts? How many put their
stamp on four decades of pop music, from the mind-expanding sixties to
the hip-hop-dominated nineties and beyond?
One of them. That’s how many.
How
George Clinton got from barbershop quartet to funk music megastar is a
story for the ages. As a high school student he traveled to New York
City, where he absorbed all the trends in pop music, from traditional
rhythm and blues to Motown, the Beatles, the Stones, and psychedelic
rock, not to mention the formative funk of James Brown and Sly Stone. By
the dawn of the seventies, he had emerged as the leader of a wildly
creative musical movement composed mainly of two bands—Parliament and
Funkadelic. And by the bicentennial, Clinton and his P-Funk empire were
dominating the soul charts as well as the pop charts. He was an artistic
visionary, visual icon, merry prankster, absurdist philosopher, and
savvy businessmen, all rolled into one. He was like no one else in pop
music, before or since.
Written with wit, humor, and candor,
this memoir provides tremendous insight into America’s music industry as
forever changed by Clinton’s massive talent. This is a story of a
beloved global icon who dedicated himself to spreading the gospel of
funk music.
George Clinton will be in conversation with Tim Riley, Emerson College professor and author of several books including Lennon: Man, Myth, Music.
In order to make the signing go smoothly, the publisher has asked us to let you know about a few guidelines for the event:
- Books only, no memorabilia. George Clinton will not be signing album covers, CD cases, posters, or shopping lists, and you must have a copy of the book to get in the signing line.
- Personalization will happen if time allows. We want to make sure everyone gets a chance to have their books signed.
- Photography. You're welcome to take pictures of the signing, but George will pose for pictures only if time allows.
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