Once again the P-Funk world is saddened by the passing of Billy Bass Nelson, Bassist of the group, Funkadelic.
Considered by many an OG of the genre, Bass actually coined the name Funkadelic as he characterized the merging of the two forms of music.
The name fit perfectly as George Clinton’s group, Parliament’s whose hit ” I Just Want To Testify” was temporarily unusable as the record company Revilot was going out of business.
So he went with the name Funkadelic and signed with Armen Boladian’s Westbound label in 1971. He recorded with the group on their first three releases, but left the group after financial disputes with Clinton.
He would occasionally return for live appearances with the group or recording dates.
He and close friend, Guitarist Eddie Hazel would later appear participating on the Temptations 1975 release, “A Song For You”
As the 70’s progressed he would work with the top performers of the decade.
Jumping ahead to the 90’s he would return to now Parliament-Funkadelic tours, and collaborate with former members of the P-Funk organization as spinoff groups 420 Funk Mob and Sons Of Funk.
In 1994 he released his solo effort O.G. Funk.
Bass was very opinionated about what Funk was and was not explaining it was all about tempo not fast, but slow.
Details about his passing have been debated. George Clinton claims he passed away while in hospice care and his family claims he passed away on January 31 three days after his 75th birthday.
Regardless, rest in Peace and Power Billy. Thanks for the music and memories.
