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Episode 3 - From P-Funk to G-Funk

Pam Grier tells the story of funk music, concluding with a look at how the scene began its inevitable decline.

From the 1960s through to the present day, funk music reverberates all through popular culture. Whether it's in fashion, street language, TV, the movies or pop music the far reaching influence of funk is everywhere. Pam Grier concludes her funk odyssey. She's been a fan of the music since she starred in the so-called Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s. Back then, funk was not only the soundtrack to her films but also to a vital time in American history. It was a time of self-discovery, struggle and social change. Funk music reflected all of that.

In this episode, Pam reveals how the scene started its inevitable decline. While funk bands such as Earth Wind and Fire could lay claim to being one of the largest acts in the world, by the end of the 1970s the beat changed. Disco music took over as the dance-floor music of choice and funk bands either joined the party or disappeared. It wasn't until the emergence of hip-hop that the music was introduced to a younger generation via record producers who sampled the old funk classics. The advance of music technology also helped a new electro-funk scene develop with a certain Prince Rogers Nelson leading the way.

Pam also examines the often overlooked female funkateers, including one of the genre's hidden gems, Betty Davis.

The series features contributions from Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang, Sly & the Family Stone, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, P-Funk musicians, Average White Band, Cameo, Clyde "Funky Drummer" Stubblefield, Charles Wright, The Last Poets, Beverley Knight, Matt Fink, Acid Jazz's Eddie Piller and rapper Shock G.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 29 Dec 2022 01:00

Music Played

  • The Cure

    10:15 Saturday Night

    • FICTION.
  • Boy & Bear

    Southern Sun

    • Nettwerk America.
  • Marcy Playground

    Sex And Candy

    • Capitol.
  • Frank Zappa

    Peaches En Regalia

    • Hot Rats.
    • Zappa.
    • 3.
  • Ladyhawke

    Back Of The Van

  • TV on the Radio

    Mercy

    • Federal Prism.
  • The Ting Tings

    That's Not My Name

    • CD SINGLE.
    • Columbia.
  • Foals

    Red Socks Pugie

    • CD SINGLE.
    • Transgressive Records.
    • 1.
  • Strawberry Switchblade

    Since Yesterday

    • Korova.
  • The Very Best

    Warm Heart of Africa

    • CD SINGLE.
    • MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS.
    • 1.
  • 贵颈蝉肠丑别谤鈥怹

    The Worker

    • Highlights 1979-2004.
    • EMI.
    • 2.
  • Blondie

    Sunday Girl

    • Chrysalis.

Broadcasts

  • Christmas Eve 2012 04:00
  • Mon 19 Aug 2013 04:00
  • New Year's Day 2014 04:00
  • Fri 19 Sep 2014 01:00
  • Fri 9 Oct 2015 01:00
  • Fri 15 Jul 2016 01:00
  • Sat 8 Jul 2017 04:00
  • Sat 30 Jun 2018 04:00
  • Fri 31 May 2019 01:00
  • Mon 19 Oct 2020 03:00
  • Thu 29 Dec 2022 01:00