The 20-Second Beat That Shaped Music History
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In a mere 20 seconds, Clyde Stubblefield changed the course of musical history. The year was 1969, and the track was James Brown's "Funky Drummer."
Brown's count-in, "1, 2, 3, 4. Hit it!" was the spark that ignited one of the most famous drum breaks ever recorded.
Stubblefield's drumming on "Funky Drummer" was a fusion of bendy funk and hard march, a blend that was calm, slick, and oh-so-precise.
This snippet of percussion excellence would become the foundation of hip-hop's sampling era, connecting the ferocious soul music of the civil rights era to the golden age of hip-hop in the '80s and '90s.
Interestingly, Stubblefield himself wasn't a big fan of the song. In his own words, "I didn't like the song; I still don't really get off on it." Nevertheless, his mark was indelible.
From Public Enemy to LL Cool J, Sinead O'Connor to George Michael, the beat has been sampled over 1300 times (according to @whosampled) - making him perhaps the most sampled drummer in history.
Stubblefield was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1943, and his early fascination with the rhythms of his industrial hometown set the stage for his musical journey.
By his late teens, he was already a professional drummer. It was during this time that he caught the attention of James Brown, who brought him on board as a permanent member of his band.
For six years, Stubblefield was one of Brown's key drummers, appearing on iconic albums like "Cold Sweat," "I Got the Feelin'," and "Say It Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud."
Despite all his contributions, he didn’t earn much. It was an era where the music industry thrived on copyright exploitation, leaving musicians like Stubblefield in the shadows.
Shortly after the release of the 1970 album Sex Machine, Stubblefield left Brown's band and started playing in local clubs in Madison.
In his later years, Stubblefield faced several health issues like kidney removal, renal disease, and a thumb amputation. In 2000, he survived bladder cancer but faced staggering medical bills of around $90,000.
Fortunately, after Prince's passing, it was revealed that the music icon had quietly paid off Stubblefield's medical bills.
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