Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins, an unique member of Parliament-Funkadelic, has died. He was 81.
P-Funk frontman/producer George Clinton introduced the singer and Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame inductee’s demise by means of social media on Friday (March 17). A reason behind demise was not offered.
“We’re saddened to announce the passing of an unique Parliament Funkadelic member Clarence Eugene ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins (born June 8, 1941-March seventeenth, 2023),” Clinton wrote on Instagram alongside photographs of Haskins. He added in a Fb submit, “Hand over the Fuzz, Fly on.”
Former Parliament-Funkadelic member Bootsy Collins additionally paid tribute to his former bandmate on Twitter.
“Prayer’s going out to Clarence ‘Fuzzys’ Haskins household & pals. We misplaced his frequency right now 3-17- 23,” Collins wrote on Friday. “He was an unique Parliament/Funkadelic inducted within the RHOF. We are going to miss u my good friend, bandmate & Soul brother! Thx u for ur steering in my pup 12 months’s. Bootsy child!!”
Born in 1941 in West Virginia, Haskins was a member of the Gel-Airs earlier than becoming a member of group initially often called the Parliaments, first fashioned within the Sixties as a doo-wop quintet with Clinton, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas and Ray Davis. The group that later grew to become often called Parliament-Funkadelic.
Haskins is credited for his contributions to P-Funk tracks like “I Obtained a Factor” and “I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You,” in response to a submit about Haskins on Clinton’s web site.
“He was an excellent drummer as nicely, as he proved on ‘Can You Get to That,’ which he additionally co-wrote,” Clinton’s web site says. “A few of Fuzzy’s finest vocals appeared on Funkadelic’s 1972 LP America Eats Its Younger, most notably on ‘Ms Lucifers Love.’ However singing wasn’t the one factor that Fuzzy dropped at P-Funk. He was recognized, throughout stay P-Funk exhibits, to don skin-tight bodysuits and gyrate towards the microphone pole as he whipped the gang right into a frenzy, particularly once they carried out ‘Standing on the Verge of Getting it On.’”
Haskins remained a full-time member of P-Funk by means of the late Nineteen Seventies. He launched his first solo album, A Complete Nother Thang, in 1976 by means of Westbound Information. The set featured collaborations with Bernie Worrell, Donald Austin and Collins. Haskins dropped his second solo album, Radio Lively, in 1978.
Haskins briefly rejoined Parliament-Funkadelic for the group’s P-Funk Stay Earth Tour in 1977 earlier than leaving the group once more for good. “By this time, he claimed he was by means of with singing all of the ole soiled songs and started learning the Lord’s Phrase,” Clinton’s web site says.
In 1981, Haskins joined former P-Funk members Simon, Davis and Thomas to launch the Connections & Disconnections album underneath the Funkadelic title, which prompted a lawsuit by Clinton. In his later years, Haskins grew to become a preacher and recorded gospel music.
Together with different members of Parliament-Funkadelic, Haskins was inducted by Prince into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1997.
“Funk is a power that tore the roof off the sucker that’s trendy music,” Prince stated of their Rock Corridor introduction.
Clinton and the opposite members of Parliament-Funkadelic acquired a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2019.
