To the audience he shouts “we want the funk. we gotta have that funk,” George “Dr. Funkenstein” Clinton received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Its star, 2769th, is located at 6752 Hollywood Blvd. in front of the Institute of Musicians. Speaking at the ceremony on Friday (January 19) were Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump and songwriter Janie Bradford.
As the mastermind behind the legendary bands Parliament/Funkadelic, Clinton led the way around the world on classics such as '(I Wanna) Testify', 'P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up),” “Star Child (Mothership Connection),” “Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk),” “Flash Light,” “Aqua Boogie,” “One Nation Under a Groove ”, “(Not Only) Knee Deep” and “Atomic Dog”. Along the way, Clinton also influenced a variety of artists from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Kendrick Lamar.
Recognizing all the members of his bands over the years, Clinton said, “A lot of them are here, a lot of them aren't. But for all of them I say thank you and I'm blessed to represent a bunch of funky moms. Thanks, Hollywood!”
Here are some additional soundbites from Clinton's star ceremony:
Clinton: Noting to audience laughter that he was going to read his speech “because I'm so emotional and I'm not in hell, I'll remember all of this—,” the newly-inducted Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee called it “My honor to receive a star next to to the many notables from the world of entertainment. Old fans and new fans who let the music move their souls. you all know who i'm talking about [because] I've always said that the people make the funk. [Also] thanks to the brothers of Omega Psi Phi]who adopted “Atomic Dog” as their national anthem and kept it current for more than 40 years. Dime! 40 years. Now that we drop the star, let it be a symbol not only of George Clinton but of the power of funk, the power of the unity of a nation under a groove. This affirmation does not mark a destination or even a pause, because we continue. they encouraged me [artists] such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, De La Soul, 2Pac, Kendrick Lamar, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers and everyone who said funk inspired them. They used the DNA of funk and that inspired me to continue my fight for music rights – thank you, Ben Crump – and not just for me but for everyone [artists’] rights that have been abused'.
Kiedis: “Welcome to the corner of Hollywood & George,” joked RHCP who shared that he first learned about George Clinton when a fellow student at Fairfax High in Los Angeles brought Parliament Chocolate city album at school to show and tell. Years later, in 1985, the Peppers released their Clinton-produced album Freaky Styley. “For me personally, George became an instant friend, teacher, mentor, father figure, conspirator, instigator. I love George Clinton with all my heart,” Kiedis concluded before leading the audience in a sing-along of a “little spiritual hymn” as he sent the choir into “P. Funk”: “Make my funk P-Funk / I want my funk uncut…”
Crump: “Now more than ever the world needs music that unites us all. And no one's music brings us all together like this brother's music brings us together — a nation under a groove. This brother got brothers and sisters all over the world coming together through the Mothership Connection. It made people in Europe, Australia, Africa and North America walk around in the daytime with a flashlight in search of P-Funk. That's why we celebrate the one and only, the iconic George Clinton: the father of funk music, Dr. himself. Funkenstein”.
Bradford: Looking back at Funkadelic's '70s heyday, Bradford noted that Clinton “announced his retirement in 2018 and today in 2024, George [at 82] it still works [touring, readying three recording projects and painting]. “My kids think I'm cool because I know George Clinton. I think I am blessed that he is my friend and I am his. Congratulations, George!”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/george-clinton-receives-hollywood-walk-fame-star-1235585930/