Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins, a co-founder of the legendary funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic, has passed away. He was 81.
Fellow band member William “Bootsy” Collins confirmed Haskins' passing in a post on Twitter.
“Prayer's going out to Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins family & friends. We lost his frequency today 3-17- 23,” his tweet read. "He was an original Parliament/Funkadelic inducted in the RHOF. We will miss u my friend, bandmate & Soul brother! Thx u for ur guidance in my pup years. Bootsy baby!!!
Haskins was born in 1941 in West Virginia and launched his music career as a teenager. After relocating to Plainfield, NJ, he along with George Clinton, Ray "Stingray" Davis, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas formed the doo-wop group the Parliaments in 1960. In 1967, the group had their first hit “I Wanna Testify” which went to #3 on the Billboard R&B chart, and #20 on the Pop chart.
As the band transitioned from doo-wop-influenced sound, Haskins played a pivotal role as the Parliaments morphed into the psychedelic funk and rock of Funkadelic in 1968. The band traded in their suits and ties for outlandish outfits including Haskins’ signature skin-tight jumpsuits and eyewear.
During the 1970’s, the Parliaments and Funkadelic came together as Parliament-Funkadelic, or P-Funk, and would become one of the most influential bands of the era. Haskins appeared with Parliament which merged Afrofuturistic cosmology and science fiction with deep funk grooves on their landmark albums Maggot Brain (1971), Mothership Connection (1975), The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976), Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome (1977). On the Funkadelic side, Haskins lent his soulful vocals on Free Your Mind... and Your A** Will Follow (1970), Maggot Brain (1971), Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (1974), One Nation Under a Groove (1978) and more. He also was a songwriter, drummer, and leader singer notably on the classic track "Standing On the Verge of Getting It On."
In 1976, Haskins released his first solo album, A Whole Nother Thang, which featured contributions from Collins and Bernie Worrell. His second album Radio Active was released in 1978.
After years of legal troubles, Parliament-Funkadelic dissolved as a touring entity in 1980. In 1981, Haskins, Simon and Thomas reformed Funkadelic. As a trio, they appeared on Soul Train and released the album, Connections & Disconnections.
Throughout the 1990s, Haskins toured with Original P, a group made up of Simon, Davis and Thomas, who were four of the original five Parliaments.
In 1997, Haskins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Parliament-Funkadelic. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement recognition in 2019.
We at EBONY extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins.
