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Back From The Dark Star, George Clinton's Mothership Lands In New York

William Thoren Photography
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George Clinton

This freaky son of Newark, N.J. didn't always used to funk it up. Back when he was working in a barbershop, he was influenced by a lot of jazz, and aspiring to be a famous doo-wop singer. 

"Our customers were James Moody; I delivered milk to Sarah Vaughan," he says. "Wayne Shorter lived on Huntington Street. I lived on Bergen street, one block apart. Larry Young Jr., I remember when he sang doo-wop."

Clinton, the front man and founder of Parliament-Funkadelic, joins DJ Soul Sister from New Orleans to talk about his roots — as told in his memoir (now out in paperback) Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You?

On Tuesday, Parliament-Funkadelic performs its second annual NYC Halloween Funkdown at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

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For more than 15 years, Simon Rentner has worked as a host, producer, broadcaster, web journalist, and music presenter in New York City. His career gives him the opportunity to cover a wide spectrum of topics including, history, culture, and, most importantly, his true passion of music from faraway places such as Europe, South America, and Africa.