Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins, an unique member of Parliament-Funkadelic and singer identified for his wild stage antics, has died. Haskins was 81 years outdated. No reason for demise has but been shared.
Haskins’ former bandmates George Clinton and Bootsy Collins confirmed the information March 17, sharing private tributes to the performer. Clinton wrote on Instagram, “We’re saddened to announce the passing of an unique Parliament Funkadelic member Clarence Eugene ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins (born June 8, 1941-March seventeenth, 2023).” In a followup Fb publish, Clinton wrote, “Fly on” whereas sharing a hyperlink to a mini-documentary on Haskins, entitled “Give Up the Fuzz.”
Collins posted, “Prayers going out to Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins’ household and buddies. We misplaced his frequency right this moment … We’ll miss u my buddy, bandmate & Soul brother! Thx u for ur steering in my pup years.”
Prayer’s going out to Clarence “Fuzzys” Haskins household & buddies.🙏 We misplaced his frequency right this moment
3-17- 23. He was an unique Parliament/Funkadelic inducted within the RHOF.🤘We’ll miss u my buddy, bandmate & Soul brother!😢 Thx u for ur steering in my pup 12 months’s. Bootsy child!!!🤩 pic.twitter.com/IQI6crS8sS— Bootsy Collins (@Bootsy_Collins) March 18, 2023
Haskins was born in 1941 in West Virginia and started his music profession in his late teenagers. He was a member of the Gel-Airs earlier than becoming a member of George Clinton in doowop group The Parliaments in 1960, usually singing lead vocals. He turned an vital a part of the group when it morphed into Parliament and in addition to with the extra rock- and funk-fueled challenge Funakdelic that was launched in 1968, turning into an enormous beacon of funk tradition within the Seventies.
Haskins has credit for a number of massive Funkadelic tracks like “I Get a Factor” and “I Wanna Know if It’s Good to You” and, per a writeup on George Clinton’s web site, “He was a great drummer as properly, as he proved on ‘Can You Get To That,’ which he additionally co-wrote.” In fact there have been additionally the outlandish costumes and stage antics, as the web site publish provides, “[Haskins] was identified, throughout stay P-Funk exhibits, to don skintight bodysuits and gyrate towards the microphone pole as he whipped the gang right into a frenzy.”
Within the later ’70s, Haskins began a solo profession, releasing his personal albums A Complete Nother Thang in 1976 and Radio Lively in 1978. Just a few years later, Haskins was a part of an ’80s-era Funkadelic revamp with a few of his former bandmates however not Clinton. Nonetheless, the singer would quickly discover a new path as a preacher and would usually report gospel music.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1997 as a part of Parliament-Funkadelic and in addition acquired Grammy Lifetime Achievement recognition in 2019.
