Music stars are reacting to the death of Clyde Stubblefield, the influencial drummer for James Brown, who died Saturday (Feb. 18) at age 73.
While a member of Brown’s backing band, Stubblefield performed on such classic funk songs as “Cold Sweat,” “Ain’t It Funky Now,” “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” and “I Got the Feelin’.”
His solo from Brown’s 1970 single for “Funky Drummer” has also been sampled by numerous hip-hop acts, including Public Enemy, N.W.A, Dr. Dre, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., and the Beastie Boys.
Read the social media tributes from Questlove, Bootsy Collins, and Garbage below.
We lost another Pillar Stone that held up the Foundation of Funk. Mr.Clyde Stubblefield has left our frequency. I… https://t.co/JV2JVfRJkn
— Bootsy Collins (@Bootsy_Collins) February 18, 2017
Clyde Stubblefield solo at the Boston Garden in 68. I’m sure people have drummed this well but no one ever drummed better. pic.twitter.com/GEf3oKd3al
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) February 18, 2017
RIP #ClydeStubblefield #FunkyDrummer https://t.co/xfeyQ05kfd
— Living Colour (@LivingColour) February 18, 2017
A huge chunk of funk history has passed on to the ages. RIP to the GREAT Clyde Stubblefield. #FunkyDrummer pic.twitter.com/sghypFyVXh
— Christian McBride (@mcbridesworld) February 19, 2017
Damn!! We lost the Funky Drummer #Rip Clyde stubblefield the most in pocket,the most sampled and by far the dopest sounding drummer eva! —- pic.twitter.com/pcma3l0DP4
— Jermaine Dupri (@jermainedupri) February 19, 2017
Every groove this man laid down, you felt and loved. Rest in power to a true pioneer of soul. —- #clydestubblefield pic.twitter.com/lX8L1rQ6Py
— just call me Andy (@AndersonPaak) February 18, 2017
RIP the funky drummer Clyde Stubblefield pic.twitter.com/cEiIJje6Rv
— Galactic (@GalacticFunk) February 19, 2017
RIP the OG Funky Drummer Clyde Stubblefield. —
This one hurts.
— Just Blaze (@JustBlaze) February 18, 2017
he gave the drummer more than some…. Thank you for the breaks Clyde Stubblefield RIP https://t.co/WpfOdXqbTJ
— Gilles Peterson (@gillespeterson) February 18, 2017
RIP Clyde Stubblefield. The Man who played the drum pattern that created Hip Hop. (Funky Drummer) #GOAT
— Turntable Whisperer (@DJScratch) February 18, 2017
Just heard the sad news that the world lost Clyde Stubblefield yesterday. What a loss. What a sweet , brilliant talent. God speed sir.
— Garbage (@garbage) February 18, 2017
RIP to the man whose drumming laid the foundation for hip hop, Mr. Clyde Stubblefield. Rest well, Funky Drummer.
— Phonte (@phontigallo) February 18, 2017