By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Star Child is getting his own star as George Clinton, the mastermind behind the legendary Parliament/Funkadelic (P-Funk) will be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Jan. 19 in front of the Musicians Institute (6752 Hollywood Blvd.).
The 82-year-old innovative songwriter, record producer and performer who is already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, has been instrumental in shaping the sound of funk and pushing musical boundaries.
“His distinctive style, flamboyant persona, and psychedelic stage presence have made him a beloved figure and a pioneer of the genre,” said Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Clinton started his career with The Parliaments, a barbershop doo-wop ensemble, which scored a major hit in 1967 with “(I Wanna) Testify.” After experimenting with a sound fused with heavy bottom and acid-rock guitar riffs, Clinton spawned Funkadelic, with several influential concept albums, including “Free Your Mind… and Your Ass Will Follow,” “Maggot Brain” and “America Eats Its Young.”
Some of Clinton’s most popular songs include: “P-Funk (Wants to get Funked Up),” “Mothership Connection (Star Child),” the group’s first gold single “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker),” “Flash Light,” “One Nation Under a Groove,” “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” and “Aqua Boogie,” eventually culminating with the 1982 solo release of “Atomic Dog,” which has been featured in numerous movies and sampled countless times in the rap world.
The live performances were equally otherworldly, as Clinton would emerge from a giant spaceship, “The Mothership,” (now in the National Museum of African American History and Culture) at center stage as “Dr. Funkenstein” to transport listeners into a different dimension.
A retirement tour was announced several years ago, but the indefatigable Clinton has remained busy with additional dates, recording sessions and a new career as a fine artist.
The ceremony, to be hosted by “Access Hollywood” reporter Sibley Scoles, will feature remarks by Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and songwriter Janie Bradford.
Those that can’t make it may stream the 11:30 a.m. event live at walkoffame.com.
FOR ARTS SAKE: Amid facing criticism from peers like Yasiin Bey (the rapper formerly known as Mos Def) likening his music to what you would hear in Target, Drake is rising above the fray with the opening in Los Angeles of the “World’s First Art Amusement Park.”
First developed 36 years ago in Hamburg, Germany, the attraction, which featured works and rides designed by art giants Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney and some esteemed others was lost since 1987.
Now thanks to a multi-million-dollar investment from Drake, “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy” is now open weekly from Wednesdays through Saturdays in downtown Los Angeles, situated conveniently between the Arts District and Boyle Heights. Visit lunaluna.com for details.
TICKET WATCH: Back by popular demand, Janet Jackson’s critically acclaimed, sold out Together Again Tour returns to North America this summer. This edition, with special guest Nelly, launches June 4 in Palm Desert, with shows June 6 (Chula Vista), 8 (L.A.), and 9 (Anaheim). All tour dates are on Ticketmaster.com with a pre-sale using the passcode “TOGETHERAGAIN” in effect until they open to the public on Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. local time.
TASTY QUIP: “It’s no shot to the Oscars, no shot to the Globes or anything else. Those just aren’t comedy-friendly environments anymore. I think they got it right one year where it was like just a bunch of personalities acting as the hosts and that’s a nice thing. It’s a collaborative thing, different people get to be responsible for act one, act two, act three, but you know, the days of it being a room for a comic, those days are done. Shout out to those that have cracked the code and done it right early on, you know, the Chris Rocks of the world, the Billy Crystals of the world, the girls we’ve had like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler. Ricky Gervais.” – KEVIN HART (at Long Beach’s Terrace Theater on Jan. 21) to Sky News
CLIPPETTES: The weekend’s musical offerings begin Jan. 19 with jazz instrumentalist Chief Adjuah (FKA Christian Scott) performing with Taylor McFerrin & AnAkA at The Roxy, rapper Juvenile at The Bellwether, DJ Shadow spinning at the Fonda Theatre, pianist Bobby West at the World Stage, trumpeter Keyon Harrold kicking off a two-night stand playing from his new album “Foreverland” at The Sun Room, and Dessa singing at the Constellation Room (with King Pari the following night at Pappy & Harriet’s) …
In addition, Bunny Brunel & Friends (including Stanley Clarke, Larry Dunn, Kyle Eastwood and Kaylene Peoples) take the stage of the Catalina Jazz Club to celebrate their new CD release “Bass Ball 2” …
Meanwhile, on the theater front, week-long stagings of “MJ The Musical” at The Pantages, and Carolyn Ratteray’s “Both And (A Play About Laughing While Black)” at the Wallis Center continue …
Daytime talker “The Jennifer Hudson Show” has been renewed for a third season …
Marlon Wayans, who was just signed to lead the upcoming Jordan Peele-produced sports horror film “Goat,” brings his stand-up comedy to Morongo Casino on Jan. 20, as Shyheim, aka The Rugged Child, raps at La Santa OC, and David Garfield jams at Vibrato Grill & Jazz …
Peaches & Herb are “Reunited” with Blue Magic for a Jan. 21 evening of soul at the Saban Theatre, while guitarist Stanley Jordan goes solo at Catalina Jazz Club …
World renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman performs at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Jan. 23, while Julian Marley & The Uprising are at The Roxy, Isaiah Rashad is at Anaheim’s House of Blues, and funnyman Fred Armisen & Friends are at Largo …
The Venice West presents reggae legend Yellowman on Jan. 24 …
Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers, touring together for the first time since the death of their saxophone-playing brother Rudy a few years ago, are set for the Troubadour on Jan. 25; an evening that also has singer Charlotte “Charlo” Crossley (formerly of the Harlettes) making her Bourbon Room debut.
TASTY QUIP: “OK, I gotta admit Lil Nas is playing with fire mocking Jesus. He’s getting the attention he wants from folks at the risk of searing his conscious. Still, if God can transform King Neb, murderers, slave masters, sex workers, etc. he can add another Blasphemer to the list.” – LECRAE on IG regarding Lil Nas X’s latest single “J Christ”
TC ON TV: Jan. 19 – “The Eric André Show” (Adult Swim): Tonight’s special episode is “Live Near Broadway.” “Cristóbal Balenciaga” (Hulu): A limited series about one of the most important couture designers of all time. “Hazbin Hotel” (Prime): This adult animated musical comedy series features the voices of Darren Criss, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Patina Miller and Keith David. “Zorro” (Prime): A spectacular series made up of 10 episodes that will offer adventure and action lovers a new vision of the legendary masked vigilante starring Miguel Bernardeau. “The Kitchen” (Netflix): Daniel Kaluuya co-wrote and directed this tale set in a dystopian future London where all social housing has been eliminated.
Jan. 20 – “OWN Spotlight” (OWN): Oprah Winfrey sits down with Danielle Brooks of the recent musical film adaptation of “The Color Purple” (which is now available at homes on demand).
Jan. 22 – “The Impact New York” (VH1): The next series of the popular unscripted franchise gives audiences an inside look into the dynamic lives of New York’s top influencers in business, music, beauty and fashion. “Independent Lens” (PBS): “Racist Trees” asks was the planting of tamarisk trees along the historically Black Lawrence Crossley neighborhood in Palm Springs a symbol of segregation?
Jan. 23 – “Kevin James: Irregardless” (Prime): The now bald “King of Queens” riffs on parenting, marriage and getting older. “Finding Your Roots” (PBS): In “Buried Secrets,” Henry Louis Gates Jr. helps singer Sammy Hagar and actor Ed O’Neill uncover their hidden roots, revealing scandals and secrets that their ancestors went to great lengths to conceal.
Jan. 25 – “Griselda” (Netflix): Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”) is executive producer and star of this limited series inspired by the savvy and ambitious Colombian businesswoman Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Luenell “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox): A winner is crowned.
END QUOTE: “Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.” – ALICE WALKER
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
