Cover Story: FUNK GEEZERS



All hail Sly Stone. Arguably the original funk-rocker, he was the catalyst that brought the urban sound to a suburban audience, knocking down the gates of racial prejudice in the process. After all, there weren’t many kids from the ‘hood singing “I Want to Take You Higher” among the muddy Woodstock masses as Sly threw down like a psychedelic James Brown.

Among the many who were listening: Rick James (Sun., 4:45 p.m., Coca Cola/V103/WB36! Stage), Earth, Wind & Fire (Sat., 10:30 p.m., Coca-Cola/V103/WB36 Stage), War (Fri., 8:30 p.m., BellSouth/Z93 Stage), the Ohio Players (Sat., 8:45 p.m., Coca-Cola/V103/WB36! Stage) and Mother’s Finest (Sun., 5 p.m., Jose Cuervo/96 Rock Stage), all of whom should pluck a bass string in reverence to Mr. Stone during their Music Midtown sets.

That there aren’t many original members remaining in some of these acts shouldn’t dissuade the faithful from paying their respects. From Earth Wind & Fire’s radio-friendly, spiritually uplifting pop fusion, to the earthy, sexy attack of the Ohio Players and Rick James, to the sunshiny Latino all-day vibe of War, to Mother’s Finest’s biracial hard rock, the grooves run deep enough to cut through such minor details as band personnel.??