Give The Drummer Some!

Also known as The Original Funky Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield had the dubious honor of being the most sampled drummer in the known universe. He is most famous for a 20 second drum pattern he played during the James Brown song "The Funky Drummer" - 20 seconds that changed the sound of r&b forever and arguably launched rap and hip-hop into existence. Born in Chattanooga, TN, Clyde had with no formal musical training. He listened to the marching bands that would parade through town, and to the trains clickety-clacking and echoing off the hillsides and developed his own style and the now famous "ghost beat." By 1965 he was playing with the JBs and over the years recorded a string of hits with including "Cold Sweat," "I got the feelin," and "Say it loud - I'm black and l'm proud." He was one of two drummers who played with Mr. Brown during that time, sharing the stage with John "Jabo" Starks who became a lifelong friend and fellow "Funkmaster." In 1971, Clyde left James Brown's band and moved to Madison, WI where his brother Frank was living. After playing with a number of bands he created The Clyde Stubblefield Band and established Funky Monday, a tradition that would continue off and on for 40 years and still does even after his death. While he would occasionally take trips to NY or LA to play with his fellow James Brown alumni, he always called Madison home and was often heard saying "I LOVE YA MADISON" from behind the drumkit. In 2015, The Coalition to Recognize Clyde Stubblefield created The Clyde Stubblefield Scholarship Fund, which has now partnered with The Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAs), in an effort to get Clyde the recognition we all know he deserves AND get instruments in kids' hands AND help them get to music school. All of the Funky Monday shows since then have been fundraisers for the scholarship fund. On Feb 18, 2017, Clyde died after a long battle with renal disease. He was 73. The University of Wisconsin is giving Clyde a Ph. D in Drumming, posthumously this May and the All-Stars will be playing at the Memorial Union Terrace in celebration of his life and musical legacy. So why a Clyde Stubblefield Coloring Book? My first reason is a selfish one. I love to draw and in times of stress it actually helps me to cope. In the days and weeks after his death I was so sad, understandably so, but I knew I had to keep my chin up somehow and get on with the daily business of life with two children and a husband. So I thought of Clyde and the things he would say, and I could hear him and see his smile, and soon I was drawing and feeling better. One page turned into another and before long I realized I was creating a new book. Secondly, I'd like to help raise money for the Scholarship Fund. I know what the power of music can do and how amazing it is to give a child an instrument or send them to music school, so I will donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book indefinitely. And thirdly, who doesn't like to color? Put on a copy of "Revenge of The Funky Drummer" or "The Original" and get out your markers or pencils and get groovy! These drawings are meant to be fun and remind you of being at a Funky Monday show. Four of the images are actually the lyrics to the one song Clyde wrote "Party's in the Kitchen" while others are things he said or songs he played on. There is even a page highlighting a mere 70 of the hundreds of artists who have sampled that 20 second drumbeat. I bet you'll be singing along as you color before you know it.