P-Funk

Although the original Parliament / Funkadelic troupe was based in Detroit, leaders George Clinton and Bootsy Collins knew that Baltimore always had a reputation for developing great musicians. In the ‘70s soul / funk artists Clinton and Collins began tapping the rich musical resources known to insiders as ‘The Baltimore Connection,’ that became known as a collective of musicians who were affiliated with the various P-Funk formations. From the ‘70s to the ‘00s there were many local musicians who joined the P-Funk ranks of Parliament, Funkadelic, Brides of Funkenstein, P-Funk All-Stars, Bootsy’s Rubber Band… Garry ‘Mudbone’ Cooper (vocals ex-Madhouse) was the first to break into this scene and was instrumental in bringing many local musicians into the fold. Some of the musicians include (in no particular order), Jeff ‘Cherokee’ Bunn (vocals ex-The Grand Jury), Guy Curtis Davidson (vocals ex-Hot Flesh, First Class), Kevin Oliver (guitar ex-Uncle Remus -had close association but was not a permanent member), Rodney ‘Skeet’ Curtis (bass ex-United Chair, The Grand Jury, Hot Ice, Uncle Remus), Joel Johnson (keyboards ex-Madhouse, Witchcraft), Gary Hudgins (keyboards ex-Phy-Dells, Grand Jury), Dennis Chambers (drums ex-IBM’s, Skylab, Uncle Remus), Bennie Cowan (trumpet ex-Hot Flesh), Greg Boyer (trombone), and Greg Thomas (sax ex-Black Ice, Uncle Remus). All these players were available as needed for respective P-Funk band tours and recordings, as well as performing in various groups together locally. Wendell Shepherd (trumpet ex-Grand Jury) was one of local players who backed P-Funk on area gigs…

As a side project, Cowan assembled an All-Star group he dubbed The Real BrassTaxx Horns, releasing the CD “it’s a Horn Thing “G”” Featuring George Clinton, The P-Funk Horns, and Kendra Foster.

Bennie played trumpet and keyboard bass, with a group consisting of:

Trumpeters Ben Frock and Ron Rolling,

Trombonists Greg Boyer and Richard Roundtree,

Saxophonists Greg Thomas and Scott Taylor,

Bass guitarists Jeff ‘Cherokee’ Bunn, Greg Deanda, Rodney ‘Skeet’ Curtis, and Glen Ellis,

Guitarist Guy Curtis Davidson,

Drummers Benjamin ‘Black Caesar’ Cowan, and Ju-Ju,

Keyboardists Gary Hudge, Greg Rice, and Ernie McNair,

Percussionist Foxy Rob,

and Vocalists George Clinton, Greg Deanda, Llewellyn ‘Hondo’ Scruggs, Bennie Cowan, and featuring Kendra Foster.