Legendary Drummer Clyde Stubblefield Has Past Away At The Age Of 73

Legendary Drummer Clyde Stubblefield Has Past Away At The Age Of 73 

BHR Hollywood Reports.............Clyde Stubblefield, a drummer for James Brown who created one of the most widely sampled drum breaks ever, died Saturday. He was 73.

The cause of his death was kidney failure, as confirmed by Stubblefield’s wife.

 Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins, who played with Stubblefield in Brown’s band, wrote on Facebook, “We lost another Pillar Stone that held up the Foundation of Funk. Mr.Clyde Stubblefield has left our frequency.

Legendary Drummer Clyde Stubblefield

 I am lost for words & Rythme right now. Dang Clyde! U taught me so much as I stood their watchin’ over u & Jabo while keepin’ one eye on the Godfather.

We all loved U so much. (SENDOUT YR LOVE TO HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS)! Then share yr stories about this Fire breathin’ Drummer, (THE FUNKY DRUMMER)! R.I.P. From all yr Funkateers…”

Stubblefield performed on several of Brown's classics in the 1960s and early 70s, including "Cold Sweat," ''Say It Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud," ''I've Got the Feelin'," and the album "Sex Machine."

Legendary Drummer Clyde Stubblefield

But he was best known for a short solo on Brown's 1970 single, "Funky Drummer."

Reporters  said it was sampled on over 1,000 songs and served as the backbeat for countless hip-hop tracks, including Public Enemy's "Fight the Power,"

Dr. Dre's "Let Me Ride," LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" and Run-D.M.C.'s "Run's House." It even turned up on Ed Sheeran's "Shirtsleeves" and George Michael's "Freedom '90," the magazine said.

Hennon said Stubblefield saw "very little" in royalties and never expected them.

Last year, Stubblefield made headlines in the wake of Prince‘s death. It was learned that, when Stubblefield had racked up large medical bills due to bladder cancer, Prince wound up writing a check for $80,000 to cover the costs on the condition that it not be reported.

Video Credits: Bernhard Castiglioni