The Brides of Funkenstein

The Brides of Funkenstein
Origin Detroit, MI
Genres Funk, soul
Years active 1978–1981
Labels Atlantic
Associated acts Parliament, Funkadelic, Eddie Hazel
Past members Lynn Mabry, Dawn Silva, Sheila Horne, Jeanette McGruder

The Brides of Funkenstein was a funk musical group originally composed of singers Dawn Silva and Lynn Mabry.

History

Previously background singers for Sly Stone, Mabry and Silva joined the P-Funk collective in the mid-1970s. George Clinton named the group (based on a storyline and characters from the Parliament album The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein). The Brides' provided the vocals for the 1977 album Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs by P-Funk guitarist Eddie Hazel. Clinton produced the Brides' debut album, Funk Or Walk, for Atlantic Records in 1978. The album was a success, selling over three hundred thousand copies within the first week as well as winning a Record World award for best new female group. The album charted at #7 on the R&B charts; the single "Disco To Go" was certified gold in America and reached platinum status in Europe and Asia. The duo became an opening act for Parliament-Funkadelic tours and also performed backing vocals for the ensemble itself.

Lynn Mabry left the group in 1979. Dawn Silva lead singer invited back-up "Bridesmaids" Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder to sing on the second Brides album, Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy. This lineup received a Cashbox Rhythm & Blues award for best new female artist, beating out The Pointer Sisters, Sister Sledge, and Cheryl Lynn. The Brides' second album was rated in 2001 by Rolling Stone as one of the top 50 coolest albums ever released. The trio recorded a third album, Shadows On The Wall, Shaped Like The Hat You Wore in 1980, but the album was not released. Most of the songs from the unreleased album gradually appeared elsewhere in the P-Funk catalog.

Lynn Mabry resurfaced in 1984 as a backing vocalist with Talking Heads, appearing in the concert film Stop Making Sense along with P-Funk colleague Bernie Worrell. Silva and Mabry had a brief reunion in 1981 as the New Wave Brides, opening for Grace Jones, and a lengthy tour with Was (Not Was). Silva would tour and record with the Gap Band from 1983 to 1991, moving on to work with Ice Cube. In 2000 Silva released the solo album All My Funky Friends, which received rave reviews in Europe and Asia. Dawn Silva & The Brides continue to tour.

Discography

External links


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