North Carolina has been the home of many legendary and groundbreaking African American musicians. One North Carolina town, Kinston, is legendary for music as well. Do you know what this town is sometimes called?
Answer: The Birthplace of Funk
Did you recognize all of these cities as places that have had a huge influence in music in the United States? If you did, you know something about music! Nashville, TN is known as Music City, U.S.A. Hitsville, U.S.A. was the name given to the first location of Motown Records in Detroit, MI. Memphis, TN gets the honor of The Home of the Blues. And The Birthplace of Rock and Roll is the name given to Cleveland, OH. If you selected 'The Birthplace of Funk' for Kinston, you got it! Kinston has produced many African American musicians that have been chart toppers and have given a lasting legacy to a variety of American music genres. One of those musical genres – or styles – is Funk. This style of music originated with African American musicians who combined elements of jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues. James Brown, originally from South Carolina, was a Funk legend. And several Kinston musicians developed the Funk style then joined the James Brown Band. In the 1960's, Kinston's musical genius Nat Jones teamed up with Brown, followed by other Kinston legends Maceo and Melvin Parker, Levi Rasbury, and Dick Knight. The group combined the elements of bebop jazz, soul and rhythm and blues, and Funk was born. The photograph you see is a picture of drummer Melvin Parker.
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