Shirley Hayden
Shirley Hayden is an American singer best known for her work as a vocalist with the influential funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic and the spin-off group Parlet during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Biography
[edit]Hayden was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She auditioned for Parliament-Funkadelic in the basement of singer Mallia Franklin. In 1978, Hayden became a member of Parlet, Parliament’s all-woman spin-off group, replacing original member Debbie Wright.[1] She recorded on Parlet’s second and third albums, Invasion of the Booty Snatchers and Play Me or Trade Me. She also performed background vocals on several Parliament albums including Motor Booty Affair, Gloryhallastoopid, and Trombipulation.[2] Her vocals contributed to the collective’s signature layered harmonies and funk sound.[3]
Parlet toured as part of the larger P-Funk live shows, known for high-energy performances and elaborate stage productions.[4]
Beyond Parlet, Hayden contributed vocals to Funkadelic albums such as Uncle Jam Wants You and The Electric Spanking of War Babies.[5] She also recorded with Bootsy Collins, Philippé Wynne, and the P-Funk All-Stars. In 1985, she was one of the P-Funk vocalists featured on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ album Freaky Styley, produced by George Clinton.
In the late 1990s, Hayden toured as a backing vocalist with Kid Rock’s band Twisted Brown Trucker during his breakthrough years and performed on various live shows.[6] She continues to perform locally in Detroit.
References
[edit]- ^ "Debbie Wright — GeorgeClinton.com". Georgeclinton.com. 2025.
- ^ Bedrosian, Daniel (2023). The Authorized P-Funk Song Reference. Hardcover.
- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2003). All Music Guide to Soul. Backbeat Books. p. 194.
- ^ "Parlet – Jazz Rock Soul". JazzRockSoul. 10 January 2018.
- ^ "Atomic Dog P-Funk Rebirth". redbullmusicacademy. 2019.
- ^ "Shirley Hayden". Discogs. 2025.
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