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The Brides of Funkenstein

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Brides of Funkenstein
OriginDetroit, Michigan, United States
GenresSoul, funk, P-funk
Years active1978–1981
LabelsAtlantic
SpinoffsParlet
Spinoff of
Past membersLynn Mabry
Dawn Silva
Sheila Horne
Jeanette McGruder

The Brides of Funkenstein were an American soul and funk girl band, originally composed of singers Dawn Silva and Lynn Mabry.[1]

History

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Previously background singers for Sly Stone, singer of Sly and the Family Stone, Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva joined the P-funk collective in the mid-1970s.[2] George Clinton named the group from 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.[3] Clinton produced their debut album, Funk Or Walk, for Atlantic Records in 1978. The duo became an opening act for Parliament-Funkadelic tours and also performed backing vocals for the ensemble itself.

Mabry left the group in 1979, reportedly due to financial disagreements and to focus on family; the birth of her daughter with P-Funk keyboardist Junie Morrison followed her departure.[4] George Clinton restructured the Brides as a trio by adding former Bridesmaids Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder, who joined Dawn Silva for the recording of their second album, Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy.[5] This lineup won a Cashbox Rhythm & Blues Award for Best Female Group, surpassing well-known acts such as the Pointer Sisters, Sister Sledge, and Cheryl Lynn.[6] In 1980, the trio recorded a third album, Shadows On The Wall, Shaped Like The Hat You Wore, but it was never released. Many of the songs from the unreleased sessions were later reworked and appeared elsewhere in the P-Funk catalog.[5]

Mabry resurfaced in 1984 as a backing vocalist with Talking Heads, appearing in the acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense alongside P-Funk colleague Bernie Worrell.[7] Silva and Mabry briefly reunited in 1981 as the **New Wave Brides**, opening for Grace Jones and later joining Was (Not Was) on tour.[1] Silva went on to tour and record with the Gap Band from 1983 to 1991, and later worked with Ice Cube. In 2000, she released her solo album All My Funky Friends, which was well-received in Europe and Asia. Silva continues to perform and tour as Dawn Silva & The Brides.[1] Following the Brides, Sheila Horne (later known as Amuka) built a solo career as a dance and house music vocalist in the 1990s and 2000s, releasing singles such as “Appreciate Me” and “Craving” under the name Amuka.[8] Jeanette McGruder, now known as Satori Shakoor, became a spoken word artist, playwright, and radio host. She founded the award-winning Grown Folks Stories series in Detroit and continues to perform and produce community storytelling events.[9]

Discography

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Albums US US R&B Year Label
Funk or Walk 70 17 1978 Atlantic
Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy 93 49 1979 Atlantic
Live at the Howard Theatre 1994
Singles US R&B Year
Disco to Go 7 1978
Amorous 76 1979
Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy 67 1980

References

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  1. ^ a b c Midness, Kurt (August 30, 2009). "Dawn Silva: Until Funk Do You Part". L.A. Record. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  2. ^ Vincent, Rickey (2014). Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One p. 192. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-4668-8452-6.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: H". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 27 November 2021 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ Scott Goldfine, host. Truth In Rhythm video interview with Lynn Mabry, FUNKNSTUFF.NET, 2021. Retrieved 7/8/2025.
  5. ^ a b Kinley, Tim. "The Brides of Funkenstein: Partying Like It’s 1979." CultureSonar, January 8, 2019. Retrieved 7/8/2025
  6. ^ Preston, Cheryl E. "Behind the Scenes with the Brides of Funkenstein." Vocal Media Beat, 2022. Retrieved 7/8/2025
  7. ^ Grow, Kory (August 1, 2014). "Talking Heads on 'Stop Making Sense': 'We Didn't Want Any Bulls–t'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Amuka Discogs Profile. Retrieved DATE.
  9. ^ Satori Shakoor Official Website. Retrieved 7/8/2025.
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