Bootsy Collins

William “Bootsy” Collins is one of the greatest all-time funk and R&B bassist, singer, and bandleader. He formed his first group,The Pacesetters, in 1968. From 1969 to 1971, the group functioned as James Brown’s backup band and was dubbed the J.B.’s. In 1972, Bootsy joined George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic. Collins and Clinton soon established a lifelong personal and musical friendship. He launched Bootsy’s Rubber Band as a spinoff of P-Funk in 1976. Bootsy’s driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 along with 15 other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.