Maceo Parker

Funky Grooves Deonne Kahler Sax legend Maceo Parker and his 10-piece band play the KTAO
O Solar Center Saturday, June 7, so heres your chance to answer the question: Which came first, Maceo or the funk? Parker just released a fantastic live double album, Roots & Grooves, where he fronts the WDR Big Band on a tribute to Ray Charles, one of Parkers primary influences, with classics like Whatd I Say and Georgia on My Mind, while the second disc showcases Parker at his funky best. Parker led James Browns band in the 1960s and became one of the most famous sidemen around. In the 70s Parker joined George Clintons Parliament-Funkadelic and Bootsy Collins Rubber Band, then switched to full-time frontman where hes been ever since. Parkers sound is joyful and exuberant, much like the man himself. We spoke by phone from his home in North Carolina. Deonne Kahler: Youve played with some of the biggest names in the business, including younger artists like Ani Difranco and the Dave Matthews Band. Do you get approached often to collaborate? Maceo Parker: A lot of artists like working with me because I worked with James Brown. There are many artists I havent worked with that would be nice and believe it or not, James Taylor comes to mind. He did an arrangement on Mockingbird and it was funky, I mean funky funky. That really got me into him. That arrangement he did, boy I could hurt that track, good lord. DK: Tell me a funny story about meeting someone famous. MP: I cant remember the city we were in, but Mike Tyson was in a room with one of his dates, and somebody said, you want to meet him? Im all excited, Im thinking Mike Tyson! Hes this big man with this big neck and these big old arms and this tiny voice. [Imitates Tysons falsetto] I was crying (from laughter), I couldnt help it. DK: What stands out the most about working with James Brown? MP: Those early years when he had all that energy, when he could really move and do those splits and fast footwork. Hed teach pride and dignity and decorum, how to act, how to dress, punctuality, way before the Black Pride days. DK: What about George Clinton and Bootsy Collins? MP: [Laughs] Sometimes I think it was just time wasted. It may have meant a little bit to me and my career, but I look at it as my fun years. George is a sweetheart. He let everybody work who wanted to. Youd think, there are going to be 18 people on stage and now were going to be 19? But the 19th person would say to George, I need the money, and George would say well, come on. Or somebody would say Im really into the Lakers, and Ive got a Lakers uniform with the short pants and I want to wear it onstage. George would say, thats cool. It wasnt nothing but a party. If the luggage with the costumes didnt make it on the plane, George would take off his clothes, snatch a tablecloth off a table, wrap that thing around him like a toga and say, Did you
bring that extra wig? Lets go! After all those years with James Brown and tuxedos, color schemes and shined shoes, it threw me. DK: So James Brown did the most for your career. MP: He recognized something in me. He started using my name as lyrics, to the point where people started saying, whos Maceo? If James Brown says hes good, then he must be. DK: What inspires your music now? MP: Im to a point where I think its part of life to have fun, to promote peace, love, harmony. In my show Ill say, On behalf of all of us, we love you. Let me tell you something that happened. Im doing a show and I see way in the back this person in a wheelchair. Next thing I know shes talking to my manager in the wings, who tells me she wants to come on stage and say something. I say okay. She said, You can see Im bound to this wheelchair and three months ago I was suicidal, but I went to a Maceo Parker concert and he was saying love love love, to a point where I forgot about doing harm to myself. I didnt get a chance to thank him, so here I am saying it. I had tears in my eyes. You never know who thats going to hit, saying love love love from the stage. DK: Its beautiful that you put that message out. MP: That love thing is it, man. Deonnes costume improv usually involves a cowboy hat, western shirt, jeans and boots. Lame. Email her at deonne@deonnekahler.com. ### This interview first appeared in The Taos News on June 5, 2008.

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Funky Grooves Deonne Kahler Sax legend Maceo Parker and his 10-piece band play the KTAO

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