Charlotte has a rich history of funk music. Back in 1965, the "Grandmaster of Funk" himself Mr. James Brown recorded his single “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” right here in the Queen City. As one of ...

For years, I heard "Play That Funky Music" as some kind of statement of racial solidarity. The white boy singing the song, Wild Cherry frontman Rob Parissi, knew that nobody would expect a white boy ...

Before 1976, Wild Cherry was trying to make a career out of hard rock music at a time when disco was about the only thing happening. The Ohio-formed band got their start performing rock covers. Their ...

It’s one of a handful of intro guitar riffs that makes people hoot and holler and shake it on down to the dance floor. Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” has all the essential musical ingredients ...