Bernie Worrell, one of the cofounders of the band Parliament-Funkadelic, died of lung cancer on Friday, June 24, reports US Weekly. He was 72.
Worrell had been undergoing a long battle with lung cancer. In a Facebook post, his wife Judie announced that her husband and the beloved pianist died midday Friday.
“At 11:54, June 24, 2016, Bernie transitioned Home to The Great Spirit,” the post reads. “Rest in peace, my love — you definitely made the world a better place. Till we meet again, vaya con Dios.”
A child prodigy, Worrell studied classical piano at Juilliard and the New England Conservatory of Music. He later shared his gift of music to help further the musical style known as funk. He founded Parliament-Funkadelic alongside George Clinton in the 1970s, and in 1997, Worrell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Parliament-Funkadelic would go on to influence many genres following them, including legendary rapper/producer Dr. Dre, whose early beats were heavily inspired by the band.
Rest in Funk, Mr. Worrell.
SOURCE: US Weekly | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
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Parliament-Funkadelic Member Bernie Worrell Dead At 72 was originally published on globalgrind.com
