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 Funk originator George Clinton is set to be honored as a BMI Icon at the organizations annual Urban Awards this September.
The Icon designation is given to BMI songwriters and artists who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers," according to a press release. Clinton has displayed this throughout his long career, thus he will be recognized.
He will be saluted with an all-star musical tribute during the ceremony that will take place from New York's Lincoln Center on September 10, joining an elite group of musicians that includes The Jacksons, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Bee Gees, Willie Nelson and Carlos Santana, to name a few.
George Clinton is the principal architect of p-funk, which was built on his experimental sounds and thunderously prominent bass lines, eventually revolutionizing the entire musical world and helping build the foundations of hip-hop.
His catalogs boasts hits such as "(I Wanna) Testify," "Atomic Dog," "One Nation Under a Groove," "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)," "Flashlight," "Aqua Boogie" an many others. Some of those works resurfaced in hit-making hooks for songs by contemporary hip-hop royalty including OutKast, Dr. Dre, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy, Missy Elliot and Busta Rhymes
The BMI Icon honor is the latest in Clinton's many accolades. In 1997, he and Parliament/Funkadelic became members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, claimed a spot on the Hollywood Rock Walk, and garnered the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP Image Awards.
The Urban Awards salutes the world's premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers by celebrating the most-performed urban songs of the previous year from the BMI repertoire. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant will share hosting duties with Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.
In addition to recognizing the year's top urban songs, BMI will crown the Urban Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year.
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