Funk music is built on deep grooves, syncopated rhythms, and an irresistible urge to move. The greatest funk bands created a sound that was simultaneously tight and loose, sophisticated and primal — a genre that has influenced nearly every form of popular music that followed. Vote for the band that laid down the fattest grooves in music history.
1Parliament-FunkadelicGeorge Clinton's massive collective that defined funk in the 1970s1000pts
2James Brown & The JBsThe Godfather of Soul and his legendary backing band852pts
3Chuck Brown & the Soul SearchersWashington, D.C. band led by Chuck Brown, the Godfather of Go-Go, whose 1978 hit Bustin' Loose launched the city's percussive funk style.767pts
4JamiroquaiLondon band fronted by Jay Kay in his famous headdresses, leading the 1990s acid-jazz funk revival with Virtual Insanity and Cosmic Girl.715pts
5Rick James & The Stone City BandFunk rock artist known for "Super Freak"639pts
6Gap BandTulsa soul and funk trio known for "Outstanding" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me"579pts
7Sly & The Family StoneSan Francisco multiracial funk band that influenced generations of musicians579pts
8Dazz BandCleveland band whose 1982 hit Let It Whip won the Grammy for best R&B performance by a duo or group and became an early-1980s funk anthem.579pts
9The MetersNew Orleans funk group known as the original funk band579pts
10The HeadhuntersHerbie Hancock's jazz-funk band whose 1973 album Head-Hunters and its track Chameleon became one of the best-selling jazz records ever.579pts
11CameoAmerican funk and R&B group known for "Word Up!"511pts
12CommodoresTuskegee band whose early Motown records Machine Gun, Slippery When Wet and Brick House made them one of the funkiest acts of the 1970s.511pts
13The Isley BrothersCincinnati family band that moved from soul to hard funk with It's Your Thing, Fight the Power and Ernie Isley's searing guitar on That Lady.511pts
14Ohio PlayersDayton funk group known for "Love Rollercoaster" and provocative album covers511pts
15Tower of PowerOakland funk and soul band known for their powerful brass section511pts
16Con Funk ShunCalifornia funk group known for smooth, danceable grooves511pts
17Bootsy's Rubber BandBootsy Collins's funk collective known for over-the-top costumes511pts
18The Brothers JohnsonLos Angeles duo of guitarist George and bassist Louis 'Thunder Thumbs' Johnson, produced by Quincy Jones, known for Strawberry Letter 23 and Stomp!432pts
19Kool & the GangNew Jersey funk and soul group known for "Celebration" and "Get Down on It"432pts
20Average White BandScottish soul-funk group known for "Pick Up the Pieces"341pts
21Earth, Wind & FireMaurice White's Chicago-born band whose horn-driven mix of funk, soul and jazz produced Shining Star, September and Boogie Wonderland.341pts
22Bar-KaysMemphis funk group known for their hard funk sound341pts
23Graham Central StationBand formed by Larry Graham after leaving Sly and the Family Stone, built around his slap-bass technique that became a funk staple.341pts
24WarLong Beach band that fused funk with Latin, jazz and rock on The Cisco Kid, Low Rider and The World Is a Ghetto.232pts
25Mother's FinestAtlanta band led by singers Joyce Kennedy and Glenn Murdock that pioneered a fierce blend of funk and hard rock in the 1970s.232pts
26VulfpeckMichigan-formed band that rebuilt tight, minimalist funk for the internet age, famous for its Spotify-funded silent album and a 2019 Madison Square Garden show.232pts
27Zapp & RogerOhio funk group known for talkbox vocals and "More Bounce to the Ounce"0pts
28ChicNew York disco-funk band led by Nile Rodgers, known for "Le Freak"0pts
29The TimeMinneapolis band fronted by Morris Day and built by Prince, whose tight grooves on Jungle Love and The Bird defined the Minneapolis sound.0pts
