Bernie Worrell pioneered the use of the synthesizer in funk beginning in the early 1970s, paving the way for so many who came after him. The musical community was the fortunate beneficiary of his tremendous talents, which he shared through his work with Parliament-Funkadelic and Talking Heads, among many others. His work is at once as fundamental as it was revolutionary, in that it is among the most sampled by other musicians.
To learn more about Bernie, listen to this recent segment from NPR,
or this short but fascinating interview with him from NAMM Oral Histories.
Bernie passed away on June 24, 2016 at age 72, after battling lung and liver cancer. Along with legions of other fans worldwide, we were deeply saddened by this loss.
Bernie was a musical luminary and a gentle, humble human being. He was also a great friend of the Bob Moog Foundation. He is deeply missed.
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Bernie also appears in the “Moog” documentary by Hans Fjellestad (2004).
You can read much more about Bernie and sign his guestbook at his website, bernieworrell.com.
Rest in Funk, Bernie Worrell! With love and gratitude for your indelible contributions to music and humanity, you are missed!