fred wesley and the new jbs

Biography

Fred Wesley is a legendary trombonist and bandleader born in Columbus, Georgia, and raised in Mobile, Alabama, who emerged as one of the primary architects of funk music.[1][2] He began his professional career as a teenage trombonist with Ike and Tina Turner before joining James Brown's organization, where he served as music director, arranger, trombonist, and primary composer from 1968 to 1975.[1][2] During this pivotal period, Wesley played an instrumental role in helping James Brown's band shift its sound from soul to funk, a transformation that would become dominant in R&B music and establish the foundational language of the genre.[1][2] His surgically precise solos and orchestration of sinuous grooves earned him the distinction of being called "the world's most famous sideman."[1][2]

In 1976, Wesley and fellow horn player Maceo Parker departed from James Brown's organization to join George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, where they collaborated on influential albums that pushed funk to new creative heights.[1][2] Wesley's work during the P-Funk era demonstrated his versatility and continued innovation within the genre. Beyond his work with these major acts, Wesley established himself as a highly sought-after arranger and collaborator, working with an extensive roster of artists including Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield, Van Morrison, the Count Basie Orchestra, and numerous others.[1][2][4]

In 1996, Wesley formed his own band, initially called The Fred Wesley Group, which evolved into Fred Wesley and the New JBs.[3] For more than 30 years, this ensemble has served as the primary keeper of roots funk music, maintaining the standards Wesley helped establish while performing seminal hits like "Pass the Peas" and "Big Payback" alongside original jazz, funk, and blues compositions.[1][5][6] Wesley is also a published author, having written the acclaimed memoir "Hit Me, Fred: Recollections of a Sideman" (Duke University Press, 2002), and continues to share his musical knowledge through master classes and educational settings worldwide.[4][5] As one of music's most-sampled musicians, his influence extends to contemporary artists including Janet Jackson and Nas.[4]

Fun Facts

• Fred Wesley is one of music's most-sampled musicians, with his work being recontextualized by artists across multiple genres including hip-hop and R&B, demonstrating the timeless quality of his compositions and arrangements.[4]
• Wesley's recording "Doing It to Death" with Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in July 1973, marking a significant commercial milestone in his career.[3]
• In addition to his work with Fred Wesley and the New JBs, Wesley is one-third of an innovative "klezmer-funk" collaboration called Abraham Inc., showcasing his willingness to experiment with genre fusion throughout his career.[2][4]
• Wesley has been featured in multiple acclaimed documentaries including the Oscar-winning "When We Were Kings" and "Soul Power," cementing his place in music history beyond his recorded output.[2][5]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ike and Tina Turner - Early career mentor who provided Wesley's first professional opportunity as a teenage trombonist (Early performances with the Turner revue) [Late 1950s-early 1960s]

Key Collaborators

• James Brown - Primary employer and artistic partner; Wesley served as music director, arranger, and composer for Brown's band ("Pass the Peas," "Big Payback," "Doing It to Death" (gold record, 1973)) [1968-1975]
• Maceo Parker - Fellow horn player and close collaborator; left James Brown together to join Parliament-Funkadelic; toured as JB Horns (Parliament-Funkadelic albums, JB Horns performances) [1976-1996 and beyond]
• George Clinton - Artistic partner in Parliament-Funkadelic collective; collaborated on influential funk albums (Parliament-Funkadelic albums including "P-Funk") [1976-1980s]
• Bootsy Collins - Collaborator in advancing funk music; worked together on Bootsy's Rubber Band projects ("Stretching Out" and other Bootsy projects) [1970s-1980s]
• Pee Wee Ellis - Colleague from James Brown era; toured together as JB Horns in early 1990s (JB Horns performances) [Early 1990s]
• Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield, Van Morrison - Various collaborative arrangements and performances (Multiple recording and performance projects) [Various periods]

Artists Influenced

• Janet Jackson - Sampled Fred Wesley's work in her music ("That's The Way Love Goes") [1990s]
• Nas - Sampled Fred Wesley's work in hip-hop production ("Nastradamus") [1990s-2000s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Chameleon - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
2. Damn Right I'm Somebody - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
3. Four Play - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
4. Night Of The Thumpasaurus People - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
5. In Love In L.A. - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
6. Breaking Bread - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
7. (Medley) Pass The Peas and Gimme Some Mo' - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
8. Trick Bag - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
9. Peace Power - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))
10. No One - Live (Fred Wesley & The New JB's (Live in Belgrade))

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia