Bernie Worrell

About

Bernie Worrell was a keyboardist and composer who was best known as a founding member of the seminal funk band Parlimanet-Funkadelic as well as for his work with the influential art rock group Talking Heads. Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, Worrell was soon identified as a musical prodigy, learning how to play the piano at age three and writing a concerto at age eight, and eventually enrolling at the prestigious Juilliard School as well as the New England Conservatory of Music. Going on to form P-Funk in 1970, Worrell would build his name as one of his generation's more innovative keyboardists, with avant-garde leanings and meandering, yet poignant jamming. Striking off a solo career with his 1978 debut LP All the Woo in the World, Worrell has also worked as a hired gun of sorts, serving in backing bands, perhaps most notably with the Talking Heads and also as keyboardist with guitarist Steve Kimock's group.