Funk

Rhythmic and catchy, funk music is best described as soul music with an emphasis on danceable beats. Funk music originated in the mid-1960s in the African American community as a new form of traditional genres like R&B and jazz. While funk picks up R&B and jazz influences, its strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums sets it apart. Early funk artists realized strong guitar riffs and bass lines created a groove that made the sound addictive. Funk hit its highest notes in the 1960s and '70s, but funk samples have since crossed into several other genres such as modern day hip hop.

Funk music made its way to Oklahoma in the 1970s with Tulsa natives Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson. The three musical brothers combined their multi-instrumental talent to create The GAP Band. Named for their Tulsa neighborhood streets Greenwood, Archer and Pine, the group maintained strong Oklahoma pride from their early days in Tulsa to their retirement in 2010. From humble beginnings performing in their father’s Pentecostal church in T-Town, the band made several hits throughout the '70s and '80s including “You Dropped a Bomb On Me,” “Steppin’ Out” and “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head).” Today, they remain one of the most sampled bands in history with their trademark bass-heavy beats showing up in tunes by Madonna, Snoop Dogg and more.