Amp Fiddler, a well-known funk musician also known as Joseph Fiddler, has passed away at the age of 65. He was highly praised for his solo projects and collaborations with a variety of musicians throughout the years.
A post on social media announced the passing of a well-known musician from Detroit who was known for his contributions to funk, soul, electronic music, and Afrofuturism. He passed away at the age of 65 after a long and courageous fight against cancer. His legacy will continue to shine as he rests peacefully and powerfully.
Fiddler, who grew up in Detroit, started playing the keyboard and creating demos of his own music. One of these demos caught the attention of George Clinton from Parliament-Funkadelic, who invited Fiddler to collaborate with him in 1984. Fiddler then toured with the band for more than ten years and even appeared on Prince’s song “We Can Funk”. He also played on recordings with Warren Zevon and Was (Not Was) during the 1980s.
In the 1990s, Fiddler was involved in the production of early demo tracks for neosoul artist Maxwell and also contributed to his successful debut album Urban Hang Suite. He also played on Seal’s second album, which featured the popular song “Kiss From a Rose,” as well as on Primal Scream’s Give Out But Don’t Give Up and Charles & Eddie’s hit song “Would I Lie To You?”
The artist worked with Detroit house producer Moodymann to explore a new aspect of his style. Fiddler reflected on the collaborative process, mentioning the supportive and ego-free environment among artists in Detroit.
Fiddler had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with another prominent figure from Detroit, the up-and-coming J Dilla. Fiddler served as a mentor to the hip-hop producer, teaching him how to use the MPC sampler which played a crucial role in his artistic process. Fiddler also introduced Dilla to Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, helping to expand his audience. Together, Dilla and Fiddler worked on numerous projects, including several tracks on Fiddler’s most successful solo album, Waltz of a Ghetto Fly, released in 2004 under the name Amp Fiddler (he had previously released an album in 1990 under the name Mr Fiddler).
In subsequent release Afro Strut, Corinne Bailey Rae was one of the featured guests, followed by a full album collaboration with Sly and Robbie titled Inspiration Information. After a break, they came back in 2016 with Motor City Booty and have since released three additional albums, most recently Basementality in 2021.
He maintained his ties to the dance music industry and collaborated on tracks with popular artists such as Carl Craig, Model 500, Basement Jaxx, and Scuba. Most recently, he co-wrote songs on neo-soul singer Meshell Ndegeocello’s album, The Omnichord Real Book.
Gilles Peterson, a broadcaster and label owner, was one of many who honored Fiddler. Peterson described Fiddler as “royalty” in Detroit and a significant influence on musicians from all over the world. He also acknowledged how Fiddler brought together different generations and music scenes, serving as a mentor to many.
Questlove, the drummer and film director, expressed his condolences for the loss of his colleague Amp. He also thanked him for their conversations during the Pfunk tour and for the music they shared. He specifically mentioned how Amp mentored the late J Dilla, for which he is grateful.
Source: theguardian.com
