$26.00
If you lived in NY during the '80s or ever visited there than 98.7 KISS-FM was THE station to hear the latest in R&B, Hip-Hip and Dance music rivaling that of WBLS. Their Friday and Saturday night mastermix parties are legendary. Sadly, KISS was purchased by WBLS in 2012. However, we celebrate its contribution in keeping us all listening and dancing.
The logo is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Bootsy Collins helped define a new sound in the 70s: FUNK! Bootsy got his start working for James Brown in 1970. You can hear him thumpin’ his bass on Brown’s “Sex Machine” and “Super Bad.” After leaving the Godfather, Bootsy hooked up with George Clinton in ’72 and the rest is history. This shirt celebrates his 1978 album “Bootsy? Playa of the Year” which featured the #1 R&B single, “Bootzilla.”
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
If there’s a Funk band that’s unsung, it’s Brass Construction. Hailing from Brooklyn, these Brothers burst on the scene in 1975 with their debut album “Brass Construction” which birthed such hits as “Movin” and “Ha Cha Cha” both of which were top 10 hits on the R&B and Dance charts with “Movin” reaching #1. If you want to know where the “Brass” in Brass Construction is from just play one of these tunes and you’ll find out immediately. Brass Construction went on to record 10 albums from ’75 to ’85 with two achieving Gold certification and one Platinum.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Defining R&B and Disco in the late 70s was none other than Chic. They exploded on the scene in 1977 with “Everybody Dance” and that’s what everyone did: Dance! In 1978, they released their second album, “C’est CHIC” which featured the iconic cut “Le Freak” which sold over 6 million copies and the melodic “I Want Your Love.” The album reached #4 on the Billboard album chart, topped the R&B chart for 11 straight weeks and was selected as Billboard Magazine 1979 R&B Album of the Year. “Freak out” to this smooth t-shirt that honors CHIC.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
You may know Cameo from the 80s hits like “Word Up!,” “Candy” and “Single Life.” But before they hit the mainstream, Cameo was a deep funk 10-man band formed by Larry Blackmon in 1974. With tracks like “Rigor Mortis,” “I Just Want to Be” and “Shake Your Pants,” Cameo helped shape the sound of Funk in the '70s.
The Cameo logo is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Go-Go music. If you’re from the DMV then we don’t have to say another word. If you’re not then you need a little schooling on this genre of Funk. Go-Go burst on the scene in the 70s. Born and bred in Washington, D.C., Go-Go is heavily influenced by horns, percussions and live audience call and response lyrics. The Godfather of this music is Chuck Brown. Chuck put Go-Go on the map nationwide in 1978 with his hit “Bustin’ Loose.” With is band, The Soul Searchers, Chuck went on to record regional hits like “Run Joe,” “We Need Some Money” and the party anthem “Wind Me Up, Chuck.” Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers paved the way for bands like Trouble Funk, Experience Unlimited (remember “Da Butt” from Spike Lee’s School Daze?) and Rare Essence. They also influence the sounds of R&B and Hip-Hop artists like Salt N Pepa and Jill Scott. Chuck died in 2012 but his sound lives forever.
The signature Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
Wind Me Up, Chuck!
$26.00
From the depths of the Deep South comes one of the preeminent Funk/R&B group of the '70s: the Commodores! Born at Tuskegee University in 1968, the Commodores burst on the scene in 1974 with “Machine Gun”. They then went on a streak of cranking out 14 top 20 R&B hits from 1974 to 1980 including “Slippery When Wet,” “Brick House,” “Too Hot ta Trot” and “Fancy Dancer.” Then they flipped the script on us with several smoothed out #1 ballads like “Just to Be Close to You,” “Easy,” “Three Time A Lady” and “Still.”
The Commodores graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
The Fatback Band was the definition of funk during the ‘70s. This unsung group notched such hits as “Backstrokin," “Do the Bus Stop,” the disco-influenced “Spanish Hustle” and their top ten hit, “I Like Girls.” Many music aficionados consider Fatback’s “King Tim III” as the first commercially successful rap song launching right before the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rappers Delight” in October 1979.
The Fatback logo is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Before the rapper Foxy Brown there was the movie, Foxy Brown. Released in 1974, this blaxpolitation film is one of three signature movies for actress Pam Grier during this era (Coffy and Friday Foster being the others).
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
There is no way we can be called Funk Societee and not offer a Funkadelic t-shirt. Believe it or not, “One Nation Under A Groove” was actually Funkadelic’s tenth studio album! The album was released in September 1978 and was the band’s most critically and commercially successful LP. In fact, most music experts consider it the best funk album ever. Vibe magazine even called it one of the 100 essential albums of the 20th century and Rolling Stone magazine ranks it #177 on its list of greatest 500 albums of all time……among any genre of music! Now that’s saying something.
The iconic album graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
One of the greatest songs of all time….of any music genre: “One Nation Under A Groove.” This is the title track to the 1978 album that gives us 4 minutes of funktasy. And that’s only on the 45. The 12”, which was a must at parties, extends that to over 11 minutes. Play this at a party back in the day and see if EVERYONE didn’t get on the dance floor. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Soul chart in late September 1978 and stayed there for six weeks only being bumped by Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.” The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted the tune into its 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and the Rolling Stone magazine lists it as #474 of “the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
We pay homage to this iconic tune by presenting the label of the single. The label is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Unless your a jazz fan, most people never heard of Hugh Masekela. But you've heard of his featured song, “Grazing in the Grass,” which is one of the anthems of the late ‘60s. A trumpeter whose sound infused melodic jazz with contemporary soul during the ‘60s, recorded “Grazing in the Grass” in 1968 as a piece designed to capture the vibe of the era. It worked: “Grazing in the Grass” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Singles chart on July 26, 1968, sold over 4 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Pop Performance – Instrumental.
A year after its release, the Friends of Distinction covered “Grazing in the Grass” creating an up-tempo, dance version and adding vocals. It was a stone-cold winner reaching #3 and #5 on the Billboard Pop and R&B charts respectively in 1969.
The groove-centric cover art that reflects the feel of the song works perfectly for a t-shirt. If you’re wondering what “Bajabula Bonke” is that’s the B-side of the single and means the Healing Song. The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Usually the first song you think about when the band Heatwave comes to mind is “Boogie Nights”…..and rightfully so. Released in 1977 and written by band member Rod Templeton (who also wrote a bunch of songs for Michael Jackson including “Rock with You”), it was the first single released on Heatwave’s debut album, “Too Hot To Handle.” So “hot” was this single that it charted #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. We give our first shout-out to Heatwave for creating this funk/dance classic.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Instant Funk is the quintessential one hit wonder, this group blazed on the scene with the cut “I Got My Mind Made Up” in the spring of 1979 on the Salsoul label. Remixed by DJs, this song hit #1 on the R&B and Disco charts and #20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The self-titled album, “Instant Funk,” reached #1 on the R&B charts.
The album logo is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
I’m not sure what you cannot say about The Jackson Five that already hasn’t been said. No other R&B group sold more albums during the ‘70s then these Brothers from Gary, IN. We pay much respect to this group that helped define R&B during the ‘70s.
The signature "J5" graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
“Get Down Tonight” by celebrating the funky blend of soul and disco by KC & the Sunshine Band. Formed in Florida in 1973, this group blew up the scene with their self-titled second album that went triple-platinum. Off that album, two Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles were produced: “That’s the Way (I Like It)” and “Get Down Tonight.” Their following album took the band to the next level with hits like “I’m Your Boogie Man,” “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty” and “Keep It Coming Love.” KC & the Sunshine Band made the dance floor shake during the mid-70s. For that, we give them major props.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Kool & the Gang are interesting. First, these Brothers can play! And 70 million albums sold proves that. But there’s a first and second act to Kool and the Gang. Act 1 was definitely more funk driven. Their debut album, “Wild and Peaceful”, dropped in 1973 and was a stone cold winner. Birthed off that album was the thematic “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging” and horn-driven “Funky Stuff.” On following albums they generated hits like the melodic “Summer Madness” and dance-driven “Open Sesame.” Act 2. After disappearing from the scene for a few years, the band came back with a new lead singer and a much mellower R&B sound. That catapulted the group to top R&B and Pop status. From ’79 to ’84, the band blasted out six top 10 hits including “Ladies Night,” “Get Down on It,” “Fresh,” “Joanna” and the still popular, “Celebrate!” With that type of success, how can we not give love to Kool & the Gang!
The Kool & the Gang graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
We at Funk Societee don’t restrict the funk to the U.S. It’s a global thing. And no other group represents that like Kraftwerk. The four fellas from Germany have been around since 1970. But it wasn’t until 1978 that they reached their peak here in the States with the electronic-funk driven “Trans-Europe Express” off the iconic LP of the same name. Rolling Stone consider the album one of the 500 Greatest of All Time (it ranks #253) and Vibe considers it one of the 100 essential albums of the 20th Century. The influence of Kraftwerk can be heard in early hip-hop with Afrika Bambaataa’s classic “Planet Rock”. We give major props to this group for introducing a new sound for our musical pleasure.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$24.00
If you went to Howard in the ‘70s, ‘80s or early ‘90s then you recognize this iconic graphic. You probably had a t-shirt sporting it. We call it the Funky HU. Designed in the ‘60s, it was a signature design for HU students and alumni until it was retire in the early ‘90s. Well, we’re bringing it back with a slight twist. We’ve added “The Real” to the HU graphic to clearly identify that there is only one HU among black colleges and universities. No other!
The Funky HU is printed on a soft 3.5 oz. premium polyester/cotton blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
This limited edition t-shirt is only available until Noon on Monday, July 18. After that, it’s retired! So pick up yours today so you can represent proper.
HU……You Know!
$26.00
If James Brown is the Godfather of Soul then George Clinton is the Godfather of Funk. And his band, Parliament, is the first family. From 1974 to 1978, Parliament notched five consecutive top 10 albums that generated hits like “P-Funk,” “Mothership Connection,” “Give Up The Funk,” “Aqua Boogie” and their biggest hit, “Flashlight.” We pay tribute to the Masters of P-Funk, Parliament.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Prince. If there was a Mt. Rushmore of music artists, Prince would be on it. Funk, R&B, Pop, Rock….you name it, he did it to the tune of over 100 million records sold. In 1984, Michael Jackson was the King of Pop. Only one artist could dethrone him: Prince! His "Purple Rain" album sold 13 million copies and spent 24 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. While Prince is gone, he left a lasting legacy of music for all of us to love and appreciate.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
RIP Prince.
$26.00
You might not have heard of Raydio but you may have heard of Ray Parker Jr. Well, Raydio was Parker’s group before he went solo in the early 80s. The group was only around for four years (’77-’81) but in that time produced four albums that all went gold. Their singles “Jack And Jill,” “You Can’t Change That” and “A Woman Need Love” all were top ten hits on the R&B and Pop charts. Parker left the group in 1981 and went on to pop stardom with “The Other Woman” and “Ghostbusters.” He also wrote a bunch of songs for other artist like New Edition (“Mr. Telephone Man”) and Cheryl Lynn (“Shake It Up Tonight”).
The graphic is from Raydio's first album and is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
“You and I” started it all for funkmaster Rick James. Released in 1978 from his debut album, “Come Get It!,” the song reached #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and crossed over to reach #3 on the disco chart. We got to give it up to Rick James for starting it off with this funk classic.
The label graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
If there’s one band that cuts across a bunch of genres, it’s Sly & the Family Stone. Are they rock, soul, or funk? How about all of the above. The band had its first hit in February 1968 with “Dance to the Music,” that made it to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They followed that up with the album “Stand!” in 1969 that featured a cache of artistic and socially-conscious hits including “Everyday People,” the title track, “Stand!,” “I Want To Take You Higher” and the provocative “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey.” The album sold 3 million copies cementing the group’s popularity and place in music history. In 1971, Sly released its psychedelic anthem “Family Affair” which became a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100. Sly & the Family Stone changed the game in musicality and approach.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Where do you start with an artist who Rolling Stone magazine named the 9th greatest singer of all time? An artist who sold over 100 million records, notched 20 #1 R&B hits and been awarded 25 Grammys? Well, we’ll start in the middle.
Music historians consider Stevie Wonder’s “classic period” to run from 1972-77. So we’ll go right to the third album of that “classic period” Stevie’s 16th album “Innervisions” which many believe was Stevie’s greatest work. The melding of various sounds coupled with the thematic tackling of social issues such as drugs, racism, poverty and politics made this a landmark album. Released on August 3, 1973, the album produced three memorable singles: “Higher Ground,” “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing,” and “Living for the City” which won Stevie a Grammy in 1974 for Best R&B Song. The album reached #4 on the Billboard 200 chart, won the Grammy for Album of the Year in ‘74 and is ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as the 24th greatest album of all time.
With that type of impact, we have to give props to this incredible LP. The album graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
When you talk about films from the Blaxploitation era, Superfly is one of the first films to come to mind. Released in 1972 and directed by famed photographer Gordon Parks Jr., Superfly stars Ron O’Neal as a Priest, a drug dealer who wants to get out of the game. Made for $58,000, Superfly grossed over $4 million at the box office and is considered a cult hit. The socially-conscious soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield generated two top ten hits in “Superfly” and “Freddie’s Dead” which both sold over a million copies.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Before Motown, Barry Gordy had Tamla Records. Founded in January 1959 with an $800 loan, Tamla was named after a record Gordy heard that was recorded by Debbie Reynolds called “Tammy and the Bachelor” a few years earlier. Tamla’s first act was a group called the Matadors who changed their name to The Miracles and featured a young Smokey Robinson. In 1960, they recorded their first hit on the Tamla label called “Shop Around” that put both the group and the label on the map (the song reached #1 on the R&B charts and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100). The following year, the label released another #1 recording by The Marvelettes, entitled “Please Mr. Postman” that help cement Gordy’s music standing. Tamla continued to be used as the label of choice for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the Marvelettes. In 1988, the label was merged with its sister label, Motown.
The Tamla logo is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
Teddy first told the ladies to “Close The Door.” What comes next is “Turn Off The Lights.” Released in 1979 off his second album “Teddy,” “Turn Off The Lights” was his signature bedroom ballad. The Gamble & Huff production reached #2 on the R&B charts.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
There are some artists who are so iconic you just say their first name and you know who they are. Teddy Pendergrass is one of them. Originally a drummer, Teddy got his start playing drums for a struggling Philadelphia-based Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Soon after joining, the group changed labels moving to the famed Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International Records. After hearing Teddy sing, Melvin was wise enough to move him to the front line singing. That’s when things blew up. From ’72 to ’75 the group was red hot striking gold with sultry ballad “I Miss You,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” “The Love I Lost,” “Bad Luck” and “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” Teddy left the group in 1975 and, under Gamble & Huff’s tutelage released his solo album in 1977. The album produced two hits: “Only You” and the sexy “Close The Door” Teddy’s first #1 hit. No sophomore jinx was in the plans for Teddy as his follow up LP, “Teddy” included the follow-up to “Close The Door,” “Turn Out The Lights” that reached #2 on the R&B charts.
Teddy was paralyzed in an auto accident in 1982 but still continued to produce music recording a #1 hit in 1988, the up tempo song “Joy.” Teddy passed away in 2010 but he left us with a great gift of music that we pay tribute to.
The Teddy logo is taken from his second album. It's printed on a soft, like his music, 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
What happens when you have a white girl from Cali singing R&B? You have Teena Marie! Release in 1980, Teena Marie’s album, “Lady T,” produced the funky dance cut “Behind the Groove” which became the signature song of Teena Marie’s career reaching #21 on the Billboard Single Chart and #4 on the Billboard Dance chart.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
What happens when you have a white girl from Cali singing R&B? You have Teena Marie! Release in 1980, Teena Marie’s album, “Lady T,” produced the funky dance cut “Behind the Groove” which became the signature song of Teena Marie’s career.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
George and Louis Johnson aka The Brothers Johnson. In 1976, The Brothers Johnson released its first album “Look Out for #1.” Their first single off that album was “I’ll Be Good to You” which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart. Our Label series celebrates this cut from two gift musicians.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a looser fit, order the next larger size.
$26.00
The definition of old school is The Chi-Lites. Between 1969 and 1974, The Chi-Lites notched eleven top ten hits including its signature ballad, "Oh Girl," which hit #1 on Billboard Top 100 in May 1972. This T-shirt celebrates that hit.
The graphic is printed on a soft 4.3 oz. premium fitted tri-blend t-shirt. The shirt runs a little small so if you like a little looser fit, order the next larger size.