Tributes from across the music world have poured in following the death of pioneering soul/funk musician Amp Fiddler, who passed away last week (December 17) at the age of 65. He had reportedly been in poor health since 2022 and was later revealed to have cancer. A benefit concert had been set to take place earlier this month to assist in paying Fiddler’s medical bills.
In a statement confirming the news, Fiddler’s longtime partner Tombi Stewart described the late musician as “a guiding force of light for so many.” “It would be impossible to encapsulate the gravity of his energy, global impact and contributions,” it read. “His life’s work, legacy, and most importantly his love will far exceed his earthly presence. How blessed are we to have experienced Amp Fiddler in this lifetime.” Stewart also set up a GoFundMe to assist in funeral costs, which at the time of writing has doubled its goal of US$9,000 and is almost at $20,000.
Born Joseph Anthony Fiddler in 1958, the Detroit-based keyboardist and singer first got his big break in the 80s when he began performing as part of George Clinton‘s long-serving ensemble Parliament-Funkadelic. Between 1985 and 1996, Fiddler was Clinton’s keyboardist and toured extensively with the collective. This period also saw Fiddler venture into a solo career for the first time, releasing the album With Respect under the moniker Mr. Fiddler in 1990.
Amp Fiddler – ‘Dreamin”
Clinton, for his part, shared on Facebook that while many tributes rightfully reflected on his musicianship, he and his Parliament-Funkadelic bandmates wished to remember “Amp the person” and “why he was so loved.”
“He was a presence,” Clinton wrote. “That great laugh, warm smile. Amp was a loving father, a caring friend. He was one of the strongest people I have ever met. He outlived his brothers and sister, as well as the tragic sudden death of the young son he doted on. Through it all, even after the cancer diagnosis when things got bad, Amp still stayed connected. Checking on his friends, contributing to projects. Always being strong for the rest of us.
“Amp’s life, and the way he lived it, taught us about dealing with loss and grief, showed us how to persevere under circumstances that would have crushed another persons spirit.”
Fiddler resumed his solo career in 2004, releasing the album Soul of a Ghetto Fly and releasing a further seven albums in his lifetime: four solo, two with Will Sessions and one with Sly & Robbie. Fiddler’s legacy also extends into the hip-hop world, mentoring the late J Dilla when the producer was first learning how to use the Akai MPC sequencer. Fiddler then used his connections to introduce Dilla to A Tribe Called Quest‘s Q Tip, bringing the two together for a meeting while Tribe was on tour with Parliament-Funkadelic as part of Lollapalooza in the mid-90s.
Fiddler’s final album, Basementality, was released in October of 2021.
Further Reading
Fuzzy Haskins, Original Parliament-Funkadelic Member, Has Died at 81
George Clinton: 10 Essential Tracks
Love Letter To A Record: Young Franco On A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘The Low End Theory’
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