Bootsy Collins

Bootsy has made bass history at least three times: as a teenage sideman with James Brown on classics like “Super Bad” and “Soul Power” (1961–’71); as co-creator of immortal Parliament–Funkadelic classics such as “Mothership Connection” and “Up for the Down Stroke” (1972–’80); and as ringleader of Bootsy’s Rubber Band, whose songs like “Stretchin’ Out (In a Rubber Band)” catapulted Bootsy—plus his Space Bass, vocal stylings, and Hendrix-inspired effects—to Saturday-morning-cartoon superhero status.