RIP Richard "Kush" Griffith

Richard "Kush" Griffith 1948-2007

It's my sad duty today to put forward another Obituary post about the passing of a great - Richard "Kush" Griffith. Readers may recall that Kush was featured on the site in March 2003 detailing the work he was still involved in. You can read a touching tribute to the man in this denver post article.

Collaborator and friend of Kush, cHUCK dA fONk, has put together a list below of some of Kush's finest moments and I can't think of a better way to celebrate the man's life:


This man was all Leo heart, good friend, and great musician and big presence. R.I.P. Richard Kush Griffith

Here are some songs and videos from his work over the years ...

Short list of work:

George Clinton, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson Five, the Commodores, Parliament Funkadelic and Bootsy's Rubber Band, Buddy Miles.

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James Brown

James Brown .. Probably my favorite ... Kush gets a rollicking solo on "Ain't It Funky Now" and gets called out, but Kush said his favorite James Brown track that he played on ever was "Say It Loud" and you most certainly hear his trumpet featured on this track, so we'll go with this one

James Brown - Say It Loud

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Parliament

Kush's favorite track from Parliament was "I'm a Fish and Your Water Sign" - he's responsible for the introspective little horn arrangements and lines in this Junie Morrison penned tune.

Parliament - I'm a Fish and You're a Water Sign

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More P-Funk era ... He was also the bandleader for the Brides of Funkenstein (the P-Funk girl group), of course a prominent member of Bootsy's Rubber Band, check out his mugg on the back of the Bootzilla LP. So here are a few from his participation in the P-Funk era produced Horny Horns ...

Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns - A Blow for Me and a Toot for You

My favorite track from that LP, but this was actually Kush's favorite from the "Blow for me" LP ...

Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns - When in Doubt Vamp

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Kush's 2006 album, Kush and His Blues Meet Funk Mediocre

With Denver's Neal Landauer (of Uncut Musical Products / fONKSQUISh mOb)

Kush - Up there and Out there

Kush - Let's Don't Talk About It

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Finally, if anyone has the Buddy Miles Atlantic Album, "Sneak Attack" ... which Kush arranged, or Kush's work as the leader of "Bottom & Co." - those are two efforts missing from collection.

Props to Monty coming trhough with a track from the above album - check it out in the comments section......Junior

Thanks for the memories Kush .. here are some videos too.

fONk

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Videos

Kush with Marvin Gaye - leading the horn section with a cowboy hat and a purple shirt, and buttons on the hat

Kush in glasses, with trumpet - with James Brown - Mother Popcorn

Kush with Bootsy's Rubber Band -(wait for the horn solos starting about 3 mins - Kush is the large guy)

Kush Solo with Bootsy from 90's (about 4:00 minutes in)