Commodores
USA, 1968–now
Alabama band signed to Motown, formed in 1968 and launching Lionel Richie. They swung from hard funk ('Brick House', 'Machine Gun') to lush ballads ('Easy', 'Three Times a Lady'), one of the label's biggest 1970s acts.
MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Commodores and 0 artists Commodores influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Commodores?
- Sly and the Family Stone — The Commodores' hard early funk draws on Sly and the Family Stone's groove.
- James Brown — James Brown's rhythmic funk underlies the tight, punchy grooves of Commodores tracks like 'Brick House'.
- Parliament-Funkadelic — Funkadelic's P-Funk is part of the funk lineage feeding the Commodores' heavier grooves.