Maceo Parker

Legendary funk and jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker has been performing since 1964 as part of James Brown's band, in which he performed many captivating solos. Parker has said that his experience with the band was "like being at a university" since it gave him the skills to launch his musical career.

Parker cites David "Fathead" Newman, King Curtis, and Ray Charles' band as his main influences. Aside from James Brown, Parker has performed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Dave Matthews Band.

In 1975, Parker joined Parliament-Funkadelic with some of James Brown's other band members, including George Clinton and Fred Wesley. The resulting band dubbed a new subgenre called P-funk and was eventually inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

After alternating between Parliament-Funkadelic and the James Brown band, Parker embarked on a highly successful solo career in the 1990s, during which time he regularly performed with Prince.

In 2011, Parker was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Victoires Du Jazz in Paris. Maceo Parker's legendary style has enabled him to both maintain his original fans and reach a younger fan base. Between his thriving solo career and his legacy of work with James Brown and Prince, Maceo Parker is easily one of the world's greatest funk saxophonists.