After a long fight with cancer, Joseph “Amp” Fiddler, a profoundly important musician from Detroit, passed away on Sunday. Online, tributes are flooding in for the musician. His age was 65. The pianist, singer, and composer was well-known for his work with Parliament-Funkadelic and for mentoring J Dilla, a hip-hop producer from Detroit.
Along with collaborating with Carl Craig, Moodyman, Slum Village, Raphael Saadiq, Maxwell, and Brand New Heavies, he had a prolific four-decade career in music. “We face the insurmountable responsibility of sharing the passing of Joseph ‘Amp’ Fiddler,” read a message posted on Fiddler’s Instagram Monday.
“Our beloved ‘Amp’ Fiddler, Detroit’s own world-renowned ambassador of funk, soul, & electronic music, keyboardist, producer, Afro-futurist, and guiding force of light for so many, has transitioned at the age of 65. After an extensive and noble battle with cancer, he now gracefully rests in peace and power.”
“It would be impossible to encapsulate the gravity of his energy, global impact & contributions. His life’s work, legacy, & most importantly…his LOVE…will far exceed his earthly presence. How blessed are we, to have experienced Amp Fiddler in this lifetime. A beautiful spirit & gift of light…”
“Take it easy, brother Amp,” Questlove, drummer for the Roots, said on Instagram first thing Monday morning. Considering everything we discussed during the Pfunk tour. For every single song. My deepest gratitude goes out to you, brother, for mentoring not only us but also the man who mentored us, Della.
May you rest in everlasting sonic greatness “A message from George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic’s Facebook page read, ‘Keyboardist Joseph Anthony ‘Amp’ Fiddler (May 17th, 1958-December 17th, 2023)”. Go for it, amp! How much we adore you! As a musical conduit and connector, Fiddler is said to have introduced J Dilla to Q-Tip by A Tribe Called Quest, which sparked Dilla’s rise through the hip-hop ranks.
According to Dan Charnas’s 2022 book “Dilla Time,” the three musicians met in July of 1994 while Fiddler was performing at Lollapalooza with George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars; A Tribe Called Quest was also a featured act that summer.
During one of the Pine Knob performances, Fiddler introduced Dilla, whom he had trained to program drums on an Akai MPC60 in the basement of his Conant Gardens home, and brought him on Tribe’s tour bus. Clinton was introduced to Dilla that day by Fiddler as well.
In the early 1980s, Fiddler started performing professionally as a vocalist and keyboardist. He quit his studies in music under the late Harold McKinney, a famous Detroit jazz pianist, at Oakland University to join the R&B band Enchantment on tour. However, his formative years were spent playing keyboards for Parliament-Funkadelic, a role he held from 1985 to 1996.
Getting that position was an incredible experience, Fiddler told The News in 2008. As a result of his relationship with Clinton, Fiddler contributed to Prince’s 1990 album “Graffiti Bridge” on the track “We Can Funk,” which featured Clinton’s vocals.
The album “With Respect” was published in 1990 by Fiddler and his brother Bubz as a group called Mr. Fiddler. His first solo effort, 2004’s “Waltz of a Ghetto Fly,” was his debut. Over the years, he became a mainstay on the local music scene, making multiple appearances at events including Movement.
Not only did he get a Kresge Artist Fellowship in 2020, but he was also featured at Movement and Concert of Colors in 2022. His ever-increasing medical expenditures were partially covered by a fundraiser that took place earlier this month at Spot Lite in Detroit.
Sunday saw the launch of a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $9,000 to cover the expected expenses of the funeral, “to send him home with the grace and honor he truly deserves.” It only took three hours from start to finish to accomplish the aim.
Fiddler continued to put out music right up until the death. In June, he dropped a single called “Come on Over,” which was a collaboration with British house music DJ Luke Solomon. He also contributed a track to Ash Walker’s 2023 album “Astronaut.”
2018 saw the release of “The One,” Fiddler’s most current album, which featured collaborations with Will Sessions of Detroit and Dames Brown. Singles by Waajeed, Blue Lab Beats, Tomas Doncker, Sam Redmore, and others have been added to his discography in recent years.
“Afro Strut,” Fiddler’s 2006 album, was influenced by the ebb and flow of life, as well as its constant pulse, he told the News. “Everything is based on rhythm, and that’s what it’s about,” he said.
Head on over to lakecountyfloridanews.com for all the latest updates, obituaries, autopsy results, and facts regarding the ways in which other people have passed away.
The circumstances surrounding the demise of other notable figures are as follows:
- Jack Axelrod Cause of Death: In Loving Memory of Jack Axelrod!
- Eric Montross Cause of Death: His Impact on and off the Hardwood!
