Earlier this week I experienced a moment of cosmic synchronicity when I walked into the Fitchburg Great Dane for a bite to eat after a soccer game. My friends Todd and his wife Chris were talking to someone next to them. The moment I walked over, Todd declares, “Hey, here he is! The guy I was telling you about!”

The person they were talking to was Rodney McCollough. He lives in Green Bay and was in Madison for his father’s funeral, who had passed away a few days earlier after battling multiple sclerosis. As it turns out, Rodney’s father was Robert “Chopper” McCollough, who I am quickly told played saxophones with James Brown with Clyde Stubblefield for a time. While Clyde resigned from James Brown’s band in 1970, Robert McCollough continued to play with Brown, and then later with George Clinton and Parliment/Funkadelic. He went on to perform on many albums with a variety of artist.

Here is a list of albums I found that included Robert “Chopper” McCollough. Amazing!!! By all measures, he had a great career as a saxophonist.

Rodney and I continued to talk and share stories about his father and Clyde. In fact, we ultimately decided to give Clyde a call, realizing we could dial him up on my cell phone. Clyde had lost track of Chopper and appreciated talking to Rodney, passing along his condolences to him and his family. All in all, it was an unexpected, but fortuitous meeting.

Rodney has promised to come down to the Rathskeller tonight to say hello to Clyde. He tells me he has some great photos of Clyde and his father playing together that he wants to share with Clyde. The funeral will be held on Saturday.

As one original master of funk passes, we’ll do our best to pay respect to the craft tonight by keeping the funk alive with the folks from 91.7 WSUM student radion at the UW-Madison Student Union. The music kicks off at 9:30 p.m. and will continue until midnight.

Much, much respect and appreciation to Robert “Chopper” McCollough and his family from Clyde Stubblefield and the members of the Clyde Stubblefield Band.

Come join the Clyde Stubblefield Band on Friday, February 22nd at the Rathskeller in basement of the UW-Madison Memorial Student Union.

We’ll be celebrating the 6th Anniversary of 91.7 WSUM, the UW-Madison student radio station. It should be a blast and a reunion get together for fans of the Funky Dee and JG funk show. We love WSUM, so it’s an honor and a pleasure to entertain ya’ll.

When: Friday, February 22nd, 9:30 to midnight
Where: The Rathskellar
Why: The Six Year Anniversary Party of 91.7 WSUM
Cost: FREE!!! and open to the public

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