Bernie Worrell

Bernie Worrell (born April 19, 1944) is originally from Long Beach, New Jersey but grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey. He is known primarily for his keyboard and production work with Parliament and

Bernie Worrell (born April 19, 1944) is originally from Long Beach, New Jersey but grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey. He is known primarily for his keyboard and production work with Parliament and Funkadelic. By the time he was three years old, Worrell could play the piano. He wrote a concerto at age eight.

As a college student, Worrell played with a group called Chubby & The Turnpikes (later known as The Tavares). He then met George Clinton, then the leader of a doo wop group called The Parliaments. Soon, Worrell, Clinton, The Parliaments and their backing band (Funkadelic) moved to Detroit, Michigan, and became Parliament. During the 1970s, they toured under the names Parliament and Funkadelic. Worrell played the keyboards, and occasionally the organ or other instruments on studio tracks. He officially joined in 1970 with the album Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow.