Artist Roster

- Select an artist - Al McKay / The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience Bernie Worrell Bob Baldwin’s Percussive Drum Experience Bootsy Collins Chic featuring Nile Rodgers C.O.E.D. Dan Moretti Dawn Silva The E Family featuring Sheila E. Elisa Fiorillo fDeluxe Fred Wesley & the New JB's Gala Global Noize Grover Washington Jr. Tribute Gwen Dickey (formerly of Rose Royce) Jason Miles Jill Jones Jimmy Z & Slidin' Slim Jimmy Z & the ZTribe Kid Creole & the Coconuts Ladies of SKYY Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Light of the World Los Amigos Invisibles Lowrider Band Michael Henderson « Electric Miles » Mudbone Norma Jean Wright & Luci Martin RAD Ray Parker Jr. Rick James Stone City Band. Shabba-Doo (Adolfo Quinones) Sheila E. SociaLybrium Sons of ETTA S.O.S. Band Soul Summit St. Paul Peterson The Bar-Kays Soul 2 Soul Revue United We Funk All-Stars Zac Harmon

SociaLybrium

MySpace:	www.myspace.com/socialybrium
Sonicbids:	www.sonicbids.com/SociaLybrium

 

Territory of Representation

Non-exclusive worldwide representation (excluding the USA & Japan),
in collaboration with GLP

In a nutshell

Close your eyes... and picture, if you will, deep within your mind's ear, the sound-image of a caustic confluence between the liquid licks of keyboard wizard Bernie Worrell, the virtuoso lead-bleed of axe master DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, the kinetic kick of a surprise power drummer and the luminescent low-end of monster bassist TM Stevens.

This is SociaLibrium.

So-cial (so'-shal), adj. 1. living, or disposed to live in companionship with others, rather than in isolation: Music is a social pursuit. 2. of, or pertaining to the life, welfare and relations of human beings in a community: Social interaction.

Librium - a highly effective tranquilizer with hypnotic, sedative and muscle relaxant properties which are useful in treating anxiety, insomnia, agitation, seizures, and spasms.

Together, they are the cure for what ails you...

Line-up

• Bernie Worrell - keys, vocals
• Blackbyrd McKnight - guitars, vocals
• Melvin Gibbs - bass
• J.T. Lewis - drums

Band member biographies

Bernie Worrell
(P-Funk Musical Director 1968 - 1980, Talking Heads)

In many circles, Bernie Worrell needs no introduction. From his work as a founding member and Musical Director of Parliament-Funkadelic to his contributions to the Talking Heads, Worrell has been twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Indeed, songs such as “Burning Down the House” and “Flashlight” wouldn’t have been the same without him, and Worrell’s keyboard prowess has only grown since those classic recordings. As one of the most sampled musicians in history, Worrell’s funky licks have graced hit songs by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Ice Cube, En Vogue and more. “One generation needs to segue to the next generation. So now I work with the sons and daughters, and we coincide.”
Worrell’s early years were spent studying at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Julliard School of Music, giving him a structural foundation on which to base his stratospheric playing. He cites his classical training as a big reason why Parliament-Funkadelic sounded so different from other funk bands of the day. When asked about influences, Worrell lists musical giants such as Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith, Oscar Peterson, and Thelonious Monk as making a strong impression on him as a budding performer. And now it is Worrell who is cited as an influence by many of today’s generation of players.
Worrell is in high demand as a performer with acts such as Bootsy's New Rubber Band, Jack Bruce & The Cuicoland Express (featuring Vernon Reid) and rapper Mos Def's rock band Black Jack Johnson. He’s collaborated in the past with seminal artists such as The Rolling Stones, Bill Laswell, The Pretenders, Soul Asylum, and Jody Watley, and has also been involved in scoring a few movies, most notably Ice Cube’s “Friday.”
When asked about the state of music today, Worrell laments record companies that have lost their artist development in exchange for accountants and lawyers. Worrell also misses true songs and players, and doesn’t like all the machines involved in newer music. “Music is versatile, hands on, nurturing, touching. It can’t be all about the dollar.” When it comes to Bernie Worrell, you can be sure it’s all about the music.

Blackbyrd McKnight
(P-Funk Musical Director 1980 - 2008, Herbie Hancock)

Blackbyrd Mcknight, the well known guitarist and songwriter, continues striking your soul with his axes. You do not need more than a few seconds to be shocked. Once you are struck, you will never forget the wild but precise, eccentric but intelligent, elaborate but straightforward sounds of guitar created by Blackbyrd.
Blackbyrd was grooved in the cradle by his father’s broad collection of jazz recordings as an infant, brainwashed by Jimi Hendrix in his teens, entered a University of Funk in his twenties, has never stopped evolving and rocking people. In the early stages of his career, Blackbyrd mainly worked with Jazz musicians, such as Charles Lloyd, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock & the Headhunters, and more. He then directed his path towards funk when he joined P-Funk Camp in 1978. He is currently the musical director and guitarist of George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic. Other than working with P-Funk artists such as George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell, Blackbyrd has also worked with Miles Davis, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ron Wood & Bernard Fowler of the Rolling Stones, Bill Laswell, HR of Bad Brains, Macy Gray, Fishbone and Wyzard of Mothers Finest to name but a few.