Bernie Worrell, RIP

Bernie Worrell, the Jersey native who revolutionized keyboard playing in popular music, died Friday, June 24, from the effects of lung cancer, his wife Judie Worrell announced on Facebook.

He was 72.

Worrell’s music tapped into the heart and lifted the spirit. There was a universal melody, whimsy, soul and passion in his work, and to see him in concert was to experience it all.

Worrell had worked with the Talking Heads, Bill Laswell, Keith Richards, the Pretenders, Jack Bruce, Deee-Lite and many others, but is perhaps best known as the keyboard maestro of Parliament-Funkadelic, most prominently on tracks like “Flash Light,” “Mothership Connection (Star Child)” and “Aqua Boogie.” [App.com]

Legendary P-Funk keyboardist Bernie Worrell has sadly lost his battle with lung cancer. He was 72.

A benefit show recently went down for Bernie in NYC, which included an appearance by David Byrne, plus Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Jonathan Demme, Meryl Streep, Rick Springfield, Mudbone, Nelson George, Questlove, Buckethead, Living Color, Paul Shaffer and many more.

Rest in peace Bernie. You’ll be missed and your contributions to music will definitely not be forgotten.