Hit Me, Fred: Recollections of a Sideman »

Fred Wesley Jr. is an accomplished trombonist renowned for his contributions to funk and jazz music over the past several decades. Working for James Brown from 1968–75, he was instrumental in the production of such milestone recordings as The Payback; Doing It to Death; Get on the Good Foot; and Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud, as well as the scoring of the soundtracks to Black Caesar and Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off. In the 1990s Wesley toured extensively with Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker, before forming his own band. Wesley continues to tour and play music. He also writes, lectures, and conducts workshops on jazz and funk music. Wesley lives in South Carolina.

With Hit Me, Fred, sensational side man Fred Wesley Jr. moves front and center to tell his life story. A legendary funk, soul, and jazz musician, Wesley is best known for his work in the late sixties and early seventies with James Brown and as leader of Brown's band, Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s. Having been the band's music director, arranger, trombone player, and frequent composer, Wesley is one of the original architects of funk music. He describes life working for the Godfather of Soul, revealing the effort and sometimes frustrating discipline behind Brown's tight, raucous tunes. After leaving Brown and the J.B.'s, Wesley arranged the horn sections for Parliament, Funkadelic, and Bootsy's Rubber Band, and led Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns. Adding his signature horn arrangements to the P-Funk mix, Wesley helped make funk music even funkier.

Wesley's distinctive sound reverberates through rap and hip hop music today. In Hit Me, Fred , he recalls the many musicians whose influence he absorbed, beginning with his grandmother and father-both music teachers-and including mentors in his southern Alabama hometown and members of the Army Band. In addition to the skills he developed working with James Brown, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and the many talented musicians in their mileau, Wesley describes the knowledge picked up playing trombone with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, Hank Ballard, and Count Basie's band. He also recounts learning about the music business, particularly through his work in Los Angeles recording sessions.

Wesley is a virtuoso storyteller, whether describing the electric rush of performances when the whole band is in the groove, the difficulties of trying to make a living as a rhythm and blues musician, or the frustrations often felt by sidemen. Hit Me, Fred is Wesley's story of music-making in all its grit and glory.

About the Author

Fred Wesley Jr. is an accomplished trombonist renowned for his contributions to funk and jazz music over the past several decades. Working for James Brown from 1968-75, he was instrumental in the production of such milestone recordings as The Payback; Doing It to Death; Get on the Good Foot; Super Bad; and Say It Loud: I'm Black & I'm Proud, as well as the scoring of the soundtracks to Black Caesar and Slaughter's Big Rip-Off. In the 1990s Wesley toured extensively with Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker, before forming his own band. Wesley continues to tour and play music. He also writes, lectures, and conducts workshops on jazz and funk music. Wesley lives in South Carolina.

ESP Magazine

[T]here's no doubt that Wesley is still the baddest trombonist in funk.—Grant Britt