Garry Shider, the musical director for Parliament-Funkadelic, wasknown for having the funkiest guitar in the world. He even had a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Shider died this week at the age of 56.
He died at his home in Maryland, succumbing to brain and lung cancer. Shider was known to millions as Starchild or Diaperman when he appeared on stage. He went on tour briefly this year but had to stop because of his illness.
"He was a beautiful man who had a beautiful heart, who loved his fans just as much as they loved him," Garrett Shider, Garry's son said. "I'm sure if he had the choice, he would have passed on a tour bus, because he loved playing music, playing for the fans."
Shider, who was originally from New Jersey, started his musical career in the church choir. His band at church played backup for many prominent gospel artists but he eventually grew to perform other styles of music.
Shider met George Clinton in the late 1960s at a barbershop that Clinton owned. When he was 16, Shider left for Canada with a friend where they formed a funk/rock band called United Soul (U.S.).
Clinton lived in Canada at the time and took the group under his wing. He then made Shider a part of P-Funk, which was a combination of two groups: Parliament and Funkadelic. Shider eventually became the group's music director and helped write some of its most influential music.
"Thank you, Garry for all you have done. Forever funkin' on!" Clinton wrote on Shider's Web site.
"My dad left home when he was about 16 years old, and wouldn't come back until he had a hit. He obviously accomplished that goal and did so much more," said Garrett Shider. "People know about his talent, but I want them to know about the great man he was."
The death of Garry Shider at the young age of 56 is a reminder that none of us knows how long our lives are going to be. He ventured out at the age of 16 to explore his dream, creating opportunities he never would have had by playing it safe. P-Funk was also a group that didn't play it safe, doing things that almost made them seem to be from another planet. By being different and taking chances, both P-Funk and Shider had the opportunity to be great. Our goal in life is not to simply survive and arrive safely at death. Our goal should be to truly live. Garry Shider did just that.
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hE WAS TRULY p-FUNK!! I remember when i used to go to ALLL THE PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC CONCERTS IN THE 70'S AND THE 80'S AT THE CAPITAL CENTER. IT WAS TRULEY AWESOME AND WE HAD REALLLLLLL FUNNNN! ESPECIALLY WHEN PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC PLAYED ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS---"FLASHLIGHT". I mean people would be holding up their flashlights and ANY light(neon lights, etc) and dancing and getting down to that song! When u left a concert with parliament funkadelic you reallly knew that you had PARTYIED AND PARTYIED ALL NITE HAVING SOOO MUCH FUN!! GOOD CLEAN SAFE FUN THEN! I mean the Afros were really out then for women. And i had MINE! you would dance and you had the SWEAT ROLLING OFF OF YOU and still didnt care. I mean i had a balllll! Those were the days!! the GOOOD OLE DAYS BABY!! rest in peace brotha Shider because you TRULY MADE IT HAPPEN! Parliament funkadelic was a group that really played MUSIC!! Their concerts were always sold out!!! Anybody out there remember? I will NEVER FORGET THEM. Brotha Shider play that "funky music" in heaven. you truly knew what "good FUNKY, dance your backside off" music was! that was the good days of "Sweat, and Bounce". lol lol
I was looking at his picture and said dang he's older than me then I read the article and he was the same age ,being on the road must be hell. I remember the fun I had when they were out there. we turned out the chow hall at camp horno sanging "if you hear any noise its just me and the boys"
I grew up loving the Funkadelics, and George's outfits always threw me off. I never bothered to learn the individual names of the band members but loved them all as a whole. I'm sad to see him expire so early in life. His contribution to history is a milestone so very few of us achieve. Thanks for the love. My condolences to his family and loved ones including us his fans.
Rest in peace Gary, you will surly be missed.My condolences to his family.Watching P-Funk won't be the same without you and your diaper. And yes, Funk will live forever.
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (12)
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By: John Lindsay on 6/18/2010 11:48AM
Thanks for the funk, Gary!!!!
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By: ooozzzzz on 6/18/2010 12:05PM
"Funk is it's own reward"
RIP Gary, thank you for the funk.
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By: The Black Whole on 6/18/2010 3:16PM
RIP Brotha Shider...n' THANK U 4 makin' THIS WORLD a MUCH MO' FUNK-FILL'd Place 2 jus' BE!
http://theblackwhole.wordpress.com
--TBW
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By: sharon on 6/18/2010 4:01PM
hE WAS TRULY p-FUNK!! I remember when i used to go to ALLL THE PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC CONCERTS IN THE 70'S AND THE 80'S AT THE CAPITAL CENTER. IT WAS TRULEY AWESOME AND WE HAD REALLLLLLL FUNNNN! ESPECIALLY WHEN PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC PLAYED ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS---"FLASHLIGHT". I mean people would be holding up their flashlights and ANY light(neon lights, etc) and dancing and getting down to that song! When u left a concert with parliament funkadelic you reallly knew that you had PARTYIED AND PARTYIED ALL NITE HAVING SOOO MUCH FUN!! GOOD CLEAN SAFE FUN THEN! I mean the Afros were really out then for women. And i had MINE! you would dance and you had the SWEAT ROLLING OFF OF YOU and still didnt care. I mean i had a balllll! Those were the days!! the GOOOD OLE DAYS BABY!! rest in peace brotha Shider because you TRULY MADE IT HAPPEN! Parliament funkadelic was a group that really played MUSIC!! Their concerts were always sold out!!! Anybody out there remember? I will NEVER FORGET THEM. Brotha Shider play that "funky music" in heaven. you truly knew what "good FUNKY, dance your backside off" music was! that was the good days of "Sweat, and Bounce". lol lol
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By: msladydeborah on 6/18/2010 9:20PM
Thanks to brother Gary for bringing the P-Funk into our lives! May his spirit rest in peace and may the Funk live Forever!
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By: chili mac on 6/18/2010 11:45PM
I was looking at his picture and said dang he's older than me then I read the article and he was the same age ,being on the road must be hell. I remember the fun I had when they were out there.
we turned out the chow hall at camp horno sanging "if you hear any noise its just me and the boys"
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By: James Gadson on 6/19/2010 6:44AM
I grew up loving the Funkadelics, and George's outfits always threw me off. I never bothered to learn the individual names of the band members but loved them all as a whole. I'm sad to see him expire so early in life. His contribution to history is a milestone so very few of us achieve.
Thanks for the love. My condolences to his family and loved ones including us his fans.
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By: biggollie56 on 6/19/2010 7:18PM
Rest in peace Gary, you will surly be missed.My condolences to his family.Watching P-Funk won't be the same without you and your diaper. And yes, Funk will live forever.
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By: June Buge on 6/20/2010 11:50AM
"NO ONE KNOWS,WHAT THE NOSE KNOWS, WHEN THE DOORS CLOSE". THANKS GARY, ENJOY YOUR RIDE ON THE MOTHER SHIP!.
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By: Raymond E. Alston on 6/22/2010 4:05PM
Thanks Gary for the music for it was great. Rest in peace you will be missed
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