Calvin Simon, who was a founding member of Parliament–Funkadelic and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, has died. He was 79.
Bootsy Collins wrote, “We lost another Original member of Parliament/Funkadelic.."
A post on George Clinton‘s Facebook page said“Rest in peace to my P-Funk brother Mr. Calvin Simon . Longtime Parliament-Funkadelic vocalist. Fly on Calvin!”
Simon’s cause of death has not been reported.
Simon worked as a barber, and by the late 1950s, joined the group originally known as the Parliaments, first formed as a doo-wop quintet with fellow barbers George Clinton and Grady Thomas and customers Ray Davis and Fuzzy Haskins.
Simon, who was drafted in 1967 to serve in Vietman, went on to sing with the group that later became known as Parliament-Funkadelic. He eventually parted ways with the group due to financial disputes.
Along with other members of Parliament-Funkadelic, Simon was inducted by Prince into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
