Today, we are saddened by the news that vocalist Robert “P-Nut” Johnson, a former member of Bootsy’s Collins side project Bootsy’s Rubber Band and, later, Parliament Funkadelic, has passed away.
Born in 1947 in Baltimore, P-Nut began touring with Bootsy in 1976. Later that year, he began working with Parliament Funkadelic in the studio. When Bootsy retired from touring with P-Funk in 1976, P-Nut took over vocal duties for the band on the road. While most of his work came within the George Clinton/P-Funk universe, he did contribute to a number of other projects, including providing backing vocals on the Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ 1985 Clinton-produced LP Freaky Styley.
The news of Johnson’s passing broke via a post on Collins’ Facebook page. Says Bootsy in the memorial post, “We lost another one to that other frequency…Share your condolences for his family & friends. Another P-Funk legend R.I.P.” As of now, no cause of death has been reported. You can read the full post below:
Rest in peace, P-Nut!
[Cover photo via Bootsy Collins’ Facebook]