George Bernard Worrell, Jr. was an American musician and record producer. Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, Worrell was a child musical prodigy. He later studied at the Juilliard School and received a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1967. After meeting George Clinton, frontman of the Parliaments, Worrell relocated with them and their backing band, the Funkadelics, to Detroit, Michigan; both groups became collectively known as Parliament-Funkadelic. Worrell co-wrote and played piano and synthesizers on many of their recordings, as well as writing horn and rhythm arrangements. In the 1980s, Worrell performed and recorded with Talking Heads, appearing on the live album The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads, the studio album Speaking in Tongues, and in the band's concert film, Stop Making Sense. In 2016, the New England Conservatory of Music awarded Worrell an honorary Doctor of Music degree. Worrell died at his home in Everson, Washington, on June 24, 2016, at the age of 72, from a combination of prostate cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer.

Bernie Worrell

Bernie Worrell

Acting Born April 19, 1944 – Died June 24, 2016 Long Branch, New Jersey, USA

George Bernard Worrell, Jr. was an American musician and record producer. Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, Worrell was a child musical prodigy. He later studied at the Juilliard School and received a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1967. After meeting George Clinton, frontman of the Parliaments, Worrell relocated with them and their backing band, the Funkadelics, to Detroit, Michigan; both groups became collectively known as Parliament-Funkadelic. Worrell co-wrote and played piano and synthesizers on many of their recordings, as well as writing horn and rhythm arrangements. In the 1980s, Worrell performed and recorded with Talking Heads, appearing on the live album The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads, the studio album Speaking in Tongues, and in the band's concert film, Stop Making Sense. In 2016, the New England Conservatory of Music awarded Worrell an honorary Doctor of Music degree. Worrell died at his home in Everson, Washington, on June 24, 2016, at the age of 72, from a combination of prostate cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer.

Known For

Stop Making Sense poster

Stop Making Sense

Self - Keyboards
Ricki and the Flash poster

Ricki and the Flash

Billy
Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth poster

Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth

Self
Talking Heads: Storytelling Giant poster

Talking Heads: Storytelling Giant

Self
Beware of Mr. Baker poster

Beware of Mr. Baker

Self
Parliament Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove poster

Parliament Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove

Self
Talking Heads: Capitol Theatre poster

Talking Heads: Capitol Theatre

Self - Keyboards
Finding the Funk poster

Finding the Funk

Self
Moog poster

Moog

Self
Rising Low poster

Rising Low

Self
Moogfest 2006: Live poster

Moogfest 2006: Live