The Brides of Funkenstein were an American soul and funk girl band, originally composed of singers Dawn Silva and Lynn Mabry.
History Previously background singers for Sly Stone, singer of Sly and the Family Stone, Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva joined the P-funk collective in the mid-1970s. George Clinton named the group from a storyline and characters from the Parliament album The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein. The Brides provided the vocals for the 1977 album Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs by P-Funk guitarist Eddie Hazel. Clinton produced their debut album, Funk Or Walk, for Atlantic Records in 1978. The duo became an opening act for Parliament-Funkadelic tours and also performed backing vocals for the ensemble itself.
Mabry left the group in 1979, reportedly due to financial disagreements and to focus on family; the birth of her daughter with P-Funk keyboardist Junie Morrison followed her departure.Scott Goldfine, host. Truth In Rhythm video interview with Lynn Mabry, FUNKNSTUFF.NET, 2021. Retrieved 7/8/2025. George Clinton restructured the Brides as a trio by adding former Bridesmaids Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder, who joined Dawn Silva for the recording of their second album, Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy.Kinley, Tim. "The Brides of Funkenstein: Partying Like It’s 1979." CultureSonar, January 8, 2019. Retrieved 7/8/2025 This lineup won a Cashbox Rhythm & Blues Award for Best Female Group, surpassing well-known acts such as the Pointer Sisters, Sister Sledge, and Cheryl Lynn.Preston, Cheryl E. "Behind the Scenes with the Brides of Funkenstein." Vocal Media Beat, 2022. Retrieved 7/8/2025 In 1980, the trio recorded a third album, Shadows On The Wall, Shaped Like The Hat You Wore, but it was never released. Many of the songs from the unreleased sessions were later reworked and appeared elsewhere in the P-Funk catalog.
Mabry resurfaced in 1984 as a backing vocalist with Talking Heads, appearing in the acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense alongside P-Funk colleague Bernie Worrell. Silva and Mabry briefly reunited in 1981 as the **New Wave Brides**, opening for Grace Jones and later joining Was (Not Was) on tour. Silva went on to tour and record with the Gap Band from 1983 to 1991, and later worked with Ice Cube. In 2000, she released her solo album All My Funky Friends, which was well-received in Europe and Asia. Silva continues to perform and tour as Dawn Silva & The Brides. Following the Brides, Sheila Horne (later known as Amuka) built a solo career as a dance and house music vocalist in the 1990s and 2000s, releasing singles such as “Appreciate Me” and “Craving” under the name Amuka.Amuka Discogs Profile. Retrieved DATE. Jeanette McGruder, now known as Satori Shakoor, became a spoken word artist, playwright, and radio host. She founded the award-winning Grown Folks Stories series in Detroit and continues to perform and produce community storytelling events.Satori Shakoor Official Website. Retrieved 7/8/2025.
Discography +AlbumsUSUS R&BYearLabelFunk or Walk70171978AtlanticNever Buy Texas from a Cowboy93491979AtlanticLive at the Howard Theatre1994 +SinglesUS R&BYearDisco to Go71978Amorous761979Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy671980
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