Today, there are too many occurrences of violence at all age levels. To help counter this disturbing trend, bass guitarist /singer-songwriter / record producer and funk innovator Bootsy Collins has what he hopes will be a positive alternative. The Bootsy Collins Foundation and Skyboxx/Brothers On A Mission! have formed Funk Not Fight. Collaborating with communities across the United States, Funk Not Fight is active in music festivals, community outreach, mental health counselling, and various youth programs to create Funk Not Fight Safe Space Hubs, such as the one recently launched in Garfield Heights, OH, a suburb of Cleveland. The effort is intended to spread love, hope, and peace through the power of music! To help participants enjoy the music, TASCAM has donated 60 pairs of its popular TH-06 headphones.
As part of this endeavor, Bootsy has teamed up with Syncr Music to create a Funk Not Fight compilation album. As part of this effort, numerous artists have joined the cause, including Markus Miller, Victor Wooten, Dave Stewart, Cindy Blackman, Dennis Chambers, Buckethead, Alissia Benveniste, Marlon McClain, and Baby Triggy to name a few!
Also involved in the Funk Not Fight effort is Music Will, which runs the largest nonprofit music program in the US public school system. Bootsy has attended programs and has spoken to students with Music Will in New York. He loves being an ambassador for the program. At a recent summit, Bootsy was the keynote speaker, kicking off the 3-day event with 400 teachers around the USA. Funk Not Fight was a part of Bootsy’s presentation. In Bootsy’s own words, he stated, “Teachers of the world unite, we’d rather Funk and Not Fight!”
To help students enjoy the music, the Bootsy Collins Foundation has been giving the TASCAM TH-06 headphones away to the various organizations they are involved with—such as the Music Will Summit in New York. The first such giveaway of the TASCAM headphones occurred at the Village in Garfield Heights! The headphones were to be used in their Funk Not Fight Safe Hub Studio.
The Bootsy Collins Foundation received the TASCAM headphones in February of this year. Since that time, Bootsy reports the TH-06 headphones are being well received. According to Bootsy, “These headphones are excellent. They provide great audio quality, you can set the volume level exactly where you want it to for comfortable listening, and their terrific fit enables one to focus on the music without distractions. These headphones take you inside the music to get your maximum state of creativity indulged!”
When asked about a specific song that he might suggest to give people a clear idea of the Funk Not Fight effort, Bootsy offered the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=9N6DMP9pIoc
Before shifting his attention back to the activities in the studio, Bootsy offered these parting thoughts regarding his relationship with TASCAM, “The TASCAM support team has always been there for every single question I’ve ever had. Neal Faison is a great company contact and he always takes the time to explain the gear. With TASCAM, it’s been a great ride and we will continue together, as we keep growing with Funk Not Fight.”
To learn more about the Bootsy Collins Foundation, visit https://bootsycollinsfoundation.org/. Additional information about the Funk Not Fightcompilation album can be obtained at https://www.syncrmusic.com/job/328/bootsy-collins-presents-funk-not-fight-album-1.
