We would play that song in the clubs right after we wrote it and even guys who didn’t like to dance were dancing.'īryan: 'I have played a million notes in my life but those are the seven notes that people will remember. When it started going it really went fast and we were shocked.

We owe the song breaking to them as they did all the work. They had an independent guy whose job it was to call up radio stations. We were on a small record label that was made up of a couple of guys in Cleveland. I had no expectation that it would break so fast. I remember hearing it on the radio for the first time and I completely went nuts. Are you surprised that song has had such staying power?īryan: 'It was a surprise to me that it ever was a hit. It was one of those things where a record executive heard it while we were in the studio and we went from the bars to the arenas in about six weeks time.' We just wanted to up our stock in the local market so we could go from five hundred bucks a night to eight hundred bucks a night. We actually recorded that album with our own money on our own time.

Literally, one guy actually came up to us and said, 'You better start paying some funky music, white boy.' We were still a covers band so we went out and learned the hits of the day. We would take a break and the deejay would come on and play all these new dance songs and the dance floor would immediately be packed. We were playing in these bigs clubs that had a thousand people and we were rocking out while all these people were just looking at us. We were playing LED ZEPPELIN and ROBIN TROWER in the clubs at the time when THE BEE GEES and KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND were coming out. 'Play That Funky Music' is actually a very autobiographical song. Jeb: If you were so into the blues then how did you end up breaking into the business with a disco band?īryan: 'We were actually a rock band first. The song has been remade countless times and has been featured in dozens of television shows and movies and it features Bryan Bassett on guitar.' 'Play That Funky Music' is one of those songs that has grown from being a hit single to becoming part of America’s vernacular culture. He is a performer, producer, engineer, and songwriter and has a Billboard Pop Chart #1 hit on his resume.Įven those who were burning disco records in the 1970’s owned a copy of WILD CHERRY’s debut album.

He comments on the interview that follows:'Bryan Bassett may not be a household name, yet the guitarist has managed to stay in the music business for the better part of 35 years. Classic Rock Revisited founder Jeb Wright recently caught up with FOGHAT guitarist Bryan Bassett for a career retrospective interview.

Play that funky music wildcherry mp3