What is George Clinton's Net Worth?
George Clinton is an American R&B singer/songwriter and music producer with a net worth of $4 million. Best known for the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, he pioneered a new form of funk music during the 1970s. Clinton's music incorporates unique elements like science fiction themes, surreal humor, and a psychedelic fashion sense.
Clinton embarked on his solo career in 1982 with the album "Computer Games." This album was influential, especially in the Hip-Hop and G-Funk genres of the 90s. George Clinton stands alongside James Brown and Sly Stone as one of the top innovators of funk music. He was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
Early Life
George Edward Clinton was born on July 22, 1941, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, and was raised in Plainfield, New Jersey. He became involved in music at a young age, starting a doo-wop group called The Parliaments during his teenage years. He also worked at and eventually owned a barbershop named Silk Palace, a popular spot for local musicians in the 50s and 60s.
Career
Clinton's serious foray into music began in the 60s when he worked for Motown as a staff songwriter. Despite a slow start, he found success with a single hit, "Testify." Meanwhile, The Parliaments, later known as Parliament-Funkadelic, drew inspiration from artists like Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and James Brown, while also exploring new sounds and technology. During the 70s, the group released three platinum albums and 40 hit singles, including three chart-topping R&B hits.
In the 80s, George Clinton navigated the complexities of PolyGram's acquisition of Casablanca Records, leading him to create solo music and face numerous legal struggles over royalties and copyrights, including accusations against Bridgeport Music of copyright infringement.
In the early 80s, he signed with Capitol Records and continued making music as a solo artist and with "P-Funk All-Stars." He released the album "Computer Games," featuring hits like "Loopzilla" and "Atomic Dog." His prolific output throughout the 80s included collaboration with artists like Bootsy Collins and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, for whom he produced the album "Freaky Styley." Clinton also wrote the theme song for "The Tracey Ullman Show" in 1987.
George's extensive work during the 80s made him a significant influence on many artists. His music was frequently sampled by rap producers in the 90s, boosting his profile. He released "The Cinderella Theory" with Paisley Park, followed by additional albums before signing a new deal with Sony 550.
In the early 90s, Clinton collaborated with Primal Scream and appeared in films such as "House Party," "Good Burger," and "The Breaks." During this time, Dr. Dre heavily sampled his music, ushering in the G-Funk era. He also worked with various artists, including Tupac on "All Eyez on Me" and Ice Cube on "Lethal Injection." Other collaborators included Outkast, Redman, and the Wu Tang Clan.
In the 2000s, George lent his voice to the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and founded his record label, C Kunspyruhzy. He appeared in numerous TV shows and worked with Snoop Dogg on his album "Tha Blue Carpet Treatment." Clinton continued to appear in movies and TV shows through the 2010s and announced his retirement from touring in 2018 after receiving pacemaker surgery.
Relationships
In 1990, Clinton married Stephanie Lynn Clinton, and they stayed together for 22 years before divorcing in 2013. He later married Carlon Thompson-Clinton, his manager for over a decade. George Clinton had children from previous relationships, and tragically, his 50-year-old son was found dead of natural causes in 2020.
