William “Billy Bass” Nelson, the original bassist and co-founding member of the groundbreaking funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic, has died at the age of 75. The news was confirmed by the official Facebook page for George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, which announced Nelson’s passing on January 31, 2026. No detailed cause of death has been released, though reports indicate he had been receiving hospice care in the days leading up to his death.
Nelson’s influence on funk music traces back to his early collaborations with Clinton in the 1960s. Born William Nelson Jr. in Plainfield, New Jersey, he met Clinton as a teenager and first performed in Clinton’s doo-wop group, the Parliaments. As the band evolved, Nelson’s rhythmic sensibilities helped shape the sound and identity that would become Funkadelic, and he became a foundational figure in what would grow into the wider Parliament-Funkadelic collective.
As bassist, Nelson contributed to seminal albums such as Funkadelic (1970), Free Your Mind… and Your Ass Will Follow (1970), and Maggot Brain (1971), where his playing provided the deep grooves that helped define the band’s psychedelic funk-rock fusion. Nelson also co-wrote and sang on tracks like “Super Stupid,” showcasing his creative range beyond simply providing the low end. His bass lines influenced not just funk but generations of musicians across genres, helping set a blueprint for rhythm and feel in popular music.
Despite early success, Nelson’s journey with the band was not always smooth. He departed Parliament-Funkadelic in the early 1970s after a financial dispute, briefly stepping away from the group before returning for collaborations. In later years, Nelson worked with other major artists and contributed to projects outside P-Funk, including with the Temptations, Commodores, Lionel Richie, and Smokey Robinson. He also released solo work and rejoined the collective in the 1990s, further cementing his legacy.
Nelson’s contributions were recognized with his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 as part of Parliament-Funkadelic, a testament to the enduring impact of his music. In tributes following his passing, George Clinton and fans celebrated Nelson’s enormous role in shaping the sound of funk and his influence on music worldwide. “Rest in eternal peace and funk,” Clinton’s Facebook announcement read, honoring a musician whose work will continue to resonate with listeners for decades.
