Known as “The Funky Drummer,” Stubblefield has been credited as “The World’s Most Sampled Drummer” by Drummer World magazine and was ranked #6 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 2016 list of the greatest drummers. His iconic beats have influenced the evolution of popular music, particularly modern funk, jazz fusion, rap, and hip hop.
Throughout his career, Stubblefield received numerous accolades, including the Yamaha Drums Legacy Award in 2013, induction into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2000, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Madison Area Music Association. On May 12, 2017, he was awarded an Honorary Ph.D. in Percussion from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music.
Stubblefield’s drumsticks are enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and there is a growing movement to nominate him for induction into the Hall of Fame. Despite his global fame and influence, Stubblefield chose to live in Madison, Wisconsin, from 1971 until his passing on February 18, 2017, profoundly impacting the local music scene for over four decades.
In 2017 the Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) teamed up with the Coalition for the Recognition of Clyde Stubblefield to establish the ‘MAMA Scholarship Fund in Honor of Clyde Stubblefield’. This scholarship is awarded annually to a Madison-area student pursuing a college education in music, ensuring that Clyde’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.
You can contribute to the fund with a monthly tribute or make a direct donation to the scholarship by donating online today.
You can apply for a MAMA scholarship by completing the form below, downloading the application and emailing it back to the MAMA, or downloading the application and mailing it to MAMA, Inc., PO Box 8754, Madison, WI 53708-8754.
