Music
Amp Fiddler
1958–2023 · keyboardist, singer, songwriter, producer
Detroit keyboardist of Parliament-Funkadelic and mentor of J Dilla, who lent the young producer his MPC and introduced him to Q-Tip.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 65- Birth name
- Joseph Anthony Fiddler
- Detroit years
- 1958–2023
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Joseph “Amp” Fiddler was born in Detroit in 1958 and spent his life in the city's music world. He first made his name as keyboardist with the Detroit R&B group Enchantment, then joined George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic, first as a fill-in and then as a regular member from 1985 to 1996. Back home he became a generous mentor to younger musicians. Around 1992 he let a teenage James Yancey, the future J Dilla, use his Akai MPC sampling drum machine, and he later introduced him to Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, opening the door to the wider industry. As a solo artist he blended funk, soul and Detroit house on albums such as Waltz of a Ghetto Fly. After years of illness, Detroit musicians held a benefit for him on December 10, 2023; he died of cancer at Henry Ford Hospital eight days later, at 65. The mentorship project Camp Amp continues his work with young Detroit artists.
Highlights
- Keyboardist with the Detroit group Enchantment
- Member of Parliament-Funkadelic, 1985–1996
- Gave J Dilla access to his Akai MPC and introduced him to Q-Tip
- Solo album Waltz of a Ghetto Fly (2004)
- Camp Amp mentorship program carries on his legacy