Funky Friday Episode 81: This Day in Funk turns the calendar back to August 21 for a journey through funk history featuring Wild Cherry, Ohio Players, James Brown, Bootsy Collins, Parliament, Sister Sledge, Santana, and more.

Funk did not emerge as a trend or a reaction. It developed from earlier Black musical traditions and carried them forward through rhythm, repetition, and collective performance. Episode 53 traces funk as living history, not nostalgia.