STAR CHILD

When people think of Bootsy Collins, the virtuosic bass player and Parliament-Funkadelic luminary, images of star-shaped glasses and outrageously colorful outfits likely come to mind—that and his 100-watt smile. Indeed, Collins has had something to smile about for the last 50 years as he’s sailed into bona fide funk-icon status. Now 69 years old, Collins is still going full-steam ahead with his latest solo album, The Power of the, which arrived in October of last year. Boasting guest appearances from Snoop Dogg and Sly & the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham, the project effortlessly bridges the gap between the current musical landscape and the legendary music of the 1970s, especially on the song “WantMe2Stay”—a cover of the Sly & the Family Stone song “If You Want Me to Stay.”