Eddie Hazel
Real Name: Edward Earl Hazel
For the jazz journalist, use Ed Hazell.
For the jazz/blues guitarist, use Eddie Hazell.
Eddie Hazel, b. 10 April 1950 Brooklyn, NY, was one of the original Parliament / Funkadelic members in the beginning of the 70’s. He had been a session player for George Blackwell when he was 17, until he was persuaded to move by George Clinton and Billy Nelson. He’s probably the first lead guitarist to play hard-rock / funk fusion twenty years before Living Colour, Fishbone or the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
His involvement with the Parliament posse became less preeminent in the 80’s when P.Funk turned more electro-funk oriented and after some drug problems.
Eddie Hazel died on 23 December 1992 at the age of 42.
He has released one solo record for Warner Brothers in 1977 and one posthumous CD was released (as well as unreleased material on several recordings) in 1994.
Son of Grace Cook.