Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bootsy Collins is releasing his 23rd studio record, Album of the Year Number One Funkateer on April 11 via Bootzilla Records/Roc Nation. Tracing back his legendary career, there was a pivotal moment: when James Brown hired the Pacemakers—the band led by teenage Bootsy and his brother Catfish—to replace his backing group in 1970. 

He also led the side project Bootsy’s Rubber Band, recording multiple gold-certified albums, and began contributing to recordings by artists including Iggy Pop and Herbie Hancock. When Rolling Stone put together their list of the Greatest Bassists of All Time, Bootsy was ranked in the top five. 

Collins has reached new generations for more than five decades. He collaborated with superstar Deee-Lite, provided the lead vocal on Fatboy Slim’s Grammy-winning hit “Weapon of Choice,” and acted as the narrator on Silk Sonic’s platinum album An Evening with Silk Sonic (he even gave Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak the name for their project). 

The 17 tracks on Album of the Year cover all the bases, from the silly Bootsy to the sexy Bootsy (“Pure Perfection,” which uses a delivery that Bruno Mars calls “the Bootsy bedroom voice”) to the social commentary of “Tonight We Rise.” 

In addition to working with young artists like Barbara Teleki and Bootdullivan, Collins brought in some other legendary contributors including longtime friend Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. The album also reunites him with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and tha Dogg Pound.

Teddy Pendergrass was an indisputable soul legend when he made his Elektra/Asylum debut in 1984. The former Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes lead vocalist and chart-topping solo superstar’s career had been stalled by a 1982 car accident, in which he suffered permanent paralysis from the waist down. After intensive physical therapy, he signed with Asylum and returned with the triumphant “LOVE LANGUAGE.” The album – which included the top 10 AC hit single, “Hold Me,” with vocals from a young Whitney Houston – was later featured prominently as the evocative soundtrack to Alan Rudolph’s 1984 film, Choose Me.

“JOY,” released in 1988, reached #2 on Billboard’s “Top R&B Albums” chart – his highest placing since “TEDDY” in 1979 – with two top 3 R&B hits in “2 A.M.” and the stirring title track. “Joy” proved a #1 smash, Teddy’s first solo chart-topper in a decade.

Pendergrass scored his third career R&B #1 with 1991’s “It Should Have Been You,” featured on his 11th studio album, “TRULY BLESSED.” Teddy’s third and final Elektra release, 1993’s “A LITTLE MORE MAGIC,” saw the singer collaborating with fellow stars like Barry White and labelmate Gerald Levert.

Teddy Pendergrass retired from the music business in 2006. Sadly, he passed away three years later following surgery for colon cancer.

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