I grew up outside of Detroit and I heard a lot of Motown music growing up. I am white, but I grew up with black people (or African Americans). Through a series of interesting turns in my early life, I was separated from my real family at around the age of 14 and grew up in a totally different world where I ate chitlins and black eyed peas and listened to soul music constantly. I also was put into an electronic recording studio and told that I could do whatever I wanted for eight hours a day, and I made use of that time. At age 14, no less. True story folks. Yes, it was a strange and interesting turn of events, my life in those days. Lots has happened since then.

My father was a renowned musicologist, and I guess he passed that on in the genes. I’ve been to university, but I did not make that my world. Instead, I opted for the excitement of the live music scene. I sought my fortune playing in bands, for money, sometimes not for money — sometimes just for the thrill of creating something that made people stare and pat their feet. Often in the form of wild, improvisational funk-edged jazz pieces which we’d plan with a “road map”. But in contrast, a lot of those years were spent procuring gainful employment as a jazz or funk bass player and/or keyboardist.

The combination of the academic family background and the alternate reality I faced in my formative years, followed by years working in the music business in pop, dance and RnB Soul music resulted in my having a completely different world view than a lot of people in my walk of life. I’ve gained quite a reputation as both a bass player and a keyboardist, and now as a producer and engineer.

Although I have spent some years in academic music school myself, I generally don’t walk those halls in my knowledgeable pursuits -- my alma mater is the one that goes by the name of hard knocks. I have bestowed upon myself the title “The Funkatologist”. I have also granted this title to a few of my cherished friends.

About the header image on this website: Yes I know they are a couple of old white men. This is a joke! People that know me understand my sense of humor. I mean nothing by that other than a facetious gesture towards my roots while I dig deeper into the roots of funk.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this website, so far it has been a lot of fun to put together.

Sincerely,

Hugh J. Hitchcock
June 29, 2012

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