Mallia Franklin


Rosalind Mallia Franklin was an American funk singer and songwriter. Known as the "Queen of Funk," she was a vocalist with Parliament-Funkadelic and original member of the P-Funk spin-off group Parlet. She is also credited with helping bring key musicians like Bootsy Collins and Junie Morrison into the P-Funk collective.
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Early life

Franklin was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Her father encouraged her musical ambitions, originally hoping she would become an opera singer. As a young woman, Franklin became close with George Clinton and other early Parliament musicians. In 1971, she introduced Clinton to Bootsy Collins, who had recently left James Brown’s band, helping establish one of funk’s most influential partnerships.

Career

Parliament-Funkadelic

By the mid-1970s, Franklin joined Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic as a background vocalist. She recorded vocals for albums such as Chocolate City and Funkadelic’s Uncle Jam Wants You. Her harmonies were part of P-Funk’s signature multi-layered vocal sound both in studio and on the group’s elaborate live tours.

Parlet

In 1978, George Clinton formed Parlet with Franklin, Debbie Wright and Jeanette Washington. Their debut album, Pleasure Principle, featured Franklin’s lead and backing vocals on songs like “Pleasure Principle” and “Misunderstanding.” She remained with Parlet into the recording of their second album, Invasion of the Booty Snatchers, before departing with bassist Donnie Sterling to form Sterling Silver Starship.

Other collaborations

Franklin is also credited with introducing keyboardist Junie Morrison to P-Funk in 1978. She performed and recorded with various P-Funk side projects and appeared on Zapp’s Zapp II album as a backing vocalist.
She released her solo album, Funken Tersepter, in 1995 through Japan’s P-Vine Records. The record featured many P-Funk members, including Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Junie Morrison, and Eddie Hazel.
Franklin also co-wrote “Suited & Booted” for Snoop Dogg’s 2002 album Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$.

Later life and death

Franklin suffered a stroke before a performance in Detroit in 2009 and later moved to Los Angeles for treatment. She died on February 5, 2010, at age 57.

Legacy

Franklin is remembered for her pivotal role in Parliament-Funkadelic and for mentoring and connecting major funk artists. She is often called the “Queen of Funk” for her contributions to the genre and her leadership in the P-Funk sister groups. Her son, Seth Neblett, has worked to document her story and the role of other women in P-Funk through the oral history project Mothership Connected: The Women of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Discography

Solo

Funken Tersepter – Japanese-only solo album featuring P‑Funk musicians.

With Parlet

Pleasure Principle – debut Parlet album with co-founder Mallia Franklin on vocals.Invasion of the Booty Snatchers – Franklin appears on the album before departing the group.

With Parliament-Funkadelic

  • Parliament – Chocolate City – credited for background vocals.
  • Parliament – Motor Booty Affair – background vocals.
  • Funkadelic – Uncle Jam Wants You – background vocals.
  • Various Parliament-Funkadelic recordings, including uncredited contributions on live albums like Parliament Live: P‑Funk Earth Tour and studio releases with layered vocals, per interviews and oral histories.

Other contributions

  • Bootsy’s Rubber Band – This Boot Is Made for Fonk‑N – background vocals.
  • Sweat Band – Sweat Band – vocals.
  • Zapp – Zapp II – background vocals.

Later / posthumous

  • Dice – “So Many Rainy Dayz” – featured vocals on Detroit rapper Dice’s track.