NYTimes obit here: Clyde Stubblefield, the ‘Funky Drummer’ for James Brown, Dies at 73 - The New York Times
One of the most sampled drum breaks in history is Mr. Stubblefield’s work on The Funky Drummer, but he played on so many of the Godfather of Soul’s biggest hits that he was legendary before that.
It says he had kidney issues some years before that we’re going to cost money Clyde didn’t have (neither James Brown nor sampling use paid well). Turns out Prince paid all of his bills even though they’d never met. That’s how good Clyde Stubblefield was.
Thank you, Mr. Stubblefield. This silly suburban white boy learned about funk from your playing.