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    Funk legend Jimmy Castor dies in Las Vegas at 71

    LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jimmy Castor, a New York funk and soul saxophonist, singer and songwriter whose tune, "It's Just Begun," morphed over 40 years into an anthem for generations of hip-hoppers and mainstream musical acts, died of apparent heart failure in a Las Vegas hospital, family members said Tuesday. He was 71.

    Castor's music, including another 1972 hit, "Troglodyte," spoke for itself thousands of times in riffs and samples by groups like N.W.A., the 2 Live Crew, Kanye West, Ice Cube and Mos Def, as well as acts such as the Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera and Madonna.

    His son, Jimmy Castor Jr., 45, a filmmaker from Redondo Beach, California, told The Associated Press he's seen instant recognition hundreds of times at the first sax chords of "It's Just Begun" — even before the lyrics begin. ("Watch me now. Feel the groove. Into something. Gonna make you move.")

    "No matter what country you're in, no matter what language you speak, everyone knows it," Jimmy Castor Jr. said in Las Vegas.

    Jimmy Castor was hospitalized in November after suffering a heart attack, and underwent quadruple bypass surgery. He died Monday at Saint Rose Dominican Hospital, his son said.

    Castor, head of the musical group the Jimmy Castor Bunch, lived with his wife, Sandi, in suburban Henderson near Las Vegas.

    His work was sampled by other artists more than 3,000 times, his son said, and he continued to work and perform until last August, when he played at the Long Beach Funk Festival in California. Jimmy Castor Jr. said his father had booked dates for a European tour this year.

     

    58 comments

    • A Yahoo! User  •  Elmhurst, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      Was this guy responsible for the "Bertha Butt Boogie"? Seems like it was by the Jimmy Castro bunch.It was a must have when I was in like 5th grade back in 1975.R.I.P. Jimmy! Thanks for the funk!
      • A Yahoo! User 4 mths ago
        Jimmy Castro bunch.sorry.thinking of Bertha butt got me all flustered.
      • AaronL 4 mths ago
        Yes, "Bertha Butt Boogie" was by the Jimmy CastOR Bunch.
        It was a sequel to "Troglodyte" which mentioned the three Butt Sisters (Betty, Bertha and Bathsheba).
      • A Yahoo! User 4 mths ago
        thanks Aaron L.Brings back alot of good memories.when I replied to my own post I would have swore I corrected the misspelling from my first post.Must've still been flustered and lost in the memories of junior high dances.Peace out.I think kids these days say that.
    • Doc  •  Grand Rapids, Michigan  •  4 mths ago
      Troglodytes!!! "what were gonna do here, is go bacl. WAY BACK!!..."

      thanks Jimmy!! safe travels.
    • Orrin  •  New York, New York  •  4 mths ago
      I was very shocked to read that Jimmy Castor passed away earlier this month. Jimmy was from my old neighborhood in the Bronx and was a friend of Frankie Lymon. He also wrote songs for Frankie and the Teenagers (which is probably why he toured with them). I met Jimmy while he was touring with the Teenagers and when "Hey Leroy" was first released. Jimmy always took time to talk to a fan, acquaintance, or friend. He will be missed. R.I.P. Jimmy Castor. Bump-Bump- Bu-Duh--Dump. Bertha Butt will always boogie.
    • T Bone  •  4 mths ago
      Troglodyte! Cave man! Sockittomesockittomesockittomesockittome....
    • The Lioness  •  4 mths ago
      Funk is dead as we know it! RIP Jimmy...
    • Orrin  •  New York, New York  •  4 mths ago
      To Yahoo: A picture of Jimmy Castor would have been very nice for his fans and those people who didn't know his name, but, knew his songs and his contribution to music. Period.
    • DANNY B  •  Madison, New Jersey  •  4 mths ago
      R.I.P Jimmy. You will be missed.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Quito, Ecuador  •  4 mths ago
      I saw Jimmy Castor open for KC and the Sunshine Band back in the day. Great fun!
    • Enrique B  •  Miami, Florida  •  4 mths ago
      Troglodyte....the song is about the Tea Party....the America they want back
    • AngeloM  •  4 mths ago
      Fun music. This is one of those performers who was a lot more influencial than he'll ever be given credit for. I remember his stuff from working at a college radio station back in the 80s.
    • mike h  •  Mt Prospect, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      I certainly remember Bertha Butt.........one of the Butt sisters........hehehe........RIP, dude!
    • mytbad  •  4 mths ago
      He fulfilled he P-O-T-E-N-T-I-A-L! Heaven is jammin!
    • sheilag  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  4 mths ago
      Bashebaa Butt....... Just played the CD last week !!! Great memories I always smile when I hear
      this song.. Rest in peace Mr. Castor.......Bunch..
    • Ry  •  Cookeville, Tennessee  •  4 mths ago
      Lost some good ones last year in Dobie Gray, Billie Jo Spears and Etta James.
      Didn't take long to lose a good this year.
      I loved "Troglodyte (Cave Man)", "THe Bertha Butt Boogie" and "King Kong".
      R.I.P. Jimmy Castor.
      • T Bone 4 mths ago
        Etta James ain't dead. At least, not yet.
      • Jay 4 mths ago
        Right, Etta James is still alive. She was hospitalized recently.
      • Jesus 4 mths ago
        Read this quickly before she IS dead. It could be tonight.
    • Eric  •  Aiken, South Carolina  •  4 mths ago
      R.I.P JIMMY, I got my middle name from your drummer and my love of big butt's from you! You will be sorely missed.
    • Michael  •  4 mths ago
      Her name was Bertha...Bertha Butt. She is one of the Butt Sisters. RIP Jimmy Castor!
    • Nooney  •  Newark, New Jersey  •  4 mths ago
      Jimmy, you got POTENTIAL, POTENTIAL, POTENTIAL, POTENTIAL! Condolences to the Castor Family and the rest of the Bunch. RIP
    • Chi-townBrown  •  4 mths ago
      RIP Jimmy Castor - HEY LEROY!!!!!
    • kitten  •  4 mths ago
      What an amazing man. RIP.
    • joseph  •  Monacillo, Puerto Rico  •  4 mths ago
      his song was used in "Flashdance" with 2 guys break dancing Before breaking became popular RIP Jimmy!
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