Founding Member of Iconic Funk Band Dies at 75

A founding member of the George Clinton-led Parliament-Funkadelic has died at 75. William “Billy Bass” Nelson was the original bassist for the funk collective, which has a rotating cast of musicians over the decades, including many of Clinton’s family and friends.

“Rest in eternal peace and funk,” Clinton commented on his social media account. The cause of death was not announced.

The group formed in the 1960s, experimenting with a mix of acid rock and bass-heavy riffs. Nelson played on the band’s first albums...