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"just-a-gene-o" was born on August 30th, 1962 in Plainfield, N.J. Born the son of original Parliament Funkadelic "Shady" Grady Thomas, "just-a-gene-o" had his eyes on the funk from day one.
At an early age, "just-a-gene-o" and his older brother Keith aka "K-Funkstar" would dress up as the psychedelic funky kats and dance and sing to their fathers records. At times they would be joined by Georgie and Darryl Clinton (sons of the legendary George Clinton).
At age 9, "just-a-gene-o" met his best friend Richard Miller who played the guitar sparking Just-a-gene-o's interest. Richard taught "just-a-gene-o" his first song which was entitled "Slide" by the group Slave. From that point on, it was full speed ahead.
Influences include the P/Funk Army Guitarist's Eddie Hazel, Michael Hampton, Gary Shider and Glen Goins.
While growing up, "just-a-gene-o" would listen to bands like P/Funk, Rick James, Chic, Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham, Lakeside, The Time, The Gap Band, Cameo, Roger Troutman and ZAPP, The Brothers Johnson, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and Bootsy Collins. Anything and everything that had a dash of funk in it.
At age 11, "just-a-gene-o" joined his first band Hot Ice in Irvington, N.J.
Then he went on to play in a host of other bands and small clubs in the area.
Natural Force, U.S.Beat, Shade II, Jafa and Freakwincey were a few of these other bands. His first guitar was passed down to him from his brother Keith, his second, a black Peavey T60, he gave to his son. After all these years, that guitar is still looking in tip top shape."just-a-gene-o" now plays IBANEZ and WASHBURN guitars, and his choice in amplification is MESA BOOGIE."just-a-gene-o" always wanted to play in an original funk band that would play with the intensity of his father's group and keep the funk alive. That's when he came up with the idea of FUNKKIN. The biological next generation of the funk. That's when he got with his partner/bass player, and son of original funkateer Ray "Stingray" Davis, Derrick "Dootsy" Davis.
Together, they would form FUNKKIN consisting of 'just-a-gene-o's" brother Keith, Nowell Haskins (son of original Parliament Funkadelic Fuzzy Haskins), Nate Shider (brother of P/Funk guitarist gary 'Diaperman" Shider, Greg Fitz (Bootsy's Rubberband, Bernie Worrell, Quazar), Jerard Snell (Little Louie Vega), Ray Billups (nephew of P/Funk's Ray Davis) and Craig aka "Sach" (cousin of P/Funk's Gary Shider).Currently "just-a-gene-o" is funking it up with his father in the group the ORIGINAL "P"FUNK (featuring original founding members of Parliament Funkadelic) and still gigs with Funkkin and Freakwincey whenever time permits. "just-a-gene-o" has been currently working on a solo project entitled "One Piece Of The Funk Puzzle".
