Rosalind Mallia Franklin (March 3, 1952 – February 5, 2010) 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.
Early life
Franklin was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.
[Howard Priestley, A Tribute To Mallia Franklin, 2021.] 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 P-Funk 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.
[David Mills, “Mallia Franklin (c.1953–2010)”, Undercover Black Man blog, February 5, 2010.]
Career
Parliament-Funkadelic
By the mid-1970s, Franklin joined Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic as a background vocalist.
[Tim Kinley, “Parlet: The P-Funk Ladies Step Up,” CultureSonar, Jan 8, 2024.] She recorded vocals for albums such as
Chocolate City (1975) and
Funkadelic’s
Uncle Jam Wants You (1979). Her harmonies were part of P-Funk’s signature multi-layered vocal sound both in studio and on the group’s elaborate live tours.
[ Mallia Franklin Discogs profile.]
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 (1979), 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 (1982) as a backing vocalist.
[WEFUNK Radio, Artist Bio: Parlet/Mallia Franklin, retrieved 7/8/2025.]
She released her solo album, Funken Tersepter, in 1995 through Japan’s P-Vine Records.[ Mallia Franklin Funken Tersepter Discogs entry.] 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.
[George Clinton Official Website, “Mallia ‘Queen of Funk’ Franklin Bio,” retrieved 7/8/2025.]
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.
[Seth Neblett, Mothership Connected: The Women of Parliament-Funkadelic, University of Texas Press, 2025.]
Discography
Solo
-
Funken Tersepter (P‑Vine, 1995) – Japanese-only solo album featuring P‑Funk musicians.
With Parlet
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Pleasure Principle (Casablanca, 1978) – debut Parlet album with co-founder Mallia Franklin on vocals.
-
Invasion of the Booty Snatchers (Casablanca, 1979) – Franklin appears on the album before departing the group.
With Parliament-Funkadelic
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Parliament – Chocolate City (Casablanca, 1975) – credited for background vocals.
-
Parliament – Motor Booty Affair (Casablanca, 1978) – background vocals.
-
Funkadelic – Uncle Jam Wants You (Warner Bros., 1979) – background vocals.
-
Various Parliament-Funkadelic recordings, including uncredited contributions on live albums like Parliament Live: P‑Funk Earth Tour (1977) and studio releases with layered vocals, per interviews and oral histories.
Other contributions
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Bootsy’s Rubber Band – This Boot Is Made for Fonk‑N (Warner Bros., 1979) – background vocals.
-
Sweat Band – Sweat Band (Uncle Jam, 1980) – vocals.
-
Zapp – Zapp II (Warner Bros., 1982) – background vocals.
Later / posthumous
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Dice – “So Many Rainy Dayz” (single, 2011) – featured vocals on Detroit rapper Dice’s track.
External links
