Bootsy Collins, the American bassist, is performing at the half-time show in the NFL playoff game between Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

At half-time, the Bengals led 17 to Bill’s 7 and the Buffalo team had a lot of catching up to do when the came to the pitch in the second half. They scored a field goal early in the third quarter to bring down the Bengals advantage from 10 to seven.

Also read: Damar Hamlin gives a heart to Buffalo Bills fans in playoff game vs Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium: Watch

Who is Bootsy Collins?

With his pounding basslines and funny vocals, Collins rose to fame with James Brown in the early 1970s and then with Parliament-Funkadelic, solidifying himself as one of the top names and innovators in funk. Later, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, his own P-Funk side project was launched.

As a musician, Collins has been an influential genre-bending figure with a legacy that has affected the next generations. He has been mentioned in the song Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club and Rumble in the Jungle by the Fugees.

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Flea, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist has cited Collins as one of his major influences. In the music video of the RHCP song Dani California Flea is seen in Bootsy Collins-type dress which was a tribute to the bassist.

Collins’ What’s a Telephone Bill was sampled by Tupac for the music of Str8 Ballin from his Thug Life: Volume 1 album.

Also read: Is Damar Hamlin bad luck? Fans ask after Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen struggle vs Cincinnati Bengals in playoff game at Highmark Stadium

Collins collaborated with Toots & the Maytals on the True Love album, which took home the 2005 Grammy for Best Reggae Album. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bass Player magazine in October 2010 at the Key Club in Los Angeles. Collins was honoured with a 2016  National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame induction.