Judie Worrell
Judie Worrell is the wife of beloved musician, Bernie Worrell, who sadly passed away at age 72 after a battle with stage four lung cancer.
It was his now widow, Judie Worrell who announced his sad demise on his Facebook page, after writing:
“AT 11:54, June 24, 2016, Bernie transitioned Home to The Great Spirit. Rest in peace, my love — you definitely made the world a better place. Till we meet again, vaya con Dios.”
The keyboardist for 70’s funk back Parliament-Funkadelic, was a pioneer with the funk and soul group. Bernie, a former child prodigy, performed with the Washington Symphony Orchestra at ten.
Prior to his work with P-Funk, Bernie who was a Julliard School of Music student, joined the New England Conservatory of Music and later served for several years as Musical Director for Maxine Brown.
The New Jersey native, also known as The Wizard of Woo was the second musician ever to receive the original Moog synthesizer and the Minimoog. Bernie Worrell along with the rest of P-Funk, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is also known for his work with Talking Heads in the early 1980s. Although never officially a member of the band, he worked with David Byrne’s group throughout the ’80s until their split in 1991. Bernie is featured on Speaking in Tongues as well as the Stop Making Sense live album and concert film.
Worrell’s talent not only limited him to P-Funk, he became well known for his contributions to various genres and supergroups. He performed with Gov’t Mule; was part of Black Jack Johnson with Mos Def, Will Calhoun, Doug Wimbish, and Dr. Know; among others. Aside of his multiple contributions, he managed to release 12 solo records between 1978’s All the Woo in the World and 2016’s Retrospectives.
Judie Worrell, had been caring for her husband who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. She told media he had moved to Bellingham, Washington, from New Jersey. “He’s been fairly comfortable and performing a bit,” stated wife Judie Worrell at the time.
Worrell was being treated with a combination of chemotherapy and naturotherapy; Judie Worrell added that Washington’s new laws make it easier to obtain marijuana-based medication. “Cannabis oil is keeping the side effects of the chemo in check, and also helps when Bernie gets anxious and, well, afraid.”
According to Judie Worrell, her husband was suffering from two different types of cancer. “Bernie was first diagnosed with prostate cancer but a mild form and the doctors said men can live with that 20 to 30 years,” his wife wrote to the The Asbury Press at the time. “Then tests showed 4th stage liver cancer that has metastasized to his liver and the pleural cavities.”
We send our condolences to Judie Worrell and the rest of Bernie’s family, friends and fans.
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