The Bar-Kays

Beginning in the late 1960s as the Stax label's other house band, the Bar-Kays suffered a major setback when four of their members died in the same plane crash that killed Otis Redding. They returned stronger wearing Sly Stone influences on their sleeves and tearing up the R&B charts as Isaac Hayes' backing band. Eager to be recognized on their own, they finally hit funk pay dirt with "Shake Your Rump to the Funk" in '76. During a career that continues to this day, they've successfully incorporated P-Funk styles, disco, and soul ballads while never fakin' the funk. Even their contribution to the Breakin' soundtrack rocks the house.