The Brides of Funkenstein
The Brides of Funkenstein are an American funk musical group originally composed of singers Dawn Silva and Lynn Mabry. History. Previously background singers for Sly Stone, Mabry and Silva joined the P-Funk collective in the mid-1970s. George Clinton named the group (based on a storyline and characters from the Parliament album "The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein"). The Brides provided the vocals for the 1977 album "Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs" by P-Funk guitarist Eddie Hazel. Clinton produced the Brides' debut album, "Funk Or Walk", for Atlantic Records in 1978. The duo became an opening  act for Parliament-Funkadelic tours and also performed backing vocals for the ensemble itself. Lynn Mabry left the group in 1979. Dawn Silva lead singer invited back-up "Bridesmaids" Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder to sing on the second Brides album, "Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy". This lineup received a Cashbox Rhythm & Blues award for best new female artist, beating out The Pointer Sisters, Sister Sledge, and Cheryl Lynn. The trio recorded a third album, "Shadows On The Wall, Shaped Like The Hat You Wore" in 1980, but the album was not released. Most of the songs from the  unreleased album gradually appeared elsewhere in the P-Funk catalog. Lynn Mabry resurfaced in 1984 as a backing vocalist with Talking Heads, appearing in the concert film "Stop Making Sense" along with P-Funk colleague Bernie Worrell. Silva and Mabry had a brief reunion in 1981 as the New Wave Brides, opening for Grace Jones, and a lengthy tour with Was (Not Was). Silva would tour and record with the Gap Band from 1983 to 1991, moving on to work with Ice Cube. In 2000 Silva released the solo album "All My Funky Friends", which received rave reviews in Europe  and Asia. Dawn Silva & The Brides continue to tour.