Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: R&B (#1 for 2 weeks) and Pop (#1 for 3 weeks); 1976

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

A box of cough drops and a dissatisfied disco fan played key roles in the story of this funk classic. In 1974, band founder/ lead singer Bob Parissi was recuperating in the hospital, and his group was in need of a name.

Spying a box of cough drops next to his bed, Parissi jokingly suggested “Wild Cherry” to his fellow musicians. The name stuck even though the band struck out. After managing steakhouses for awhile, Bob reformed Wild Cherry with new members, only to find the clubs that had once welcomed WC’s brand of hard rock were now courting the disco crowd.

The dance fans were none too happy with Wild Cherry’s song selection. One night someone in the crowd yelled out, “play that funky music.” Backstage, Parissi quickly jotted down the words to WC’s future hot hit on an order pad from the bar.

Upon release, Play That Funky Music topped both the rhythm and pop lists, and became the third-ever platinum certified single.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Rob Parissi

Lyrics Written by:

  • Rob Parissi

Award:

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).