Legendary multi-instrumentalist, vocalist. Age - unknown
Transcribed by Lol Coxhill from a recently discovered taped interview. Recordist and interviewer unknown. Final response lost due to erosion and flaking.

Interviewer: Buck...may I use your first name?

Buck: If you mean in reference to me. Sure thing. If you want to score from layin' personal claim, no way, Father.

This is going to be fun.

You bet.

Buck, I know that you were christened with...

Stop right there. I use water to clean up, not to increase my chances in the Life Hereafter. Dig?

Badly phrased I fear. I'll try again.

Do that.

Buck, I know that you were originally named Arnold Prendergast, which is not an easy handle for a jazz hipster such as yourself. But how come Buck Funk? Crazy tag, man. How come?

Well now... I remember when I was a real little guy, my daddy used to take me on his knee an' he was a real big ol' cat. No shit! Dig? I'd sit there like I was riding a elephant. Man. Just like that little guy in the movies. Booboo...Sabu. Right. Right. Sabu. Man! That little mother could ride. Like he got glue on his ass. Now my ol' Daddy - he'd get into a humpin'n'bumpin'away'n'tapin'his foot 'n' bouncin' me up 'n' down like there was no tomorrow. Sometimes I'd get so into it that I'd puke right on up down over his shoe. But Daddy was cool. You dig? He'd just keep on tappin' away with his foot. Other was long gone. Man. Shark in Solent. Bad. Right? Man, I'd ride that big ol' knee, listening to Daddy playin' all those ol' Bunk Johnson 78s hour after hour until I knew every solo that cat ever recorded before he lost his damn teeth. I came to hate that bastard so much that when I launched myself into the Business, I thought it'd be pretty cool to change my name to an anagram based on my feelings towards that asshole. I didn't have to think too hard to come up with Buck Funk. Dig?

Yes. That was a rather good idea. Sounds fine. Slides off the tongue 'n' hangs on the line.

Man. Man! Now you're rappin' you some mother...well alreet.

Coming from you, Buck, that is praise indeed. By the way, I clocked your suit on the way in. Way out. Do you use that phrase back home?

Yeah. We call 'em suits.

No, no. I mean that I noticed your...er...threads. Cut so great, man.

Yeah? Well, I promised myself that when I made out on the Scene, and started to score big bread I'd get me the sharpest dinner jacket on God's Green Earth. I got it, man.

I'll say!

What'll ya say, man?

Eh? Oh, a mere expression.

Well, face another direction, Man. I ain't about to pay no cleaning bills.

What? Oh yes. Back to work. From where do you hail? Your...birthplace, if I may?

You gotta pretty far out verbal style, my man. Portsmouth.

I hear that New Hamshire is beautiful at this time of year.

Wouldn't know. Pompey. Dig? Never been to the other place.

But...you're from Stateside!

It's just I've heard of it man. Never been there either.

Come on. Listen. All those endless stories of paddle packet trips up-river, to check your roots and get your chops together...

Only ferryboats I been on were the disco cruises around the Isle of Wight for bread'n'perks. Like these threads I'm wearin'. Dig? Anythin' to avoid a repeat of the horrors of my first gig. No bread up front. Had to score my ol' Daddys tux, cut it down 'n' glue it together again. Just dried in time for first call. No good. Spot-heat melted it. Disintegration totale, man. Goodness me.

Oh whaaat? How absolutely horrifying for you. Were you actually headlining? Or were you just trying to make a name for yourself?

I was playin' in the band, man. Dig? Sleeves fell off on the seque take-over. "Summertime" to "Cheery Pink". Thanks Mother nobody plays those tunes anymore. Never wanna hear them again. Heavy drag, if you read my meanin'.

I see. Bum trip, Dad. Let's talk music. Buck, is there one particular person who has particularly inspired you and helped you to find your own path on the Scene?

Wilton Crawley.

Now there's a name I don't recall.

Your loss, good buddy. Father of the avant-guard, but he was still good despite that. Got that ol' slap-tongue licked. They called it hokum then. Now it's personal expression and very serious. Every tasteless mother go pukkapukka. Big deal. Horseshit.

Sounds smashing.

Certainly does, old boy.

Well buck, many thanks. I've got all I need. So I won't bother you any further.

You couldn't. Okay. Gonna catch a gig at Potter's Place in Arundal. Ganga heavy cats hangin' out.

Er...Cool! Hang loose, man. Love those wingtip Bluchers. Neat! Neat! () () ()

Relevant information:

Wilton Crawley is featured with his own band on RCA RD-7914, Mr Jelly Lord.

A collection of previously un-issued recordings of Buck Funk's music is currently in preparation for release in cassette form only by Associates Records, UK. Hopefully, this compilation of tracks from various 'live' sessions will include examples of Funk's work with Denzil Bailey's Afro Cubists.

Article first published in Collusion magazine. Date unknown.