Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)

“Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)” by Lee Dorsey: New Orleans Funk From 1969

Picture the deep, rolling funk of New Orleans at the close of the 1960s, all syncopated rhythm, greasy grooves, and irresistible good humor. At the heart of that sound stood Lee Dorsey, a singer whose warm voice and infectious feel made him one of the city's most beloved performers. With “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On),” Dorsey delivered a declaration of pure funk intent, a groove-driven track that captured the unmistakable New Orleans sensibility and the city's rich rhythmic tradition.

Where The Artist Stood

By 1969, Lee Dorsey was a celebrated voice in New Orleans rhythm and blues, known for his warm, good-humored delivery and his run of infectious, groove-driven hits. He embodied the city's distinctive musical sensibility. Lee Dorsey was one of the most beloved figures in New Orleans funk and rhythm and blues, an artist whose warmth and feel set him apart. “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)” arrived as part of this run, a track that declared the funk spirit at the center of his appeal. For a singer steeped in the New Orleans groove, a song built around pure funk intent was the most natural and joyful expression of his musical world.

The Sound Of The Record

The track is deep, rolling New Orleans funk, built on a syncopated groove, a greasy rhythm, and Dorsey's warm, good-humored vocal. It moves with the unmistakable feel of the city's music, the kind of loose, infectious groove that defined New Orleans funk at its best. The deep groove and Dorsey's warm vocal are the heart of the recording, giving the song its irresistible feel and charm. The arrangement is built around rhythm and feel, channeling the rich rhythmic tradition of New Orleans into a track full of personality. It is the kind of record that captures the distinctive groove of its city, a funk declaration built on syncopated rhythm and warm, good-humored delivery. There is a real looseness and joy to the whole recording, the unmistakable feel of musicians steeped in the New Orleans tradition, playing with the relaxed, infectious groove that made the city's funk so distinctive and so beloved among those who knew it. The rhythm rolls along with an easy, unhurried confidence, the kind of deep pocket that only musicians raised on the New Orleans sound could find. That combination of looseness and feel, of relaxed groove and warm good humor, is exactly what made Lee Dorsey and his city's funk so irresistible and so influential on the wider world of rhythm and blues.

The Chart Journey

On the Billboard Hot 100, the single had a brief stay. It debuted on June 28, 1969 at number 96, held at 96 the following week, then edged up to its peak of number 95 on July 12, 1969, before departing the chart. In total it spent three weeks on the Hot 100, a brief run that does not reflect the song's lasting appeal among funk lovers. Like much great New Orleans funk, its true significance extended well beyond its modest chart position, earning it lasting appreciation among those who treasure the city's distinctive groove.

Its Place In The Story

“Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)” stands as a fine example of Lee Dorsey's warm, groove-driven New Orleans funk, a single that captures the distinctive feel of his city's music. It reflects the rich New Orleans funk tradition at the close of the 1960s. The song showcases a beloved artist declaring his funk intent with warmth and infectious groove. With around 155,000 YouTube views keeping it alive online, it continues to reach listeners drawn to its irresistible feel. For anyone exploring New Orleans funk or Dorsey's catalog, this single is a warm and groove-rich stop, a fine example of the city's distinctive rhythmic spirit.

Press play and feel the warm, rolling groove of New Orleans funk at its most irresistible.

“Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)” — Lee Dorsey's singular moment on the 1960s charts.