{{Short description|American musician (1958–2023)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Amp Fiddler | image = Amp Fiddler.jpg | alt = A man wearing white pants, white undershirt, and white hat standing on stage with his head down and his arms open wide. | caption = Amp Fiddler in a concert in Waterfront, Toronto in 2004 | birth_name = Joseph Anthony Fiddler | birth_date = {{Birth date|1958|5|16}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | origin = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|12|18|1958|5|17}} | death_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Soul|P funk|funk|R&B}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|keyboardist|record producer}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|keyboards}} | label = Ampliphonic }}

'''Joseph Anthony''' "'''Amp'''" '''Fiddler''' (May 17, 1958 – December 18, 2023)<ref name = Rubin/> was an American singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and record producer from Detroit, Michigan. His musical styles included funk, soul, dance and electronica. He was probably best known for his contributions to the band Enchantment, and as part of George Clinton's Parliament and Funkadelic groups from 1985 to 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.h2g2.com/entry/A2378595 |title=BBC – collective – amp fiddler interview and session |website=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722075402/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A2378595 |archive-date=July 22, 2012}}</ref>

==Early life== Fiddler was born in Detroit on May 17, 1958.<ref name="Bennett">{{cite web |last=Bennett |first=Chuck |date=May 17, 2018 |title=Society Confidential: Musician Amp Fiddler celebrates 60th birthday at Willis Show Bar |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2018/05/17/society-confidential-chuck-bennett-amp-fiddler-willis-show-bar-ferrari-saks-fifth-avenue-troy/620238002/ |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=The Detroit News}}</ref><ref name="dn-18dec2023">{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Adam |title=Amp Fiddler, influential Detroit funk musician, dies at 65 |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/12/18/amp-fiddler-influential-detroit-funk-musician-dies-at-65/71957442007/ |access-date=December 18, 2023 |work=The Detroit News |date=December 18, 2023}}</ref><ref name="guard-18dec2023">{{cite news |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |title=Amp Fiddler, funk musician with all-star collaborations, dies aged 65 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/18/amp-fiddler-funk-musician-with-all-star-collaborations-dies-aged-65 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> He began studying music at the age of 16.<ref name="ro-17dec2016">{{cite news |title=Amp Fiddler talks early years, J Dilla and new album, 'Motor City Booty' |url=https://rollingout.com/2016/12/17/amp-fiddler-talks-early-years-j-dilla-new-album-motor-city-booty/ |access-date=December 18, 2023 |work=Rolling Out |date=December 17, 2016}}</ref> After graduating from high school, he continued studying music at Wayne County Community College, Oakland Community College, and Oakland University.<ref name="ro-17dec2016" /> He left Oakland University to go on tour full-time with Enchantment.<ref name="dn-18dec2023" /><ref name="ro-17dec2016" />

==Career== Fiddler began his career with the band Enchantment after meeting the lead singer through a friend and worked with the band for roughly three years. After his time with Enchantment, Fiddler began playing keyboard for George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic as a fill-in keyboardist before earning a spot in the permanent line-up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview: Amp Fiddler|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/06/interview-amp-fiddler|access-date=2026-03-30|website=daily.redbullmusicacademy.com|language=en}}</ref> From there he met and worked with many prominent artists including Prince, Was (Not Was), Moodymann, Carl Craig, Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Jamiroquai, Brand New Heavies, Fishbone, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Neo-soul artist Maxwell.<ref name="cl-11mar2007">{{cite web |title=Amp Fiddler |url=http://www.clubbity.com/charts_fea.asp?ID=39&tipo=interviews&offset=30 |website=Clubbity |access-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311071943/http://www.clubbity.com/charts_fea.asp?ID=39&tipo=interviews&offset=30 |archive-date=March 11, 2007 |date=March 11, 2007}}</ref>

Working with his brother, Bubz (bass guitarist, producer and songwriter), Fiddler released the album ''With Respect'' in 1991 on Elektra, recording under the name Mr. Fiddler.<ref name="dn-18dec2023" /><ref name="mo-mar2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/amp-fiddler.htm |title=Amp Fiddler : interview |last=Hands |first=Steve |date=March 2004 |website=MusicOMH |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325085631/http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/amp-fiddler.htm |archive-date=March 25, 2006}}</ref> His debut album as Amp Fiddler, ''Waltz of a Ghetto Fly'', was released on March 9, 2004.<ref name="guard-18dec2023" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/waltz-of-a-ghetto-fly-mw0000454417 |title=Amp Fiddler – Waltz of a Ghetto Fly Album Reviews, Songs & More |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> His final album, ''Basementality'', was released in 2021.<ref name="guard-18dec2023" />

After receiving an endorsement from Native Instruments, Fiddler approached the company with the idea of developing his own expansion pack for their music software. This lead to the release of ''Amplified Funk'' and ''Conant Gardens'' in 2015<ref name="ro-17dec2016" />

Fiddler received a Kresge Artist Fellowship in 2020.<ref name="dn-18dec2023" />

Fiddler was credited with introducing hip-hop producer J Dilla to the Akai MPC sampling drum machine<ref name="MetroTimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/music/fundraiser-planned-for-detroits-amp-fiddler-34737307 |title=Fundraiser planned for Detroit's Amp Fiddler |author1=Broccoli |last2=Zimmer |first2=Joe |website=Metro Times |date=November 28, 2023 |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> and also to A Tribe Called Quest member Q-Tip,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/amp-fiddler-turn-up-the-amp |title=Amp Fiddler |website=Red Bull Music Academy |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> who introduced the young Dilla into the music industry world.<ref name="dn-18dec2023" />

In regard to Dilla's memory, Fiddler said:

{{blockquote|The first beat he played for me he looped the whole track from cassette player to cassette player. There were a few drops, but for the most part it was pretty damn precise. So I told him he needs to go home and separate all the samples to load into the MPC, and he came back with all the samples separated and mapped out exactly how he wanted it. As time went on, he got better and better. He used to come by the crib to get on the MPC and he would work on it for three or four hours at a time. He used to have a big smile on his face, because he was so excited after finishing a beat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stonesthrow.com/news/spiritualized/ |title=Spiritualized &#124; Stones Throw Records |website=Stones Throw Records |date=March 19, 2006 |access-date=May 1, 2012}}</ref>}}

==Personal life, illness, and death== Fiddler married Tombi Stewart in 2023. He had a son from a previous relationship.<ref name = Rubin>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/arts/music/amp-fiddler-dead.html|title = Amp Fiddler, Versatile Keyboardist, Singer and Mentor, Dies at 65|last = Rubin|first = Mike|newspaper = The New York Times|date = December 26, 2023|accessdate = December 26, 2023|url-access = limited}}</ref>

Following ongoing health issues and recovery from surgery in 2022, a fundraiser was arranged for Fiddler in Detroit on December 10, 2023, to help cover his medical expenses.<ref name="MetroTimes"/> He died from cancer at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit on December{{nbsp}}18, 2023,<ref name = Rubin/> at the age of 65.<ref name="guard-18dec2023" /><ref name = Rubin/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/amp-fiddler-has-died-cause-of-death/ |title=Amp Fiddler Has Died; Cause Of Death |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=December 18, 2023 |website=Clash |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref><ref name="freep-mccollum-23">{{cite news |last1=McCollum |first1=Brian |title=Amp Fiddler, revered Detroit musician, had a career that spanned genres and decades |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2023/12/18/amp-fiddler-music-legacy-detroit/71960238007/ |work=Detroit Free Press |date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

== Legacy == Fiddler's influence on Detroit music continues with Camp Amp. A group led by Tombi Stewart aimed towards fostering musical collaboration and mentorship for upcoming Detroit artists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CAMP AMP Official |url=https://campampofficial.org/ |access-date=2026-04-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 16 2025, Revere street (the street he grew up on) was renamed in his honor to Amp Fiddler Ave.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Chris |date=2025-05-20 |title=Honoring a legend: Detroit celebrates Amp Fiddler Day with street renaming |url=https://wdet.org/2025/05/20/honoring-a-legend-detroit-celebrates-amp-fiddler-day-with-street-renaming/ |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=WDET 101.9 FM |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''With Respect'' (1991) * ''Waltz of a Ghetto Fly'' (2004) – UK No. 82 * ''Afro Strut'' (2006) – UK No. 126 * ''Inspiration Information'' (2008) – with Sly and Robbie<ref name="bs-oct2008">{{cite magazine |last1=Lewis |first1=Pete |title=Amp Fiddler: Funky Sensation |url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/350/amp_fiddler_funky_sensation |date=October 2008 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |magazine=Blues & Soul |issue=1101}}</ref> * ''Motor City Booty'' (2016) * ''Kindred Live'' (2017) – with Will Sessions * ''Amp Dog Knights'' (2017) * ''The One'' (2018) – with Will Sessions

'''Source:'''<ref name="am-af">{{cite web |title=Amp Fiddler |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000748877#discography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

===Singles, maxi-singles, and EPs=== * "Basementality" (2002) * "Love and War" (2003) * "Possibilities" (2003) * "I Believe in You" (2003) – UK No. 72<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |page=22}}</ref> * "Dreamin" (2004) – UK No. 71<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> * "Too High" (2004) * "If You Can't Get Me Off Your Mind" (2004) * "I Believe in You" (2004) * "Eye to Eye" (2004) * "Right Where You Are" (2006) * "Ridin' / Faith" (2006) * "Hope / Dope" (2006) * "If I Don't" (2007) – featuring Corinne Bailey Rae * "Find My Way" (2007) * "Stay or Move On" (2008) * "Inspiration Information" (2008) – with Sly and Robbie * "Blackhouse (Paint the White House Black)" (2008) – with Sly and Robbie * "Take It" (2014) – featuring Raphael Saadiq * "Basementality 2" (2014) * "Bassmentality 3" (2015) * "Motor City Booty" (2016) * "So Sweet" (2017) * "Lost Without You" (2017) – with Will Sessions * "Reminiscin'" (2017) – with Will Sessions * "Rendezvous" (2017) – with Will Sessions * "Keep Coming" (2019)

'''Source:'''<ref name="am-af" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|ampfiddler.com}} * {{allmusic artist}} * {{discogs artist}} * {{imdb name|1620585}} * [https://www.soulrnb.com/interviews/amp-fiddler-amphetaminique-soul.htm Amp Fiddler] interview by SoulRnB.com (in French) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20111024164351/http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/amp-fiddler--turn-up-the-amp Amp Fiddler] lecture at Red Bull Music Academy

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiddler, Amp}} Category:1958 births Category:2023 deaths Category:20th-century African-American male singers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:21st-century African-American male singers Category:21st-century American male singers Category:African-American male singer-songwriters Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American funk keyboardists Category:American funk singers Category:American soul keyboardists Category:American soul singers Category:Deaths from cancer in Michigan Category:P-Funk members Category:Singers from Detroit Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan