Waking Born

Funky Chicken is a Double Yellow Parrot. He was born in 1976 and his birthday is, rather appropriately, July 4. He was caught at about 6 months old underneath the Hollywood sign in Beachwood Canyon - "Perhaps that was an omen", says Steve Smith, his constant companion. Funky was captured using a piece of bread and a fish net, but he has "wizened up" now and chases everyone off, except Steve, of course. He has travelled all across the U.S. with Steve. While he lived in Buffalo N.Y., he had a special down cape made so he could go outside in the snow.

Later in life, Funky Chicken found his musical aspirations were beginning to flourish, and along with his companion, Steve, he toured with James Taylor and Rick James where he lived and slept on the tour bus. Having eaten and shit all over the bus it's safe to say that Funky was not very popular with the bus driver, but "JT", "RJ" and the band were much more accommodating. Unlike most of his friends, Funky Chicken is a strict tea-totaller, although he has been known to sip a tiny piece of froth off Steve's root beers from time to time.

During his musical hey-day, Funky appeared on-stage with James Taylor at the Greek Theater, performing an integral part of the song "Sea Cruise". His life is the kind of stuff from which documentaries have been made. For instance, he has been up in a single engine plane (Steve figured that, with his clipped wings, this would be the closest experience Funky would get to actually flying), he has crewed on an 18' Prindle Catamaran and also sailed aboard a 40' Morgan Slope on numerous trips to the Channel Islands off of Santa Barbara. While he may not have been much help at the winch, he always makes sure every one of the crew members pulls his weight.

Funky's latest vocal stylings can be heard on Waking Born's new album, Life Without Breath. Waking Born was pleased to have Funky Chicken perform most of the lead bird vocals on the track called "Life", re-creating for the listener a truly unforgettable emulation of the Double Yellow Parrot's mating and copulation cries. Steve said, "All in all Funky Chicken is not just a bird. He is a friend, family member and the best Birdster on the planet."

Steve passed away peacefully at his home with Funky at his side just after Christmas in the year 2000, at the age of 53. Although it is tragic that his life was cut short at so young an age, Steve would surely tell us that he had a marvellous life full of challenges, adventures, music, sand, surf, wind and sail. He lived his life to the fullest of his abilities. Funky is now being lovingly cared for by Steve's lifelong friend and ex-wife, Becky.