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Fred Wesley is a trombonist, bandleader, arranger, composer and author. He was music director, arranger, trombonist and a primary composer for James Brown from 1968-1975. He later arranged and played for Parliament-Funkadelic and Bootsy's Rubber Band, and has since played with and arranged for a wide variety of other artists including Ray Charles, Pancho Sanchez, New York Voices, Slide Hampton, Van Morrison, the SOS Band and Cameo. Janet Jackson, Nas, and scores of other artists have sampled his work. His book, "Hit Me Fred: Recollections of a Side Man," was released in 2003 by Duke University Press. Also a veteran of the Count Basie Orchestra, he now focuses on jazz. His solo jazz recordings include "To Someone," "Amalgamation," "Comme Ci Comme Ca," "Full Circle" and "Wuda Cuda Shuda."