Ray Davis, one of the founding members of Parliament-Funkadelic, whose music has been an inspiration for modern rap and hip-hop bands, died at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., at the age of 65.
His death was caused by respiratory complications, according to his son, Derrick, reported Associated Press.

The musician born March 29, 1940, in Sumter, S.C, played with the original Parliaments, the band formed by George Clinton in the 1950's, which included Clarence Haskins and Grady Thomas as well.

Their single "(I Wanna) Testify" has reached the 1967's Top 20 pop hits and made them famous. Clinton changed the name of the group into "Parliament" and created another group called "Funkadelic", whose sound was much more influenced by the electric guitar.

The acts of the two groups became known as P-Funk, the musical attempt to bring o stage garish costumes completing the R&B, jazz, gospel and rock styles, which has made them one of the original bands of the 1970's.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, alongside famous artists like Bee Gees, Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Young Rascals and Buffalo Springfield.

Fans remember bass vocals of ray Davis for two of the band's hits, which reached No.1 on the R&B charts, "One Nation Under a Groove" and "Flashlight'.

He continued his career as musician aster the 1990s, together with his colleagues Haskins and Thomas.