Pam Warren (a.k.a. Pam the Funkstress or Purple Pam) was born on November 11, 1966 in Shreveport, Louisiana and died on December 22, 2017. Warren was a DJ, most notably for the Oakland political hip-hop group The Coup. She was known for her liveliness when “scratching” beats, her push to include more women in hip hop, and her outstanding personality. She also had an original move called the Titty Scratch.
Warren was first drawn to Oakland after meeting Boots Riley in 1993 and becoming part of The Coup. Part of her appeal came from being one of very few female DJs and also from supporting the community by speaking out against capitalism and police brutality. As she quickly became a beloved musical figure in Oakland, she made a career in the Bay Area out of her DJing skills. Her fame and notoriety earned her the attention of other popular Bay Area groups for whom she would also DJ. She stayed in the area for over two decades until her death in 2017.
Warren attended Burlingame High School, when she honed in on two of her passions, music and the culinary arts. While working at her family’s business, Piccadilly Deli & Catering, Warren earned a degree in broadcast communications from Columbus Broadcasting School. Later in her career, Warren was spotted by Prince and would be invited to join him for what would be his final tour, which was the opportunity that earned her the nickname “Purple Pam.”
Warren’s introduction to hip hop was through her best friend Donna’s group, Imperial Sounds, in 1988. When Donna’s boyfriend wanted to teach someone how to DJ and Donna didn’t want to learn, Warren then volunteered. She fell in love with DJing instantly and was inspired by Salt-N-Pepa to become a member of East Palo Alto’s Female Funk. It gave her an outlet, which led to her guest DJing for a number of other groups. This is how Warren met Boots Riley, who invited her to DJ for and tour with his group The Coup, which she became a permanent member of. She would go on to DJ for KBLX, a San Francisco radio station.
Haunts:
- OMCA Park Jam, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607. The Oakland Museum of California’s inaugural Park Jam outdoor festival was a musical event that aimed to feature the full spectrum of hip-hop artists, including live musicians, turntablists, and dancers. At 2018’s event, to honor Warren’s major contributions to hip hop, a tribute was performed so that everyone in attendance was reminded of just how important her music was.
- The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612. The New Parish is an intimate music venue in Oakland that features reggae, roots, and world music along with having an outdoor patio. In 2018, the Purple Pam Foundation hosted a birthday celebration for Warren to honor her memory, which featured musical performances, a silent auction, and a donation in her name to Youth Radio.
- Candlelight vigil for Pam, 30th Street & West Street, Oakland, CA 94608. An official candlelight vigil for Pam was held in Oakland following her passing in 2017. It was an event meant to celebrate her life and legacy, where those who participated could share stories about her if they had any, and her music was played so that they could remember her art. Pam the Funkstress truly had an incredibly powerful impact on the Oakland community.
~ by Alina Gomez ~
External Links:
https://www.purplepamfoundation.com/biography.html
http://trueskool.com/page/pam-the-funkstress
https://www.pamthefunkstress.com/
https://www.kqed.org/arts/13818092/pam-the-funkstress-pioneering-bay-area-dj-passes-away
