Parlet was an American female funk group formed in 1978 as a spin-off of Parliament-Funkadelic. Conceived by George Clinton, Parlet was envisioned as a female counterpart to the Parliament vocal group, blending streetwise funk with theatrical stage presence and bold sensuality. The groupâÂÂs earliest lineup featured longtime P-Funk vocalists Debbie Wright, Jeanette Washington, and Mallia Franklin â all of whom had contributed background vocals on Parliament-Funkadelic albums throughout the mid-1970s.
Parlet was formed by funk impresario George Clinton in 1978 as a female-fronted offshoot of Parliament-Funkadelic, conceived alongside Brides of Funkenstein to highlight P-FunkâÂÂs female performers. Vocalists Debbie Wright and Jeanette Washington, both longtime members of the P-Funk vocal section, began the initial studio recordings for the groupâÂÂs debut album, Pleasure Principle. During the album's development, Mallia Franklin joined the group to complete the trio, adding her voice to finish the recordings.
ParletâÂÂs debut album, Pleasure Principle, was released in spring 1978 on Casablanca Records. Produced by George Clinton, the album featured PâÂÂFunk luminaries including Bootsy Collins, Garry Shider, and Bernie Worrell. The record fused heavy funk and disco rhythms, showcasing strong vocal interplay between the trio. Despite critical praise, the album was modest on the charts, merely reaching No.â¯55 on the Billboard R&B albums chart. Shortly after its release, Wright was forced to depart due to health concerns and was unable to promote or tour the album.
Following WrightâÂÂs exit, vocalist Shirley Hayden joined Washington and Franklin. This lineup became known for bold, energetic performances while touring with Parliament-Funkadelic. During the recording of Invasion of the Booty Snatchers, Mallia Franklin departed the group and was replaced by Janice Evans, finalizing the trio that appeared on the 1979 release. Co-produced by Clinton and Ron Dunbar, the album was backed by the newly debuted P-Funk Horns (Greg Boyer, Greg Thomas, Bennie Cowan), and featured the standout single âÂÂRidinâ HighâÂÂ.
During this era, Parlet toured extensively with Parliament-Funkadelic, sharing the stage on the tail end of the Mothership Connection era. Their performances were described as âÂÂwilder than the Bridesâ by insiders, known for synchronized choreography and on-stage confidence that matched the collectiveâÂÂs theatrical flair. George Clinton described the trioâÂÂs vocal style as delivering âÂÂthe right amount of sex and soul,â affirming ParletâÂÂs distinct persona within the wider PâÂÂFunk universe.
ParletâÂÂs third album, Play Me or Trade Me, followed in 1980, featuring the WashingtonâÂÂHaydenâÂÂEvans lineup and contributions from second-generation P-Funk musicians like Lige Curry and the Ali brothers. The single âÂÂWolf Ticketsâ included a vocal cameo from Clinton. However, CasablancaâÂÂs financial collapse led to minimal promotion and poor sales. The group quietly disbanded later that year as P-Funk underwent internal upheaval.
Though active for only three years, Parlet was groundbreaking as the first female-led act in the P-Funk universe. They brought visibility to women in funk, stepping forward from supporting roles into center stage. Their influence is recognized in how female vocalists later emerged in funk, soul, and hip-hop.