Maceo Parker, 73 -- saxophone sideman to stars including Beyoncé, Prince and James Brown -- practices at his Kinston, North Carolina home. He'll be awarded a NC Heritage Award on Wednesday | The News & Observer

We wish the happiest of birthdays to the King of the Funky Saxophone, Maceo Parker, who turns 80 today! One of the primary architects of modern R&B, Parker spent the first half of his career in the service of funk’s founding fathers, and in his second act as a bandleader. The altoist made his mark as an essential voice in the powerhouse horns backing James Brown, contributing classic funk solos on some of the Godfather’s iconic hits. He went on to join George Clinton’s moveable funk feast in Par