By: Lennard James
Memphis has always produced musicians who refuse to sound like everyone else. From blues and gospel to soul, rock and roll, funk, R&B, and hip-hop, the city’s greatest musical contributions have often come from artists willing to take chances and create something uniquely their own. That tradition continues through MonoNeon, the Grammy Award-winning bassist, songwriter, producer, and musical innovator whose extraordinary talent has placed him alongside some of the most influential artists in music, including Prince, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and the legendary Mavis Staples.
Born Dywane Eric Thomas Jr. and raised in Memphis’ historic Orange Mound community, MonoNeon has developed a musical identity that is almost impossible to duplicate. His colorful fashion, unconventional personality, and remarkable command of the bass have helped make him immediately recognizable, but behind the visual creativity is a serious musician whose abilities have earned the respect of some of the greatest performers of multiple generations.
Music became part of MonoNeon’s life at an early age. His father was also a bassist, giving him an early connection to the instrument that would eventually take him around the world. Growing up in Memphis provided another form of education. This is a city where music can be heard in churches, clubs, studios, neighborhoods, and family gatherings. Gospel, blues, soul, and funk are not simply genres in Memphis; they are part of the city’s cultural DNA.
MonoNeon took those influences and created something completely different. Although naturally right-handed, he became known for playing a right-handed bass upside down without reversing the strings. Instead of allowing an unconventional technique to become a limitation, he transformed it into part of his musical identity. His bass playing can be funky, aggressive, melodic, unpredictable, and experimental, sometimes all within the same performance.
One of the defining chapters of his career came when his talent attracted the attention of Prince. Working with Prince represented an extraordinary accomplishment for any musician because Prince was known for demanding excellence from the people who entered his musical world. MonoNeon performed with Prince at Paisley Park and became one of the final bass players to work with the legendary artist before Prince’s death in 2016.
The significance of that relationship extends beyond having Prince’s name attached to a résumé. Prince represented musical freedom, individuality, and the courage to challenge conventional expectations. Those same characteristics can be seen throughout MonoNeon’s career. Prince recognized something special in the young Memphis musician, and that experience became an important chapter in MonoNeon’s development as an artist.
His musical journey would also connect him with George Clinton, the legendary mastermind behind Parliament-Funkadelic and one of the architects of funk music. Clinton helped create a musical movement whose influence can still be heard throughout funk, R&B, rock, and hip-hop. MonoNeon’s work with Clinton represents a bridge between generations, connecting one of funk’s foundational innovators with an artist helping carry that spirit of experimentation forward.
Bootsy Collins represents another important connection. Few bass players have influenced funk music as profoundly as Collins. From his early work with James Brown to Parliament-Funkadelic and his successful solo career, Bootsy transformed the bass guitar into both a musical instrument and a personality. MonoNeon shares that willingness to make the bass impossible to ignore. Both musicians demonstrate that exceptional technique does not have to come at the expense of creativity, personality, or entertainment.
Then there is Mavis Staples, whose presence makes MonoNeon’s musical story even more meaningful from a Memphis perspective. Staples is one of the most respected voices in American gospel, soul, and roots music. As a member of The Staple Singers and throughout her celebrated solo career, she has used music to communicate messages of faith, hope, dignity, perseverance, and social consciousness. MonoNeon’s opportunity to work with Staples further demonstrates his versatility and ability to contribute musically alongside artists whose careers represent different generations and traditions.
There is something particularly fitting about the connection between MonoNeon and Mavis Staples. The Staple Singers became deeply connected to the Memphis sound through their historic recordings at Stax Records, while MonoNeon represents a newer generation of Memphis creativity. Their musical paths illustrate how the city’s legacy continues to move forward rather than simply remaining part of history.
MonoNeon’s accomplishments have continued to grow. His contribution to Nas’ King’s Disease became part of a Grammy-winning project when the album received the award for Best Rap Album in 2021. His work has crossed musical boundaries, demonstrating that his bass playing cannot be confined to funk alone. He has contributed to projects involving hip-hop, soul, jazz, R&B, and experimental music while continuing to develop his own catalog.
Another major recognition came when Fender introduced a MonoNeon signature five-string Jazz Bass in 2022. Having a signature instrument from one of the world’s most recognizable guitar and bass manufacturers represented another milestone for a musician whose unconventional technique once separated him from traditional players.
Yet one of the most compelling aspects of MonoNeon’s journey is that success has not required him to abandon the individuality that made people notice him in the first place. He remains colorful. He remains unpredictable. He continues experimenting. Most importantly, he continues playing with the unmistakable confidence of someone who understands that originality can be an advantage.
For young musicians, especially those growing up in Memphis, his journey carries an important message. You do not necessarily have to imitate someone else’s path to achieve greatness. Developing your craft, understanding your history, and having enough courage to embrace what makes you different can create opportunities that once seemed impossible.
From Orange Mound to Paisley Park and from Prince to George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Mavis Staples, MonoNeon has traveled an extraordinary musical road. He has earned Grammy recognition, inspired bass players around the world, and established himself as one of the distinctive musicians to emerge from Memphis in his generation.
MonoNeon is more than a gifted bass player. He is another chapter in Memphis’ remarkable musical story, a creative force connecting the city’s legendary past with its evolving future. Memphis has always produced artists who changed the rules instead of simply following them, and MonoNeon proudly carries that tradition forward in a style that is completely and unmistakably his own.
