The Enduring Musical Imprint of Tyrone Griffin Sr.

A Foundation Built in Funk

Tyrone Griffin Sr. stands as one of those rare figures whose influence is felt more in echoes than in headlines. A quiet architect of sound, he contributed to the golden age of funk while shaping the next generation of talent within his own household. Known to many simply as “Pops,” Griffin’s story winds through the rhythmic corridors of the 1980s music scene and into the studios of modern R&B, where his children continue the family craft. His life resembles a long groove—steady, understated, yet impossible to ignore.

Basic Information

Early Life and the Rise of a Musician

Although his early biography remains largely obscured by time—no public birth date, no confirmed birthplace—clues suggest that Griffin came of age during the height of funk and soul’s cultural ascent. By the early 1980s, he had already immersed himself in the craft, carving out a place in a competitive musical era defined by elaborate arrangements and powerful showmanship.

In 1983, he joined Lakeside, the Dayton-born funk collective known for its swaggering horn sections and tightly choreographed live performances. His entry came at a pivotal moment: the band had already released their signature hit “Fantastic Voyage” in 1980 and was still riding the wave of their popularity. Griffin contributed through the group’s continuing evolution from 1983 to 1997, holding position as a trusted multi-instrumentalist and performer during their SOLAR Records run.

Lakeside Tenure: 1983–1997

During his fourteen-year stretch with the band, Griffin toured extensively, performed across major U.S. venues, and participated in studio sessions that kept Lakeside’s name circulating through much of the 1980s and 1990s. Though not a spotlight-seeking member, his role was central—working musicians like him are the steel beams behind the façade.

Selected Career Timeline

His departure in 1997 did not mark an end to creative work but rather signaled a shift. Griffin began contributing to productions, including bass work for Immature and contributions to West Coast studio sessions in the orbit of Death Row Records. Those years laid the groundwork for a surprising next chapter—working alongside his own children.

A Quiet Patriarch in a Musical Household

If Griffin’s professional life reads like a steady bassline, his family life resembles a complex harmony—sometimes tense, always intertwined.

He and his former partner Phyllis Mitchell raised three musically inclined children:

• Tyrone William Griffin Jr., born April 13, 1982
• Gabriel “Big TC” Griffin, born in the mid-1980s
• Angel Gold (Gabriela Griffin), born in the late 1980s

Their household in Los Angeles became a crossroads of genres and generations. Griffin frequently brought his young son Tyrone Jr. into recording studios, introducing him to legends such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Prince. These early experiences formed the bedrock for Ty Dolla Sign’s later success.

The Children: Three Distinct Paths

Tyrone William Griffin Jr.

Known worldwide as Ty Dolla Sign, Tyrone Jr. built a career that fuses R&B, hip-hop, and soul, echoing the layered musical environment he grew up in. Born in 1982, he navigated South Central Los Angeles in his youth, eventually finding refuge and identity in songwriting and production. With a daughter, Jailynn (born 2005), and a discography filled with collaborators from Kanye West to Wiz Khalifa, he carries both the burdens and blessings of family history.

Gabriel “Big TC” Griffin

Gabriel’s path took a painful turn. In 2004 he was convicted for a murder he maintains he did not commit. His incarceration has become a major theme in Ty’s catalog, most notably the 2015 album “Free TC.” Despite confinement, Big TC continues to contribute vocals remotely, including appearances in the track “Miracle / Wherever.”

Angel Gold

Angel Gold, the youngest, followed the family tradition into music with a smoother, dreamlike sound. Working closely with her brother, she appears on tracks like “Family,” adding melodic contrast to the Griffin musical palette. While she maintains a lower profile, her presence adds yet another voice to a household shaped by rhythm.

Family Table Overview

Later Years and Public Appearances

As the decades progressed, Griffin receded from public focus but did not withdraw from music. His name surfaces in credits, in interviews, and in small but meaningful performances. In 2020, he spoke candidly in a recorded conversation about industry pressures and life lessons. By 2025, he appeared with the Blue Breeze Band, performing trumpet alongside veteran musicians—a reminder that artistry, once rooted, rarely fades.

His digital presence, however, remains minimal. His X account saw its last activity in 2023. Instagram posts featuring him tend to be resurfaced reels from earlier interviews. Such scarcity is not absence but intention; Griffin seems to prefer living offline, allowing his work and his children’s achievements to speak in his place.

A Legacy Anchored in Sound

Across more than four decades, Tyrone Griffin Sr. has maintained a life anchored in music, family, and disciplined craftsmanship. His influence runs through the veins of his children’s work, and his long presence in funk history continues to hum beneath the broader story of West Coast music. His career might not have been defined by spotlights, but like the bassline he mastered, his impact keeps the rhythm steady for everyone who follows.