b. Felton Clyde Pilate II, U.S.A.
Felton Pilate is an accomplished trombone, bass trumpet, piano, synthesizer, acoustic guitar player as well as an excellent vocalist.
Felton was the long time vocalist for the Mercury / PolyGram group ConFunkShun.
He left ConFunkShun for a solo career, releasing a solo album entitled 'Nothing But Love Spoken Here' in 2002.
An 11 track offering, the set focuses on slow to midtempo melodies, which lean more to the 'love theme' rather than some of todays more lewd offerings.
The song 'Keepin' You To Your Prornise' was originally penned by Pilate for The Stylistics.
A Taste Of Honey's Janice Marie Johnson duets with him on 'Only For You', a song based around the theme of devotion.
Originally, Felton arrived in the national spotlight with ConFunkShun on a formidable run of ten successful records including one Platinum and four consecutive Gold albums.
Their 20 hit singles included 8 Top Ten R & B Hits and one Number 1 R & B smash.
Alongside dance workouts such as 'Chase Me', 'Ms. Got The Body', and 'Ffun' were their quiet storm slow-jams which have become Felton's songwriting trademark.
Songs such as, 'Straight From The Heart', '(Let Me Put) Love On Your Mind', 'All Up To You', and 'Baby I'm Hooked (Right Into Your Love)' set the theme for his latest solo LP.
Felton is, additionally, well known for his production / writing work with rapper M.C. Hammer.
The Hammer / Pilate collaboration saw sales, from 1989 to 1992, reaching around 30 million.
These included 'Please Hammer Don't Hurt' Ern', the number 2 all time selling R & B LP.
Felton has received several awards and appearances including Grammies, M-TV, American Music, Billboard, and Soul Train, amongst others.
He also acted as Musical Director for MC Hammer's record breaking 250-date world tour which included the Earth, Wind and Fire horn section, and over 40 musicians, singers, dancers and rappers.
During his Capitol days, Feltons additional achievements include his film and TV soundtrack work for the Oscar-nominated 'Addams Groove' (Addams Family Movie theme) and Hammerman (Hammerman cartoon show).
He also has production / writing credits with the California State Lottery radio and the TV campaign slogan 'I Feel Like The Lucky One'.
His influence can be heard on several samples such as the D-Shot / Jive Records single, 'Huckleberry', featured on the Gold Columbia Pictures soundtrack, 'Booty Call' and the Double Platinum 'Gang Related' soundtrack recording 'A Change Is Gonna Come' by J. Flexx.
The recent eponymous Platinum debut LP, Dru Hill. with Pilate's re-vibed ConFunkShun classic, 'Love's Train', produced by Keith Sweat demonstrate Felton's versatility.
'Love Therapy', is the title track he produced / wrote for the recent Lenny Williams LP outing.
Most recently, he produced a song, 'Tell Me' on Evander Hollyfield's Real Deal Records' new male vocal act, Four Shades.
Thanks to Voni (from ConFunkShun's House of Ffun website) for providing most of the texts on this page
You can check the ConFunkShun's House of Ffun website right here
Albums:
Nothing But Love Spoken Here (Felton Pilate II records 2002)
