Con Funk Shun: Behind the Music
Contents
Go behind the scenes with Con Funk Shun and learn what it took to become one of the most successful funk bands of the 1970s. Discover the stories of the band members, their creative process, and the obstacles they overcame to find success.
Introduction
Con Funk Shun is an American funk band that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The band was formed in 1968 by high school friends Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate, and they went on to release eight studio albums. Con Funk Shun enjoyed their greatest success with the album Spirit of Love, which contained the hits “Ffun” and “Shake and Dance With Me”. The band’s popularity waned in the early 1990s, but they continue to perform to this day.
Con Funk Shun’s music is characterized by its catchy melodies, tight instrumentation, and sexually suggestive lyrics. The band is often credited with helping to pioneer the “funk” sound that would come to dominate popular music in the 1970s. Con Funk Shun’s music remains popular among funk fans, and the band continues to perform live shows across the United States.
Early Years
Con Funk Shun was originally formed in 1968 in Vallejo, California, by high school friends Michael Cooper, Karl Dixon, Cedric Martin, Paul Harrell, and Louis McCall. The group began as a cover band, playing funk and soul tunes by artists like James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone. They soon began writing their own material and released their first album, self-titled Con Funk Shun, in 1977.
Forming the group
The seven-member R&B and funk band Con Funk Shun was formed in 1968 in Vallejo, California, a small city located 40 miles northeast of San Francisco in the southern part of the state. The original members were high school friends Marvin “Sweet Louie” Smith (lead vocals), Paul “Maceo” Williams (guitar), Michael Cooper (keyboards), Dennis Johnson (bass guitar), Cedric Martin (drums), Karl Carter (percussion), and Danny ‘Sweet D’ Thomas (saxophone). They took their name from a local club where they often played called the Conexxion Club, which was later shortened to Con Funk Shun.
First album
In 1976, Con Funk Shun signed with Mercury Records and released their self-titled debut album the following year. The album spawned the singles “Ffun” and “Shake and Dance with Me”, which both charted in the top 40 of the Billboard R&B singles chart. The album itself peaked at number two on the Billboard R&B albums chart.
The height of their popularity
Formed in the early 1970s, Con Funk Shun was a highly successful band during the disco and funk era. The group enjoyed a string of hits throughout the decade, and their music continues to be popular today. Let’s take a look at the height of their popularity.
Second album
Their second album, Funk Plus the One, was released in 1977. The first single, “So Easy,” was a minor hit. The album did well enough that the group was able to tour with Earth, Wind & Fire during the summer of 1977. The second single from Funk Plus the One, “Chase Me,” was more successful, reaching #21 on the R&B charts.
Third album
Their third album, Cahoots, was released in 1977. It contained the hit singles “Shake and Dance with Me” and “Chase Me.” After the release of this album, the band embarked on a world tour.
The present day
Recent activity
After a hiatus in the early 2000’s, Con Funk Shun reformed in 2009 with the original lineup of Louis Aistar, Michael Cooper, Karl soils, Felton Pilate and Danny Thomas. They released their first album in over 15 years entitled “Resurrection” on June 23, 2009 on the Funkytowngrooves label. The album featured 9 new tracks along with 6 re-recorded classics such as “Ffun”, “Shake and Dance with Me” and “Chase Me.”
The group has continued to tour throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. In 2012 they were nominated for a Grammy Award for their album “ConFunkShunTious.”
Conclusion
After memberdifficulties and the loss of their record label, Con Funk Shun foundthemselves at a crossroads. But with the help of veteran producer DavidFrank, they managed to get back on track and recapture some of the oldmagic. With a new album set for release and a nationwide tour in theworks, Con Funk Shun is ready to take their music to the next level.
