Con Funk Shun is a star-quality attraction delivering a superb, high-energy show with electrifying choreography, glistening six-part vocal harmonies, and a dash of humor. They are, unquestionably, among the heroes of Funk with romantic ballads and dance-party hits galore. Memorable melodies, inventive horn arrangements and clav-guitar woven grooves, make the group absolutely essential to the evolution of funk. They charted four consecutive Gold’s and one Platinum album. Their 20 hit singles included 8 Top Ten R&B Hits and one #1 R&B smash between ’77-’86.With finesse and consistency they legitimized what came following them: high-profile, commercial explosions featuring their hits in countless rap/hip-hop samples, exposed them to a new generation, now in their thirties. In response, Mercury/Polygram released the” Best of Con Funk Shun” in ’93 on their “Funk Essentials” Series. The fans immediately recoiled to the “Essential to Funk”, Con Funk Shun. Universal bought Polygram, and again released the sure-thing Money-Maker, “Best Of Con Funk Shun” on their Millennium Collection in March 2002.
This enthusiasm is what encored the band back to the stage. With rave concert reviews and cries for more LP’s, Mercury/PolyGram re-released the Gold-LP”Secrets” in ’95 and in ’96 “Best Of Vol. II” Then, Intersound Records released “Live For Ya Ass”, a live LP, in ’96 to coincide with CFS on the Sinbad “Soul Music Festival” HBO Special airing that August/September. ’97, brought a “Love’s Train” cover on a Multi-Platinum debut by Dru Hill, and samples for Gold-LP Booty Call Soundtrack (“Huckelberry” by D Shot) and Double-Platinum Gang Related Soundtrack (“A Change Is Gonna Come” by J. Flexx). ’98, saw the re-release of Gold-LP “Spirit Of Love” and the “Ballads Collection”. 2000 brought a new round of funk with Con Funk Shun contributing two new tracks to the Major Hits Records “United We Funk Allstars Compilation” (and Tour) including GAP’s Charlie Wilson, Rick James, Dazz Band, Roger Troutman, SOS Band, Barkay’s, and The System. In addition to the band’s schedule, Michael Cooper remains vital in contemporary music today. When Con Funk Shun launched head man Michael Cooper between ’86 to ’93, Cooper shined on a string of solo hits including “Shoop Shoop”, ” Prove My Love”, and “Dinner For Two” on his Warner Bros. LP’s,in 2003 on NCA ” THIS HEART OF MINE” and “ARE WE COOL” Pilate emerged as a multi-platinum record producer for his award-winning production on M.C. Hammer, Addams Family Movie, and Hammer man Cartoon Show.
In their formative years, they started in their hometown of Vallejo, CA. The band wound up in Memphis in the mid-70’s when they landed a lucky gig backing the Soul Children, a red-hot Stax act. After the Soul Children back-up gig the group adopted a new name inspired from a Nite-Liters song: ConFunkShun. After the newly re-named act attracted the attention of Mercury Records, they soon set funkateers around the world on fire with “Sho’ Feels Good To Me,” from their debut album. Their second LP, “Secrets”, exploded to Gold status. The LP featured the No. 1 Hit Single, “Ffun,” penned by the productive, prolific Cooper on a tour-coach ride between concerts. By 1979, with charting albums “Loveshine” and “Candy”, Con Funk Shun were solid-Gold sellers, performing for sold-out shows like the prestigious Omni in Atlanta. The group began self-producing a year later, on the “Touch” LP. Alongside blistering dance workouts like “Chase Me” and “Ms. Got-The-Body” were their timeless slow-jams with pop fliar – classic fav’s such as, “Love’s Train”, “Straight From The Heart”, “(Let Me Put) Love On Your Mind” and “All Up To You”. Then CSF teamed with Kool & The Gang’s producer, Eumir Deodato, producing “Baby I’m Hooked (Right Into Your Love).” “I’m Leaving Baby” was a collaboration with Maurice Starr, then-future svengali to New Kids On The Block. These hits and more remain on radio playlists today, year after year… Recent appearances include Tokyo’s Cotton club, Cashe Creek casino Resort, Harrah’s New Orleans,Yoshi’s Oakland Ca, Celebrity theater Phoenix Ar, and the Master of funk USA tour, The Tom Joyner fantastic voyage cruise 2016,The Soul Train cruise.
Look for the LATEST CONFUNKSHUN CD NO. “XII ,” MORE THAN LOVE.