Felton Pilate

Felton C. Pilate II (born November 5, 1952) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer known as a member of the 1970s and 1980s funk/R&B band Con Funk Shun.

Pilate was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, to Felton Pilate Sr., a naval physician and Benita Akines Pilate a music major and Social worker. After many military assignments, the Pilate family’s last move would be a move to Vallejo, California, where Felton Jr. would spend his formative years. Pilate knew from a young age that music would be an important part of his life. He took trumpet and piano lessons and self taught himself to play guitar and the trombone. In high school he created a band and performed locally while honing his craft.

Michael Cooper, who had another local band, asked him to join his band during their final high school years. That was the beginning of his career as a member of Project Soul. That band went on the road with recording artists, The Soul Children and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where they got a record deal and was asked to change their name from Project Soul. The band choose the name Con Funk Shun. The band went on to record a string of hit records in the 1970s and 1980s. Pilate was co-record producer, and songwriter, for his own group's albums and singles. He still performs with Con Funk Shun to date. Pilate proclaims that the music industry has been his only income since 1972.

As a collaborator with rapper MC Hammer, Pilate's joint efforts with Hammer are now five Diamond having sold over 30 million albums from 1989 to 1992 alone, that include albums Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (1990) and Too Legit to Quit (1991).