SC1240E | 2024-04-19
Tonight - The new single off the upcoming album Brand New Funk by Donnell Pitman & Wings of Sunshine. Coming May 2024 on Vinyl and Digital worldwide via Star Creature Record with productions and features from Caribou/Daphni, E. Live, Liquid Pegasus, Mofak, Yuki Kanesaka and more!
In a remarkable culmination of a nearly five-decade-long career, Donnell Pitman finally graces the music world with his debut album. This milestone marks his fifth venture with the esteemed Chicago label, Star Creature, following the release of previous 7' & 12's projects that commenced in 2016. While Pitman has long been revered among rare groove and deep crate diggers in the Windy City, it's the resurgent charm of 'The Chocolate Lover' that has undeniably become the defining chapter of his illustrious career, gaining momentum since the 2010s. His popularity continues to soar each year, propelled by new records, reissues, remixes, and notable placements in hit TV shows such as Stranger Things, Atlanta, Snowfall, and Southside.
Going back to 2011, a pivotal moment unfolded as the legendary rare-groove disco maestro Red Greg curated the inaugural 'Under The Influence' compilation series for Dave Lee's Z Records. Choosing Pitman's 'Love Explosion' as the opener for the now-goated 2xLP set breathed new life into a track that had long been out of print and out of reach, fetching major bones at auction. Fast forward to 2013, while researching their 'Chicago Party' compilation, The Numero Group unearthed a few unreleased master tapes of Pitman's. These hidden gems became the highlight of the compilation, earning an additional standalone 7' release and rekindling Pitman's connection with his hometown, where he crossed paths with fellow Chicagoan and future collaborator Kumar McMillan of the band Wings of Sunshine at the Release Party.
Following a couple years of collaborative brainstorming, Pitman and McMillan entered the studio to craft demos in 2016. Their creative synergy found a perfect home at Star Creature, the label helmed by Tim Zawada, resulting in a trilogy of 7' releases - 'Do You Wanna' (2017), 'Joog With Me' (2018), and 'Chocolate Lover' (2020). A white label remix of 'Do You Wanna,' premiered on BBC during Caribou's Essential Mix in 2020, not only showcased Pitman's timeless sound but also garnered clubland acclaim, later officially released under Caribou's Daphni alias on 12' in 2023.
With Numero Group managing his extensive back catalog and Star Creature steering the ship for new productions, Pitman found the impetus to embark on the logical next step: an album. Enlisting production assistance from the likes of E. Live, Mofak, Liquid Pegasus, and Yuki Kanesaka, 'Brand New Funk' (2024) seamlessly blurs the lines between vintage, modern, and futuristic funk. In doing so, Donnell Pitman not only solidifies his place in the annals of underground funk history but also sets the stage for another 50 years to come.
In a remarkable culmination of a nearly five-decade-long career, Donnell Pitman finally graces the music world with his debut album. This milestone marks his fifth venture with the esteemed Chicago label, Star Creature, following the release of previous 7' & 12's projects that commenced in 2016. While Pitman has long been revered among rare groove and deep crate diggers in the Windy City, it's the resurgent charm of 'The Chocolate Lover' that has undeniably become the defining chapter of his illustrious career, gaining momentum since the 2010s. His popularity continues to soar each year, propelled by new records, reissues, remixes, and notable placements in hit TV shows such as Stranger Things, Atlanta, Snowfall, and Southside.
Going back to 2011, a pivotal moment unfolded as the legendary rare-groove disco maestro Red Greg curated the inaugural 'Under The Influence' compilation series for Dave Lee's Z Records. Choosing Pitman's 'Love Explosion' as the opener for the now-goated 2xLP set breathed new life into a track that had long been out of print and out of reach, fetching major bones at auction. Fast forward to 2013, while researching their 'Chicago Party' compilation, The Numero Group unearthed a few unreleased master tapes of Pitman's. These hidden gems became the highlight of the compilation, earning an additional standalone 7' release and rekindling Pitman's connection with his hometown, where he crossed paths with fellow Chicagoan and future collaborator Kumar McMillan of the band Wings of Sunshine at the Release Party.
Following a couple years of collaborative brainstorming, Pitman and McMillan entered the studio to craft demos in 2016. Their creative synergy found a perfect home at Star Creature, the label helmed by Tim Zawada, resulting in a trilogy of 7' releases - 'Do You Wanna' (2017), 'Joog With Me' (2018), and 'Chocolate Lover' (2020). A white label remix of 'Do You Wanna,' premiered on BBC during Caribou's Essential Mix in 2020, not only showcased Pitman's timeless sound but also garnered clubland acclaim, later officially released under Caribou's Daphni alias on 12' in 2023.
With Numero Group managing his extensive back catalog and Star Creature steering the ship for new productions, Pitman found the impetus to embark on the logical next step: an album. Enlisting production assistance from the likes of E. Live, Mofak, Liquid Pegasus, and Yuki Kanesaka, 'Brand New Funk' (2024) seamlessly blurs the lines between vintage, modern, and futuristic funk. In doing so, Donnell Pitman not only solidifies his place in the annals of underground funk history but also sets the stage for another 50 years to come.
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