- Wilton Felder
Wilton Felder (born
August 31 1940 , Houston,Texas ) is both asaxophone and bass player, and is best known as a founding member ofThe Crusaders , initially called the "Jazz Crusaders." Felder, Wayne Henderson,Joe Sample , andStix Hooper founded the group while inhigh school in Houston. The Jazz Crusaders evolved from a straight-aheadjazz combo into a pioneering jazz-rock fusion group, with a definitesoul music influence. Felder worked with the original group for over thirty years, and continues to work in its current versions, which often feature other founding members.Felder also worked as a west coast studio musician, mostly playing electric bass, for various soul and R&B musicians, and was one of the "house" bass players for
Motown Records , when therecord label opened up operations in Los Angeles,California , in the early 1970s. He played on recordings by theJackson 5 like ("I Want You Back ") and forMarvin Gaye . He has also played bass for soft rock groups like America, andSeals and Crofts . Also of note was his contribution to theJohn Cale album "Paris 1919 ". Felder also anchoredalbum s fromJoni Mitchell andMichael Franks , and others.His solo album, "Secrets", reached #77 in the
UK Albums Chart in 1985.External links
* [http://ubl.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,429686,00.html#bio All Music Guide]
* [http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=109723&ran=235081 Article]
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