Donnell Pitman

In 2024, we did it. After 9 years and 4 singles, we released our first album ✨💫☀️🪐

Donnell Pitman & Wings of Sunshine: Brand New Funk

Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen ❤️

Thanks, Chicago Reader

Chicago Record Report: May 2024 - Chicago Reader Chicago Record Report covers new local music that's caught the Reader's ear—including releases by Dehd, Finom, Kiraly Payne, and Shellac.

Donnell and Wings of Sunshine have been working on this album for 8 years and it’s finally out 💫✨ It’s been an incredible journey. We have one more record on deck.

https://starcreature.bandcamp.com/album/brand-new-funk-deluxe-edition

We wanna thank everyone who pitched in on this, especially Tim Zawada who actually turned it into wax! Buckle up cuz here we go.

Anda is our secret ingredient (now you know). Whenever we put down a verse, Donnell would say: send it to my baby in New York.

E. Live not only trusted us to add vocals to his instros, he also brought to life two incredible tunes: chocolate lover and get next to you — both are E Live originals, produced from scratch. Some people might remember us trying get next to you live, before it was ready. Total flop. E Live took it to the disco and now it’s ret.

Chocolate lover lyrics were written by Donnell back in the day but I felt like the original didn’t do the story justice. We played with tons of versions until we got it right. Donnell’s grand daughter Lynnette joined him on vocals! Please someone send us tracks for Lynnette. She’s waiting for material.

Liquid Pegasus and Mofak let us put some vocals to their jams, Joog and Summertime Girls. Thank you 🙏 Josh also added extra sparkle on Joog for the final mix.

Yuki Kanesaka added funk guitar on chocolate lover. added some cameo guitar (Easter egg).

Stuart Colville builds his own wah pedals and went full psychedelic on need my love. We got a huge response when playing this one Live. Wow. Thanks, all. The deep house beat is seeded with the groove from Cameo’s Flirt. Donnell went to church for the vocals.

Here’s a sneak peek at our upcoming album with a debut of Summertime Girls. Catch it on Discogs in case you missed it. Caribou made a hyped up edit of Do You Wanna and it’s wild ✨

Do You Wanna - Daphni (Caribou) Edit 12", by Donnell Pitman ft. Daphni 4 track album

It feels like forever ago, but Donnell actually released a 7" in 2020 with Wings of Sunshine and E. Live. Thanks, Walla P, for dropping some Chocolate Lover into your recap! Fantastic mix.

VOYAGE FUNKTASTIQUE #203 / 2020 MODERN FUNK RECAP — Hosted by Walla P Last episode of the year, so here's my annual Modern Funk Recap, featuring music from XL Middleton, Moniquea, Mofak,Lynda Dawn, Kazzey, Dogg Master, Buscrates, and many more.

Originally penned in 1987, Donnell has teamed up yet again with Wings of Sunshine to revisit his Chocolate Lover jam for a 2020 modern funk audience, this time with a little E. Live smoothness. To make it extra special, family member Lynnette Pitman held down the hook. Oooheee!

Special thanks to Tim Zawada and everyone who worked hard to make this record happen.

Chocolate Lover (E. Live Mix + Wings of Sunshine Mix), by Donnell Pitman 2 track album

Donnell Pitman had the pleasure to sit down with Daryle Ashurst for an in-depth interview on his Take It Out On The Groove program (via They Might Be Taping). He goes into the back story of Love Explosion, Chocolate Lover, and the origins of his newer material on Star Creature Universal Vibrations with Wings of Sunshine like Joog With Me, Need My Love. Tune in!

Alternate link: https://anchor.fm/daryle-ashurst/episodes/Take-It-Out-On-The-Groove-Donnell-Pitman-e9dh5j

https://soundcloud.com/daryleashurst/take-it-out-on-the-groove-106-donnell-pitman

Take It Out On The Groove 106 Donnell Pitman When I starting doing interviews via Take It Out On The Groove, I wanted to spotlight those artists that not only burnt the airwaves up, but made those classics that we love and wanted to know more ab

Donnell was greatly influenced by Aretha Franklin and has nothing but admiration and respect for her. Just like Aretha, Donnell came up through church music before crossing over to secular music; her journey and success was inspirational. Rest in power.

Oohee! Brand new funk on Star Creature Universal Vibrations 🔥

http://starcreatureuniversalvibrations.com/album/donnell-pitman-joog-with-me-old-school

Joog With Me b/w Old School is out now, produced by Wings of Sunshine & Liquid Pegasus — Anda Szilagyi on backing vocals, E Live on keys, Stuart “muffinresearch” Colville on guitar.

Thanks to everyone who worked on this record and thanks to everyone who got down with us at the Hideout Inn for the release show 💜