Ron Littlejohn & the Funk Embassy “Shining On” | Music Profile

 Ron Littlejohn & the Funk Embassy, music, music profile, music newsWe are always searching for good music that more people should listen to. This funk/soul band definitely fit into that category. Have a listen to the track below.
Band: Ron Littlejohn & The Funk Embassy
Location: Montreal / Toronto, Canada
Styles: Funk/Soul
Similar to: Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield,  Marvin Gaye, Al Green
CD: Shining On

Accolades:
– Ron Littlejohn (Songwriter, Singer) : opened for James Brown, Maceo Parker, Bettye Lavette, KOS, Holly Cole, War

– Thierry Matrat (Songwriter, Keyboards) : Opened for Warren G, The Roots (Lyon, France)
– Olivier Babaz (Bass) : played in multiple countries & festivals : Montreal Francofolies and Jazz Festival, Sakifo Music Festival (Reunion Island), Jazz In Marciac (France), Angeradona (Madagascar), Jazz a Port-Au-Prince (Haiti), Milatsika Festival (Mayotte), New Morning (Paris, France)

Kevin Turcotte : recorded and toured with Time Warp, The Mike Murley Quartet, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, Don Byron. Played with Tito Puente, Dave Holland, Kenny Kirkwood, Pat LaBarbera, Bill Grove, Kenny Wheeler…

Alana Bridgewater : voice of the 2008 Olympic Bid. In 2007 she was nominated for a Gemini Award for her contribution to The Gospel Christmas Project (CBC). Alana has a recurring role on Nickelodeon Jr.’s Dino Dan. In 2008 she played the role of ‘Killer Queen’ in the Toronto production of ”We will Rock You.

Award won (Funk Embassy alone, not with Ron Littlejohn):
International Songwriting Competition, 2012, Dance/Electronica Category, with the single ‘Unity’

Members/Instruments:
Ron John Littlejohn : Vocals, Lyrics
Alana Bridgewater : Vocals
Dwight Chase : Drums
Joe Hackl : Guitar
Olivier Babaz : Bass
Moise Matey : Percussions
Kevin Turcotte : Trumpet
Thierry Matrat : Keyboards, Songwriting, Producer
Guillaume Larouche : Flute (A day in San Francisco)
Etienne Lebel : Trombone (Unity)
Steve Donald : Trombone (Soul Devotion, My Magination)
Glenn Crosse : Solo Guitar and Video Production (Shining On)
DJ Mana : Turntables (Soul Devotion, The Village)
DJ Horg : Turntables (Cream #9, Unity)
Obed José : Graphic Arts, Animated Movies (A day in San Francisco, Unity)
Production:
EP produced by Thierry Matrat
Recorded mixed by :
– Jason Steidman at Number 9 Studios, Toronto, On, Canada
– Karl de Serres at Saint-Phonic Studios, Montreal, Qc, Canada
– Mastered by Steve Corrao at Sage Audio, Nashville, Tn, USA (except ‘Shining On’, mixed and master by Glenn Crosse, Toronto)

Tracklisting:

1- Shining On
2- Seem Like Yesterday
3- Light Me Up
4- Soul Devotion
5- Cream #9
6- My Magination
7- A day in San Francisco
8- Emma Lee

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Bio:

Ron Littlejohn & the Funk Embassy is a funk collective founded by main songwriters Thierry Matrat and Ron Littlejohn. It’s members have achieved amazing things on their own, including opening for James Brown (Ron) and The Roots (Thierry). The project features Ron Littlejohn on vocals, Thierry Matrat on keyboards, Alana Bridgewater on vocals, Olivier Babaz on bass, Joe Hackl on guitar, Moise Matey on percussion, Dwight Chase on drums, and many other talented musicians contributing to individual tracks.

The project began with Thierry Matrat, who, after a long history as a hip hop artist in France, started the Funk Embassy project in 2009. He began composing music originally with the intention of creating soul/funk songs for rappers. After many collaborations, he decided to switch the project’s focus and hire the best musicians and singers he could find. Craigslist made this happen, and it was Craigslist Toronto that brought Thierry and Ron together.

Unknowingly, Thierry has found the perfect person to help him spearhead the ideal direction for his music. Ron Littlejohn had a long history in the Toronto soul/funk scene with his popular group Planet Earth, who Thierry listened to for “5 seconds before he knew Ron was the singer he was looking for”. Prior to finding Ron, Thierry has advertised in Montreal and found three very notable funk musicians in Olivier Babaz (bass), Joe Hackl (guitar) and Dwight Chase (drums).< Thierry and Ron recorded the initial music by communicating through emails as to what the song structures and melodies should be. Music was then recorded in studio in both Montreal and Toronto. After the initial demos, Ron recommended additional musicians to complete the collective needed for the debut album (Steve Donald, Kevin Turcotte and Alana Bridgewater).Fast forward to Fall 2013, and Ron Littlejohn & The Funk Embassy are preparing to see their album “Shining On” released (Oct 19).

About the inspiration for the title track “Shining On”, Ron says “When I was about to become a father, some friends actually became resentful at the idea of me having new priorities. This hurt me like a bitch. I wrote this song to my unborn daughter trying to tell her no matter how mean the bastards get, keep on shining. I think it’s the best song I’ve ever written. So I thank those negative folks for the inspiration.”

Inspired by their heroes such as Isaac Hayes, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield,  Marvin Gaye and Al Green, the album was a labor of love, consisting of work and dedication from some of Toronto and Montreal’s best soul/funk artists, ironically brought together by a songwriter from Lyons, France.