Wilton Felder


Wilton Lewis Felder was an American saxophone and bass player, and is best known as a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders, later known as the Crusaders. Felder played bass on the Jackson 5's hits "I Want You Back" and "ABC" and on Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On".

Biography

Felder was born on August 31, 1940, in Houston, Texas and studied music at Texas Southern University. Felder, Wayne Henderson, Joe Sample, and Stix Hooper founded their group while in high school in Houston. The Jazz Crusaders evolved from a straight-ahead jazz group into a pioneering jazz-rock fusion band, with a definite soul music influence. Felder worked with the original group for over thirty years, and continued to work in its later versions, which often featured 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 in-house bass players for Motown Records, when the record label opened operations in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. He played on recordings by the Jackson 5 such as "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "The Love You Save", as well as recordings by Marvin Gaye including "Let's Get It On" and "I Want You". He also played bass for soft rock groups like Seals and Crofts. Felder played bass on #1 big hit The Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat", not James Jamerson. He played on records by many other musicians such as Four Tops Keeper of the Castle, Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic, Joni Mitchell's For the Roses, John Cale's Paris 1919, Billy Joel's Piano Man, Randy Newman's Sail Away and Joan Baez' Diamonds & Rust. Felder also contributed to albums from Grant Green and Michael Franks. He released the album "Inherit the Wind" with Bobby Womack in 1980.
His album Secrets, which prominently featured Bobby Womack on vocals, reached No. 77 in the UK Albums Chart in 1985. The album featured the minor hit, " I'll Still be Looking Up to You", sung by Womack and Alltrinna Grayson.
Felder died in 2015 at his home in Whittier, California from multiple myeloma. He was 75.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Bullitt We All Have a Star Inherit the Wind Gentle Fire Secrets Love Is a Rush Nocturnal Moods Forever, Always Lets Spend Some Time
With The (Jazz) CrusadersFreedom Sound Lookin' Ahead The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse Tough Talk Heat Wave

As sideman

With Joan BaezDiamonds & Rust Blowin' Away
With Four TopsKeeper of the Castle Main Street People Meeting of the Minds Four Tops Live & In Concert
With Donald ByrdEthiopian Knights
With DonovanSlow Down World Lady of the Stars
With Jackson BrowneFor Everyman
With John CaleParis 1919
With Michael FranksThe Art of Tea Sleeping Gypsy
With Marvin GayeLet's Get It On I Want You
With Dizzy GillespieFree Ride composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin
With Grant GreenShades of Green Live at The Lighthouse
With Richard "Groove" HolmesWelcome Home
With The Hues CorporationFreedom For The Stallion
With Ronnie Laws
With Joni MitchellFor the Roses Court and Spark The Hissing of Summer Lawns
With Randy NewmanSail Away
With B.B. KingMidnight Believer Take It Home
With Harry NilssonFlash Harry
With Jennifer WarnesJennifer
With Milt JacksonMemphis Jackson
With Tina TurnerPrivate Dancer
With John KlemmerConstant Throb Waterfalls Magic and Movement
With Charles KynardReelin' with the Feelin'
With Minnie RipertonStay in Love
With Ringo StarrStop and Smell the Roses
With Carmen McRaeCan't Hide Love
With Billy JoelPiano Man Streetlife Serenade
With Randy CrawfordNow We May Begin
With Shuggie OtisHere Comes Shuggie Otis Freedom Flight
With Dusty SpringfieldCameo
With Jean-Luc PontyKing Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa
With Seals & CroftsSummer Breeze Diamond Girl I'll Play for You Get Closer Sudan Village
With Jimmy SmithRoot Down Live!
With Steely DanPretzel Logic Katy Lied
With Gerald WilsonCalifornia Soul
With Hugh Masekela