Pleasure (American band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
| Products | Soul, funk, jazz music |
Pleasure is a musical group originating from Portland, Oregon, known for their unique fusion of soul, funk, and jazz infused with an urban flair. They achieved a dedicated following within the late 1970s black music community. Their track "Glide," released in 1979 on the album Future Now, climbed to #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #10 on the Billboard R&B chart. The band ceased activities in 1982.
After regrouping in 2019, Pleasure introduced the album Now Is the Time.
History
Pleasure was established in Portland in 1972 through the combination of two local ensembles—The Franchise, which included drummer Bruce Carter, bassist Nathaniel Phillips, and guitarist Marlon McClain, and The Soul Masters, featuring keyboardists Michael and Donald Hepburn, saxophonist Dennis Springer, trombonist/guitarist Dan Brewster, vocalist Sherman Davis, and percussionist Bruce Smith. The lineup also incorporated trumpet player Tony Collins alongside lead vocalist and guitarist Randy Hall.
In 1974, Wayne Henderson of jazz fusion band The Crusaders took on the role of producer and mentor for Pleasure via his At Home Productions company. This partnership secured a six-year contract with Fantasy Records.
Their 1979 release Future Now included the hit "Glide," which helped them gain national chart presence and broaden their audience.
Pleasure’s distinctive blend of jazz, funk, soul, and rock brought them widespread acclaim and robust record sales. Their music has been extensively sampled by hip hop artists and featured in films such as House Party and Uncle Drew. Bruce Carter’s drum solo on "Bouncy Lady," along with tracks like "Let’s Dance" and "Joyous," were included in the Ultimate Breaks and Beats Series. The song "Joyous" was sampled on Janet Jackson's 1997 album The Velvet Rope, while "Future Now" appeared on Will Smith’s 2002 album Born to Reign. Additionally, songs like "Celebrate The Good Things" continue to be sources for sampling.
Following their disbandment, band members stayed active within the music industry by engaging in education, production, songwriting for Disney projects, and touring with artists such as Kenny G, Herb Alpert, The Crusaders, The Whispers, United We Funk All Stars, the Dazz Band, and Cool’R.
Co-founder Michael Hepburn maintains ownership rights to the Pleasure name and continues to perform and produce music while serving as a Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in King County.
The present ensemble features Michael Hepburn, Nathaniel Phillips, Douglas Lewis, Dennis Springer, Brian Foxworth, and Tiffany Wilson. In 2019, they released Now Is The Time under Pleasure Records. The single “One More Time” was issued as a 45 rpm vinyl by Neil Pounds’ UK label Six Nine Records Ltd., accompanied by “For Your Pleasure,” which serves as the album’s opening track.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| 1975 | Dust Yourself Off | — | 54 | Fantasy Records |
| 1976 | Accept No Substitutes | 162 | 32 | |
| 1977 | Joyous | 113 | 34 | |
| 1978 | Get to the Feeling | 119 | 42 | |
| 1979 | Future Now | 67 | 27 | |
| 1980 | Special Things | 97 | 27 | |
| 1982 | Give It Up | 164 | 30 | RCA |
| 2018 | Now Is The Time | 164 | 30 | — |
Singles
| Year | Track | Chart Rankings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B | US Dance | ||
| 1976 | "Ghettos of the Mind" | — | 71 | — |
| 1977 | "Joyous" | — | 35 | — |
| 1979 | "Future Now" | — | 75 | — |
| 1980 | "Glide" | 55 | 10 | — |
| "Real Thing" | — | 65 | — | |
| "Yearnin' Burnin'" | — | 30 | — | |