The Flirtations (group)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Jon Arterton, Elliot Pilshaw |
| Defunct | 1997 |
Key people | Jon Arterton (chief arranger) |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
The Flirtations were a male a cappella ensemble known for their pro-LGBT stance, active between 1988 and 1997. The group was co-founded by Jon Arterton and Elliot Pilshaw, with original members including Michael Callen, Aurelio Font, and TJ Myers. For the album Out On the Road, Cliff Townsend and Jimmy Rutland became part of the lineup. Subsequently, on the Three album, Arterton and Rutland collaborated with Suede.
Their repertoire blended a celebration of gay identity with advocacy against AIDS and homophobia. Two of the founding members, TJ Myers (who passed in 1989) and activist Michael Callen (who died in 1993), succumbed to AIDS. The Flirtations performed at prominent venues such as Carnegie Hall and appeared in the motion picture Philadelphia. Their television appearances included programs like Good Morning America, the Phil Donohue Show, HBO's "Why Am I Gay?", and In the Life. Over their near decade-long existence, the group featured fourteen different member configurations. Jon Arterton served as the chief arranger and was the sole member present throughout the entire duration.
Discography
- 1990: The Flirtations
- 1993: Live: Out on the Road
- 1996: Three
The Flirtations also contributed to various compilation albums:
- 1992: Feeding The Flame: Songs By Men to End AIDS (featuring "The Flirt Song" by The Flirtations; "Crazy World" by Michael Callen)
- 1995: A Love Worth Fighting For: A Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Singers and Songwriters, Volume One (including "Angels, Punks And Raging Queens" by The Flirtations)
- 1995: Winter Moon: A Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Singers and Songwriters and Friends, Volume Two (with Michael Callen’s "Do Not Turn Away" and The Flirtations’ "Everything Possible")
Further reading and viewing
- Jones, Matthew J., The Boys in the Girl Group: The Flirtations and the Queer Politics of A Cappella.
- .
- Youtube Playlist of Flirtations and Michael Callen Videos
- KATHLEEN MEGAN, THE HARTFORD COURANT, KEEPING THE `SPIRIT' ALIVE, April 23, 2007