Aalon

Despite earning recognition among the overlooked figures in 1970s soul/rock, Aalon Butler never attained the stature enjoyed by Sly & the Family Stone, War, Parliament/Funkadelic, or the Isley Brothers. Most enthusiasts of R&B therefore remain unaware of the rock-infused soul and funk he cut for Arista during the closing years of that decade. Born in Los Angeles, the vocalist, composer, and guitarist joined Eric Burdon (known from War and the Animals) during the mid-'70s, then assembled his own group, Aalon. After securing a deal with Arista, Aalon tracked its exceptional first release, Cream City, in 1977. That album should have elevated Butler to superstar status, positioning him on the same level Prince and Rick James would later reach, yet Cream City fell well short of blockbuster sales. Although the band kept performing throughout the Los Angeles area into the late 1970s, Aalon never completed another studio effort.