Pleasure

Best known for its 1979 hit "Glide," Pleasure operated as a daring, horn-heavy ensemble that frequently infused jazz nuances into a funk and soul core. The Portland-based group, unrelated to the '90s rock act of the same name, never achieved widespread fame yet cultivated a devoted niche audience. Its origins trace to 1972 in Portland, Oregon, where guitarist Marlon "The Magician" McClain (born August 8, 1955), lead singer Sherman Davis (born March 15, 1952), and keyboardist Donald Hepburn (born June 30, 1950) united with saxophonist Dennis Springer (born July 21, 1949), bassist Nathaniel Phillips (born December 30, 1955), trombonist Dan Brewster, and drummer Bruce Carter (born December 28, 1956). The lineup represented the fusion of two local acts: Franchise, featuring McClain, Phillips, and Carter, alongside the Soul Masters, Hepburn's own outfit that also counted Springer, Bruce Smith on drums and congas, and Davis among its members. A pivotal opportunity arose when trombonist Wayne Henderson, a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders, caught their club performance in Portland; his admiration secured a Fantasy contract in 1974, under which he produced four of the band's six albums. The debut release, Dust Yourself Off, appeared on Fantasy in 1975, succeeded by Accept No Substitutes in 1976 and Joyous in 1977. Following Joyous, personnel shifted as Brewster departed and Donald Hepburn's younger brother Michael (born May 21, 1953) joined on keyboards and lead vocals. The fourth album, Get to the Feeling, arrived in 1978, with Future Now following in 1979 and housing the single "Glide." Although the group's small but loyal following had long championed its work, the funk outfit finally attained a Top 10 placement when "Glide" climbed to number ten on Billboard's R&B singles chart. Trumpeter and flügelhornist Tony Collins (born May 16, 1957) entered the ranks for Future Now, while Doug Lewis assumed lead guitar duties on the sixth and last album, Special Things, issued in 1980. With no further significant hits materializing after "Glide," the band dissolved in 1981.