Louis A. McCall Sr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Louis A. McCall Sr.
McCall in 1982.
Background information
Birth name	Louis Anthony McCall
Also known as	Tony
Born	(1951-12-28)December 28, 1951 Alameda, California, U.S.
Origin	Vallejo, California, U.S.
Died	June 25, 1997(1997-06-25) (aged 45) Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul funk
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter producer
Instruments	Drums vocals percussion
Years active	1969–1997
Labels	Fretone Mercury
Associated acts	Con Funk Shun Cameo

Louis Anthony McCall Sr. (born December 28, 1951 – died June 25, 1997) was an American musician. He was a singer, songwriter, and drummer. He was also an event planner.

McCall is best known as a co-founder and drummer for the band Con Funk Shun. This band played funk and R&B music. They became famous in the 1970s and 1980s. Some of their popular songs include "Ffun" (1978) and "Chase Me" (1979). Louis McCall's wife, Linda Lou McCall, is also involved in the music business. Louis McCall passed away in 1997 at age 45.

Music Career Highlights

Louis A. McCall Sr. started the band Con Funk Shun with Michael Cooper. They were high school students in Vallejo, California. Other members joined them, including Karl A. Fuller and Felton C. Pilate.

The band first played as a backup group called Project Soul. They worked with songwriters from Stax Records. A producer named Ted Sturges helped them. He named the group Con Funk Shun. He also produced their first album, Organized Con Funk Shun.

Con Funk Shun's Success

In 1976, Con Funk Shun signed with Mercury Records. They released eleven albums over ten years. Several of their albums became very popular. Secrets (1977), Loveshine (1978), Candy (1979), and Spirit of Love (1980) all sold enough copies to be certified gold.

The band had many hit songs on the Billboard black singles chart. "Ffun" reached number one in 1977. Other top songs included "Shake and Dance with Me" and "Too Tight".

Over time, there were some disagreements within the group. The band's last album, Burning Love, was made without Felton Pilate. He had left the group. Louis McCall also left the band. He missed some concerts due to health issues from a car accident he had as a teenager. The band broke up in 1986. However, some members later reunited for concerts in the 1990s.

After Con Funk Shun

After leaving Con Funk Shun in 1986, McCall started a new business. He teamed up with his wife, Linda Lou. They created a company to manage music artists.

In 1989, they found a talented R&B artist named Keith Martin. They became his managers. In 1990, Linda Lou McCall worked for the rapper MC Hammer. The McCalls helped Keith Martin join Hammer's tour. This helped launch Martin's music career.

In 1992, Linda Lou started her own company, The Entertainment Qartel, Inc. (EQartel). This company focused on music business and promotions. Louis McCall helped with radio promotions. He also became a successful event planner. He organized a special event for actor Danny Glover in San Francisco in 1993.

Louis McCall's Passing

On June 25, 1997, Louis McCall passed away. He was found outside a friend's home in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His death happened during a home-invasion robbery.

His wife, Linda Lou, worked hard for many years to find out what happened. She even asked the Governor of Georgia for help. In 2007, a suspect was identified. The case went to trial in 2008. However, the trial was stopped after two days. The charges against the suspect were later dismissed.

Lasting Impact

Louis McCall was born in Alameda, California. In 2014, the city decided to name a street after him. This street is in a new neighborhood called Alameda Landing.

On September 21, 2014, Louis McCall and the other six members of Con Funk Shun were honored. The National R&B Music Society gave them a Lifetime Achievement Award. This was at a special dinner in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Louis's wife, Linda Lou, also received an award. She was recognized for her important role in Con Funk Shun's success. She also helped keep the group's legacy alive.

Louis McCall was the band's leader. He helped book many of their tours. He also wrote several songs for Con Funk Shun with his wife. These songs include "California 1" and "Bad Lady". He co-wrote "Honey Wild" with Danny Thomas. In 2007, the song "Honey Wild" was used by Lil Wayne in his Grammy Award-winning CD Tha Carter III.

Personal Life

In 1968, when he was sixteen, Louis McCall was in a serious car accident. This happened in Vallejo, California. He had health problems later in life because of this accident.

Louis met his wife, Linda Lou Bolden, in 1973. They were both working at Stax Records. They got married on January 15, 1976, in San Francisco, California. They had two children: Lindsay Chérie (born 1979) and Louis Anthony II (born 1982). Louis and Linda Lou separated before his death, but they remained close friends and worked together.

Louis McCall's first grandchild, Liam Richard Long, was born in 2014. Liam is the son of Louis's daughter, Lindsay.

Discography

Albums

• Organized Con Funk Shun (1973), Fretone
• The Memphis Sessions (1973), Fretone
• Con-Funk-Shun (1976), Mercury
• Secrets (1977), Mercury
• Loveshine (1978), Mercury
• Candy (1979), Mercury
• Spirit of Love (1980), Mercury
• Touch (1980), Mercury
• Con Funk Shun 7 (1981), Mercury
• To the Max (Con Funk Shun album) (1982), Mercury
• Fever (1983), Mercury
• Electric Lady (1985), Mercury
• Burnin' Love (1986), Mercury

Singles

• "Sho Feels Good To Me" (1976)
• "Confunkshunizeya" (1977)
• "Ffun" (1977)
• "Shake And Dance With Me" (1978)
• "So Easy" (1978)
• "(Let Me Put) Love on Your Mind" (1979)
• "Chase Me" (1979)
• "Da Lady" (1980)
• "By Your Side" (1980)
• "Got To Be Enough" (1980)
• "Happy Face" (1980)
• "Bad Lady" (1981)
• "Lady's Wild" (1981)
• "Too Tight" (1981)
• "Ain't Nobody, Baby" (1982)
• "Straight From The Heart" (1982)
• "Baby I'm Hooked (Right into Your Love)" (1983)
• "Ms. Got-The-Body" (1983)
• "Love's Train/You Are The One" (1983)
• "Don't Let Your Love Grow Cold" (1984)
• "Electric Lady" (1985)
• "I'm Leaving Baby" (1985)
• "Tell Me What You're Gonna Do" (1985)
• "Burnin' Love" (1986)
• "She's a Star" (1986)
• "Kush" (2008) – sample of "Honey Wild", by Lil Wayne for Tha Carter III