At First Congregational Church, Guilford, Connecticut
2009 Annual Memorial Concert
The Music Committee of First Church Guilford invites all to attend our
Annual Memorial Concert on Sunday February 9th, 2009, at 4:00 p.m.
featuring the musical stylings of Mo Pleasure in loving memory of his father, Bob Pleasure, and grandmother, Celeste Pleasure, long-time members of First Church. Everyone is also invited to attend the reception in Fellowship Hall following the concert. Free will donations will be accepted.
Performer Biography
Mo Pleasure.
Known affectionately as "Mo Pleasure", Mo began playing acoustic piano by ear at the age of four for family and friends, and by his early teens, had mastered several instruments, including bass, trumpet, guitar, drums and violin. While a music student at the University of Connecticut, Mo's mastery of the electric bass excelled to exceptional heights, ultimately catching the attention of the legendary Ray Charles, who, during a live performance, hired him for his 1984-1986 international tour.
Upon receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in music composition and arranging from UCONN in 1986, Mo graduated to pleasing a variety of audiences worldwide, has earned a multitude of accolades, the respect of his peers, and has performed continuously on various domestic and international artist tours, featuring George Duke, Natalie Cole, James Ingram, Dianne Reeves, Jonathan Butler, Rachelle Ferrell, Marion Meadows, Paula Abdul, Angela Bofill, Everette Harp and Marcus Miller, to name a few.
From 1989 through 1992, Mo has been both featured keyboardist and musical director with saxophonist Najee, pianist, Alex Bugnon, vocalists Philip Bailey, Patti Austin, Phil Perry, Miki Howard, Jon Lucien, and in 1993, became a member of Earth, Wind & Fire and the group's musical director in 1994. Currently touring with Janet Jackson's "All For You Tour", Mo is featured performing on keyboards, trumpet and guitar.
In addition to performing annually at various jazz festivals including Montreaux, North Sea, Aruba, St. Lucia, Cancun, Acapulco and Montreal, Mo's diverse and charismatic abilities shine as a featured pianist on Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and have been documented in numerous television and video appearances, including the BBC, Mad TV, BET, The Tonight Show, VIBE, ABC, American Music Awards, The Today Show, VH1, FOX and Rosie O'Donnell.
For the last decade, Mo's extensive discography of musical compositions have been memorialized through his publishing company "Moplay Music", which includes recording studio/CD credits with Gerald Albright, Maurice White, Sonny Emory, Marion Meadows, the "Brazilian Rain" single featured on "Urban Knights II", "Midnight Mood", the title cut on George Howard's final project, "Tokyo Blue" Najee's Gold/Best Jazz Album - 1991 Soul Train Music Awards" in addition to five songs on the most recent Earth, Wind & Fire CD "In TheName of Love." His movie soundtrack debut includes, the "Cruisin" single, featured in Spike Lee's "Get On The Bus" and "Talkin", co-written by Mo, featured in the Disney Movie, "Three Men And A Little Lady."
Mo's first offering as a solo artist is, Elements of Pleasure, which demonstrates his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist. The lyrical movement of the piano, the soulful sounds of the trumpet and flugelhorn and the funky rhythm of the bass are the elements that touch the heart, mind and soul. The music is a combined collaboration of instrumental funk and soulful vocals, reminiscent of his many musical influences. The CD features Philip Bailey on "Lover's Groove" and Michael McDonald, Oleta Adams and Peabo Bryson on "We Are One".