Artists

Duane Patton

DUANE PATTON, was born and raised in Richmond California. His incredible love for music started at an early age. At 11 Duane was teaching himself to play keyboard, and joined a Garage Band.

In the late 70s, Duane was blessed with signing a contract with CBS records, and joined as the lead singer of “The Together Band. The band was so fortunate to be produced by the late great Henry Cosby, who’s successes included producing Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Duane had the exciting pleasure of performing at the CBS artists convention with Barbra Streisand and Earth Wind and Fire.

Duane Patton’s exciting musical career has included opening acts for The Whispers, James Brown, Phyllis Hyman, Johnnie Taylor and Toni Tony  Tone. Duane used those opportunities to continue learning and growing as a musician.

In the late 80s, Duane was signed by Holland – Dozier – Holland, who’s Productions helped Define the Motown sound in the 1960s. Duane was signed as an artist, songwriter and producer and proudly received a platinum CD for his performance on “Too Short’s”  American Music nominated song “The Ghetto”. Duane also appeared along side Too Short on the Mia Peoples popular show “Party Machine”.

In 1996 Duane Patton performed in a circuit that included many popular casinos and showrooms throughout the United States. Duane’s love for songwriting and the ability to speak from the heart, through his music, allowed him to release his first solo CD in 2010 titled “Patton Leatha”. And in the summer of 2013 on a tour of Japan, Duane alongside his band “Patton Leatha”, released the CD, titled “Treasure”.

Duane has dedicated his life, so much to the love of Music, his ease of  performing, and his ability to engage with his audience. Whether  Duane is playing keyboards, singing, dancing, or in the studio writing his music, one thing you can be sure of, is that his love of music will definitely be “felt” in all of his finished products.

Nicole (Buttah) Pearson

Nicole Pearson A.K.A "BUT-TAH" is a native of Richmond CA.  Her style is soulfully nostalgic, rich and purely sweet to the ears. BUT-TAH starting singing at an early age and by the age of nine she began writing poetry and from poems came songs. The voice you hear will have you reminiscing on days of old soulful singing. BUT-TAH is a former member of the group, ‘Patton Letha & The Nathan Owens Band a very successful travel band which has performed in many of America’s largest and highly acclaimed casinos and venues.  She has astounded audiences with her performances on “Showtime at the Apollo” and American Idol seasons 3,5 & 6, she has performed all over the U.S. and abroad, entertaining in many parts of Japan including the renowned, “Cotton Club”, in Tokyo as a featured guest of the “Whispers”, under the musical direction of Mr. Grady Wilkins. BUT-TAH is a live stage performance artist her live interactive performances captivates her audience with an up close and personal experience leaving them on their feet for more.  She has flourished into a business woman she established Buttahfly Entertainment a production company where she produces, promotes and performs her very own live performance productions. Her most popular shows are the “But-tah’s Jook Joint”, a 1940’s-1970’s cabaret experience where she takes you on a timeline of Rhythm and Blues with a talented cast which consist of her band "ButtahLuv", The Buttahflyz and her vibratious Cabaret dancers "The Buttababyz ", that will make you feel that you have been transported back in time. She also produces "Renditions of Aretha", paying homage to the "Queen of Soul". BUT-TAH has performed with some of the greatest legendary artist of all time such as the late great Teena Marie, George Clinton & Parliament -Funkadelic, The Dramatics, The Whispers, the legendary Drifterss confunkshun, the SOS Band, Howard Hewett and many more. She is truly an old soul and once you get a taste of BUT-TAH you’ll understand why that is

Michael Jeffries Singer/Song Writer

Michael Jeffries got his start as a part of the California band, The Two Things In One,[and scored a regional hit with the 1973 single "Together Forever". It would lead to his stint with Tower of Power starting with 1978's We Came to Play!and he would stay with the band through the Mid-1980s, making his stint with TOP the second longest stint as lead vocalist, behind Larry Braggs.

Jeffries would go solo with the single "Razzle Dazzle"[1] from the soundtrack to the movie Wildcats. He would also record with Jeff Lorber[2] and fellow R&B singer Karyn White before releasing his first self-titled solo album[3] for Warner Bros. Records; ironically enough, the same label his old band Tower of Power once called home. The album was produced by Janet Jackson's producers, and former members of The Time,  Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. He still lives in California and has released a album with his kids as "Michael Jeffries, Daughter, Son" called Family Affair in 2010. Also in 2011, a compilation of his recordings with The Two Things In One was released called Together Forever: The Music City Sessions. On March 26, 2019, Jeffries released his new solo album Fonky Sexy Late Nights in the Lab and released a music video for "When We Love" off the album on his YouTube channel.

Nicollette The Artist

Nicollette Smith was born in San Francisco, but raised in Berkeley. She also spent a lot of time during her formative years in Los Angeles with her artist grandmother.

Her education is both formal and informal; through various workshops; college courses; travel abroad; and experiencing life itself on a daily basis; specializing in fine art collage, painting interior walls, and design. 

Nicollette currently lives and works out of her studio in the East Bay and is looking for commissions or other fine art and design related projects.

See her art on Instagram #Nicolletteartist