John William Pate (born December 5, 1923) is an American former musician, a jazz bassist who became a producer, arranger, and leading figure in Chicago soul, pop, and rhythm and blues.
For the Cincinnati-based Federal Records, the Johnny Pate Quintet had a hit with "Swinging Shepherd Blues", which reached No.
[7] In the early 1960s, Pate was hired by Okeh Records producer/A&R director Carl Davis to write arrangements for the label.
[1] Their success led the group's label, ABC-Paramount, to open a Chicago office on 14th and Michigan and appoint Pate as A&R director in 1964.
Other acts signed to ABC-Paramount through the Chicago branch were the Trends, the Kittens, and former Vee-Jay Records star Betty Everett.
Pate also scored soundtracks for films including Shaft in Africa (1973), Bucktown (1975), Satan's Triangle (1975), Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976), Sudden Death (1977) and Every Girl Should Have One (1978).
His song "Shaft in Africa", was sampled by producer K-Def, for the Diddy's "We Gon' Make It", featuring Jack Knight.