Move over Partridge Family, the HYLTONES are taking the ShowUP stage as Montclair's hottest family band. Head HYLTONE, dad Wil Hylton, was raised in a musical household, with his Panamanian parents each passing on their respective musical talents. Wil's choir-singing mom gave him his smooth voice and his famous trumpet-playing dad passed on his passion and love for the horn.
Wil honed his musical skills at the Laguardia High School of Performing arts - that's right...the FAME school! In addition to his classical trumpet training, Wil tested his wings as a young rapper in the 1990s with classmates, Dana Dane and Slick Rick - all members of the Kangol Crew! Wil's hooks can be heard on tracks for acts like Salt-n-Pepa, Kid n Play, Kwame and others.
Wil left the music business behind when he found an even greater love - teaching! He's been a music educator for over 25 years, and he still lights up when his students find and express their own musical talent. Shortly after he began teaching, Wil found his GREATEST love - poet, writer, and die-hard Montclairian, Ghana Hylton.
The dynamic duo raised the remaining HYLTONES - Adanna, Zuri, and Osaze Hylton - in a house full of family jams and artistic expression. MHS alum, Adanna, flexes her artistic muscle mostly as a wildly talented visual artist, and also lends her beautiful voice to the family sing alongs. MHS senior, Zuri, is following dad's footsteps as a horn player - starting out with the trumpet and recently switching to the baritone in the MHS marching band. MHS freshman, Osaze, is the heartbeat of the band. His stellar bass playing not only provides the steady and soulful beat for the HYLTONES, but he also performs with the MHS orchestra and his own band.
The HYLTONES are living proof that the family that plays together stays together. The band will perform Wil's original composition, "No Tomorrow" that he wrote as a gift to his wife on their 20th wedding anniversary. The arts bind these Hyltons, and they are thrilled to be supporting MFEE, including its Arts Open Hearts fund.
As a member of the MFEE Board, Wil's representing the home team!
Donate to support the HYLTONES today.
