The Flirtations were a pro-LGBT, male a cappellamusical group active from 1988 to 1997. The original members were Jon Arterton, Michael Callen, Aurelio Font, TJ Myers, and Cliff Townsend. On the Out On the Road album they were joined by Jimmy Rutland. The group later reconfigured: for the album Three, Jon Arterton and Jimmy Rutland were joined by the woman Suede.
Their music provided an opportunity for both a celebration of gay culture and a call to arms in the battle against AIDS and homophobia. They were fronted by the gay activist Michael Callen from establishment in 1988 until his death from AIDS-related disease in 1993. The Flirtations performed at a number of prominent national venues, and performed a song in the soundtrack to Philadelphia.[1][2][3][4]
The Flirtations contributed one cut each to the following collections:
1992: Feeding The Flame: Songs By Men to End AIDS (The Flirt Song - by The Flirtations - Track 8 and Crazy World - by Michael Callen - Track 9)[6]
1995: A love worth fighting for A celebration of gay and lesbian singers and songwriters, Volume one. (Angels, Punks And Raging Queens - The Flirtations - Track 12)[7]
1995: Winter moon. A celebration of gay and lesbian singers and songwriters and friends, Volume two. (Do Not Turn Away - Michael Callen - Track 8 and Everything Possible - The Flirtations - Track 14)[8]
Jones, Matthew J. (2016). ""Something Inside So Strong": The Flirtations and the Queer Politics of A Cappella". Journal of Popular Music Studies. 28 (2): 142–185. doi:10.1111/jpms.12168..
