The Gap Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Gap Band | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, funk, soul,Disco Music |
| Years active | 1967 - present |
| Website | www.gapband.com |
| Members | |
| Charlie Wilson Ronnie Wilson Robert Wilson |
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The Gap Band is an American funk band who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s with their heavily-charged dance anthems and their sentimental and ethereal love songs. Comprising brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, the band first formed as the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band in 1967 in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The group shortened its name to The Gap Band in 1979.
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[edit] History
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[edit] Early years
Growing up with a Pentecostal minister father, the Wilson brothers formed the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band in 1967, with Tuck Andress (later of Tuck and Patti). The name was chosen to honor the tragic but affirming memory of the streets (Greenwood Ave., Archer St., Pine St.) that formed the African American business district of Tulsa, Oklahoma also called Black Wall Street.[1] The Greenwood district was the site of one of the most violent racially motivated attacks in United States history. The complete destruction of the community was the result of the Tulsa Race Riot.
At the time, the group had up to twelve musicians, including drummer Roscoe Smith. Condensing to the three brothers and with producer Lonnie Simmons at the helm, the group began to find success in 1978 with songs such as "I'm in Love" and "Shake", the latter becoming a Top 10 R&B hit.
[edit] Success
By 1979, the group had changed its name to The Gap Band, and found success with the groundbreaking single "I Don't Believe You Wanna Get Up and Dance (Oops!)". But it was in the 1980s that the group found their biggest success, with songs like "Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)", "Humpin' ", "Yearning For Your Love", "Outstanding", "You Dropped a Bomb on Me", "I Found My Baby", "Early In the Morning", and "Party Train" further establishing the group as icons. The group found their greatest success in the UK when their 1987 single "Big Fun" reached #4 in the UK chart ("Oops Upside Your Head" had also reached #6 there in 1980).
Four of the band's albums, The Gap Band II, The Gap Band III, Gap Band IV, and Gap Band V - Jammin, achieved platinum selling status, and four of their singles ("All Of My Love", "Outstanding", "Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)", and "Early in the Morning") reached the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B charts. Raymond Calhoun (writer "Outstanding"), Oliver Scott (co-writer "Yearning For Your Love), and arranger/producer Malvin Dino Vice (co-writer "Boys Are Back in Town"), were members of the backing band and major contributors to the Gap Band's successful recordings.
Their success dwindled at the end of 1984, although they have continued to record albums and are constantly on tour. Brother Charlie ventured into a solo career during a break from the group in the mid-1980s, being featured on the 1985 hit with funk group Zapp titled "Computer Love". Wilson's powerful vocals would be credited in part for establishing the careers of Guy's Aaron Hall, Keith Sweat, and R. Kelly. The band reunited in 1996, and issued The Gap Band: Live and Well, a live greatest hits album.
Ever since the 1990s, the Gap Band's most famous hits have been sampled and covered by the likes of Nas, Snoop Dogg, Warren G., Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, Notorious B.I.G., II D Extreme, Blackstreet, Shaquille O'Neal, Mia X, and Mary J. Blige. "Outstanding" was even sampled for a famous 1990s commercial for malt liquor.Among the musicians they have inspired are R. Kelly, Keith Sweat, Ruff Endz, Guy, Blackstreet, II D Extreme, Mint Condition, Jagged Edge, D'Extra Wiley, and Aaron Hall. Recently, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" was featured in the hit videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on funk radio station Bounce FM.
In mid-2005, Charlie released his third solo album, Charlie, Last Name Wilson, which was produced by R. Kelly.
On August 8, 2006, Hip-O Records released Gold, a 2-CD compilation from the Gap Band. [2].
[edit] Dale & Holley usage
Since joining the WEEI program in 2005, Michael Holley has made a habit of using clips of several Gap Band songs for different events. He and co-host Dale Arnold use the beginning of "You Dropped a Bomb On Me" when blowing up poor or disruptive callers. They use the chorus from the song "Outstanding" ("giving someone an Outstanding") when they have made a good point or done something right. And on occasion they will use a clip from "Oops, Upside Your Head" when a caller or member of the crew suggests something unusual or something that would prompt someone to "go upside their head."
[edit] Modern Usage
The song Party Train is used today by slot machine manufacturer WMS Industries in their Monopoly Jackpot Train slot machine.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1974 – Magician's Holiday – Shelter
- 1974 - Momma's Boys - Shelter
- 1976 - The Gap Band - Tattoo
- 1979 – The Gap Band – Mercury
- 1979 – The Gap Band II – Mercury
- 1980 – The Gap Band III – Mercury
- 1982 – Gap Band IV – Total Experience (Reissued on CD by Mercury)
- 1983 – Gap Band V: Jammin' – Total Experience (Reissued on CD by Mercury)
- 1983 - Strike a Groove - Passport (consists of remixes of tracks from the group's early albums)
- 1984 – Gap Band VI – Total Experience
- 1985 – Gap Band VII – Total Experience
- 1986 – Gap Band 8 – Total Experience
- 1987 – Straight from the Heart – Total Experience
- 1989 – Round Trip – Capitol
- 1994 – Humpin' – PolyGram
- 1994 – Testimony – Rhino
- 1995 – Ain't Nothing But a Party – Raging Bull
- 1996 – Live & Well – Intersound
- 1999 – Y2K: Funkin' Till 2000 Comz – Crash
- 2001 - Love At Your Fingatips (Reissue of Ain't Nothing But A Party with new remixes)
- 2001 - Greatest Hits Collection
[edit] Singles
- 1979 - "Shake" US #101, US R&B #4
- 1979 - "Open Up Your Mind (Wide)" US R&B #13
- 1980 - "Oops Upside Your Head" UK #6, Netherlands #7, US #102, US R&B #4
- 1980 - "Party Lights" UK #30, US R&B #36
- 1980 - "Steppin' (Out)" US #103, US R&B #10
- 1980 – "Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" UK #22, Netherlands #23, US #46, US R&B #1
- 1981 - "Humpin' UK" #36, US R&B #60
- 1981 - "Yearning for Your Love" UK #47, US #60, US R&B #5
- 1982 - "Early in the Morning" UK #55, US #24, US R&B #1
- 1982 – "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" US #31, US R&B #2
- 1983 – "Outstanding" UK #68, US #51, US R&B #1
- 1983 - "Party Train" US #101, US R&B #3
- 1983 - "Jam the Motha" US R&B #16
- 1983 - "I'm Ready If You're Ready" UK #87
- 1984 - "Someday" UK #17
- 1984 - "Jammin' in America" UK #64
- 1984 - "Beep a Freak" US R&B #2
- 1985 - "I Found My Baby" US R&B #8
- 1985 - "Disrespect" US R&B #18
- 1985 - "Desire" US R&B #46
- 1986 - "Automatic Brain" US R&B #78
- 1986 - "Going in Circles" US R&B #2
- 1986 - "Big Fun" UK #4, US R&B #8
- 1987 - "How Music Came About" UK #61
- 1987 - "Oops Upside Your Head '87" UK #20
- 1987 - "Sweeter Than Candy" US R&B #40
- 1987 - "Zibble Zibble (Get The Money)" US R&B #15
- 1988 - "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" UK #63, US R&B #14
- 1988 - "Straight from the Heart" US R&B #36
- 1989 - "All of My Love" UK #88, US R&B #1
- 1990 - "Addicted to Your Love" US R&B #8
- 1990 - "We Can Make It Alright" US R&B #18
- 1995 - "First Lover" US R&B #59
- 1995 - "Got It Goin' On" US R&B #75
- 2004 - "Oops Upside Your Head" (with DJ Casper) UK #16
[edit] Sources
[edit] References
- ^ A post by blogger Greg Saunders
- ^ Profile of Gold at Allmusic
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 221. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
