While they were beginning to struggle stateside, the group found their greatest success in the UK when their 1986 single "Big Fun" from Gap Band 8 reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. While their 1986 cover of " Going in Circles" went to number 2 on the R&B charts, and the album it was released on, Gap Band VII, hit number 6 R&B, the album almost became their first in years to miss the Billboard 200, peaking at number 159.
That year, lead singer Charlie Wilson and singer Shirley Murdock provided backing vocals on Zapp & Roger's number 8 R&B " Computer Love". "Beep a Freak" hit number 2 R&B, "I Found My Baby" peaked at number 8 on the R&B charts, and "Disrespect" peaked at number 18. Their next work, Gap Band VI brought them back to number 1 R&B in 1985, but the album sold fewer copies and did not go gold. The album's closer "Someday" (a loose cover of Donny Hathaway's " Someday We'll All Be Free") featured Stevie Wonder as a guest vocalist. The single " Party Train" peaked at number 3 R&B, and the song "Jam the Motha'" peaked at number 16 R&B, but neither made it onto the Hot 100. Their 1983 album, Gap Band V: Jammin', went gold, but was not quite as successful as the previous works, peaking at number 2 R&B and number 28 on the Billboard 200. It was during this time that former Brides of Funkenstein singer Dawn Silva joined them on tour. They repeated this formula on the number 1 R&B album Gap Band IV in 1982 (the first album released on Simmons' newly launched Total Experience Records), which resulted in three hit singles: " Early in the Morning" (number 1 R&B, number 13 Dance, number 24 Hot 100), " You Dropped a Bomb on Me" (number 2 R&B, number 31 Hot 100, number 39 Dance), and " Outstanding" (number 1 R&B, number 24 Dance). That album had soul ballads such as the number 5 R&B song " Yearning for Your Love", and funk songs such as the R&B chart-topper " Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and " Humpin'". The band reached a whole new level of fame in 1980 with the release of the number 1 R&B and number 16 Billboard 200 hit, The Gap Band III. Problems playing this file? See media help.Ĭharlie Wilson provided background vocals on Stevie Wonder's 1980 hit " I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" from Wonder's album Hotter Than July (1980). The song "Steppin' (Out)" also reached the top 10 R&B. The song, and the band's musical output as a whole, became more P-Funk-esque, with expanded use of the synthesizers and spoken monologues within songs (see audio sample).
Although it did not hit the Billboard Hot 100, it soared to number 4 in the US Billboard R&B chart, and the album went gold. Later that year, the group released " I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!)" on their album The Gap Band II. On their first album with Simmons, The Gap Band, they found chart success with songs such as "I'm in Love" and "Shake" the latter became a Top 10 R&B hit in 1979. Afterwards, they were introduced to Los Angeles producer Lonnie Simmons, who signed them to his production company, Total Experience Productions (named after his successful Crenshaw Boulevard nightclub), and managed to secure a record deal with Mercury Records. This style failed to catch on, and their first two LP's, 1974's Magicians Holiday which was recorded at Leon Russell's historic The Church Studio and 1977's The Gap Band (not to be confused with their 1979 album), failed to chart or produce any charting singles.
Įarly on, the group took on a funk sound typical of the early 1970s. The band received its first big break by being the back up band for fellow Oklahoman Leon Russell's Stop All That Jazz album released in 1974. The name "Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Band" originally started as a joke, reflecting the band's origins, and was shortened to GAP Band later. The band formed in Tulsa in 1967, based around the three Wilson brothers, but often included other musicians as well.
The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members it was named after streets (Greenwood, Archer, and Pine) in the historic Greenwood neighborhood in the brothers' hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s.
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