The Gap Band

Biography

The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members. The band was originally named The Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Band after streets (Greenwood, Archer, and Pine) in the historic Greenwood neighborhood in the brothers' hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1967–1978: Early years

The band formed in Tulsa in 1967, based around the three Wilson brothers, but often included other musicians as well. 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 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.
Early on, the group took on a funk sound typical of the early 1970s. This style failed to catch on, and their first two LP's, 1974's Magicians Holiday×Magicians Holiday1974 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1I‐Yike‐It2:46A2Backbone2:36A3After All Is Said and Done3:25A4Fontessa Fame4:30A5You Can Always Count on Me5:00B1Bad Girl3:30B2Easy Life3:50B3Loving You Is Everything3:40B4Tommy’s Groove3:32B5Magicians Holiday2:53 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. 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.

1979–1985: Success

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.
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×The Gap Band II19 November 1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Steppin’ (Out)4:28A2No Hiding Place5:39A3I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops) !8:43B1Who Do You Call5:00B2You Are My High5:40B3Party Lights3:48B4The Boys Are Back in Town5:45. 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. 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). The song "Steppin' (Out)" also reached the top 10 R&B.

Charlie 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 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. 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 (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and "Humpin'". They repeated this formula on the number 1 R&B album Gap Band IV×Gap Band IV1982 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Early in the Morning6:302Season's No Reason to Change4:493Lonely Like Me5:224Outstanding3:195Stay With Me4:116You Dropped a Bomb on Me5:137I Can't Get Over You6:038Talkin' Back6:42 in 1982 (the first album released on Simmons' newly launched Total Experience Records), which resulted in three hit singles: "Early in the Morning×Early in the Morning1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAEarly in the Morning (long version)6:30BEarly in the Morning (even longer version)7:33" (number 1 R&B, number 13 Dance, number 24 Hot 100), "You Dropped a Bomb on Me×You Dropped a Bomb on Me1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAYou Dropped a Bomb on Me5:10BLonely Like Me5:08" (number 2 R&B, number 31 Hot 100, number 39 Dance), and "Outstanding×Outstanding1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAOutstanding (long version)6:10BOutstanding (instrumental)5:23" (number 1 R&B, number 24 Dance). It was during this time that former Brides of Funkenstein singer Dawn Silva joined them on tour.
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. 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. 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.
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. "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. That year, lead singer Charlie Wilson and singer Shirley Murdock provided backing vocals on Zapp & Roger's number 8 R&B "Computer Love".

1986–2010: Later years

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×Gap Band VII1985 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Desire5:192Going in Circles4:333Automatic Brain5:034L’Il Red Funkin’ Hood5:265Ooh, What a Feeling4:136I Want a Real Love3:597Bumpin’ Gum People4:358I Know We’ll Make It4:519I Need Your Love3:42, hit number 6 R&B, the album almost became their first in years to miss the Billboard 200, peaking at number 159.
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. 1988's Straight from the Heart was their last studio album with Total Experience.
The Gap Band caught a small break in 1988 with the Keenen Ivory Wayans film, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. They contributed the non-charting "You're So Cute" and the number 14 R&B title track to the film (The first was not on the soundtrack, but was used in the film). Their first song on their new label, Capitol Records, 1989's "All of My Love×All of My Love1989 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1All of My Love (extended mix)6:21A2All of My Love (instrumental)4:45A3All of My Love (Just Coolin' mix)6:09B1All of My Love (radio mix)5:53B2All of My Love (Percussappela)4:46B3All of My Love (bonus Beats)2:18" (from their album Round Trip×Round Trip1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1All of My Love4:532Addicted to Your Love4:523We Can Make It Alright4:484It’s Our Duty4:445Wednesday Lover4:576I Like It5:227I’m Dreaming4:418Antidote (To Love)3:269No Easy Out4:1010Jam3:5711Let’s Talk About Love4:24), is, to date, their last number 1 R&B hit. The album also produced the number 8 R&B "Addicted to Your Love" and the number 18 R&B ""We Can Make it Alright." They left Capitol Records the next year and went on a five-year hiatus from producing new material.
During the 1990s, the band released two non-charting studio albums and two live albums, with the band remaining active until 2010.

Legacy

In 1992, Charlie ventured into a solo career and has since had several moderate R&B hits on his own. Wilson's vocals were credited in part for inspiring the vocal style of new jack swing artists Guy, Aaron Hall, Jodeci, Keith Sweat, and R. Kelly. The band reunited in 1996, and issued The Gap Band: Live and Well, a live greatest hits album.
On August 26, 2005, The Gap Band was honored as a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI Urban Awards. The honor is given to a creator who has been "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers". "Outstanding×Outstanding1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAOutstanding (long version)6:10BOutstanding (instrumental)5:23" alone remains one of the most sampled songs in history and has, astonishingly, been used by over 150 artists.
Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl credits The Gap Band for inspiring the drum intro on their hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
Robert Wilson died of a heart attack at his home in Palmdale, California on August 15, 2010, at the age of 53.
Ronnie Wilson died following a stroke on November 2, 2021, at the age of 73.

Music

Since the 1990s, many of The Gap Band's hits have been sampled and/or covered by R&B and hip hop artists such as II D Extreme, Brand Nubian, Tyler, the Creator, 69 Boyz, Ashanti, Big Mello, Blackstreet, Mary J. Blige, Da Brat, Ice Cube, Jermaine Dupri, Mia X, Nas, Rob Base, Shaquille O'Neal, Snoop Dogg, Soul For Real, Tina Turner, Love Tractor and Vesta. Other musicians inspired by The Gap Band, or who sampled them, include Guy, Aaron Hall, Jagged Edge, Bill Heausler, Mint Condition, Madonna, R. Kelly, Ruff Endz, Keith Sweat, Joe Miller, GRiTT, The Delta Troubadours, and D'Extra Wiley.
Producer Heavy D sampled "Outstanding×Outstanding1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAOutstanding (long version)6:10BOutstanding (instrumental)5:23" for "Every Little Thing", a 1995 hit single by his boy band prodigies Soul for Real, which reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ten years later, Polish rappers Red and Spinache sampled "Outstanding" for "Wczoraj", from their album 7 Rano.
British singer George Michael incorporated parts of "Burn Rubber on Me" in his 1997 single "Star People".

Main lineup

Charlie Wilson (born 1953) – lead vocals, piano, synthesizer, clavinet, organ, drums
Ronnie Wilson (1948–2021) – vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, piano, synthesizer, percussion, songwriter
Robert Wilson (1956–2010) – bass, guitar, percussion, vocals

Supporting musicians

Lonnie Simmons – Guitar, percussion
Rudy Taylor – Keyboard, programming, back vocal
Raymond Calhoun – Percussion, drums, vocals
Ronnie Kaufman – Drums
Rastine Calhoun – Saxes
Val Young – Vocals
Penny Ford – Vocals
Billy Young – Keyboard
Cavin Yarbrough – Keyboard
Robert "Goodie" Whitfield – Piano, synthesizer, saxophone
James Gadson – Drums
James "Jimi" Macon – Guitar (1977–1986)
Chris Clayton – Saxophone, vocals (1974–1983)
Alvin Jones – Trombone (1974)
Tommy Lokey – Trumpet (1974–1983)
Carl Scoggins – Congas, percussion (1974)
Roscoe Smith – Drums (1974)
Arthur "Don" Lee Green Jr. – Drums
Michael Whitney - Guitar
O'Dell Stokes – Guitar (1974)
Lawrence "Lukii" Scott – Guitar (1974)
Tim Fenderson (Rabbit) – Bass
LaSalle Gabriel – Guitar (1994–1997)
Malvin "Dino" Vice – Trumpet, vocals, horn and string arrangements
Oliver Scott – Piano, synthesizer, trombone, vocals
Ray Hayes – Drums
Ronnie Smith- Drums
Fred "Locksmith" Jenkins – Guitar (-2025)
Glenn Nightingale – Guitar
Earl Roberson – Horns, saxophone
Jimmy Hamilton – Piano, synthesizer
Maurice Hayes – Guitar
Ira Ward – Drums, Bass, guitar, piano
Greg C Jackson “G Jack” – Piano, synthesizer, vocal arranger, producer, programming and sequencing.
Victor Orlando – Percussions (1986)
Jimmy Corona – Guitar (1983)
Barry Chenault - Drums

Composers

Charlie Wilson
Ronnie Wilson
Robert Wilson
Lonnie Simmons
Oliver Scott
Jonah Ellis
Malvin "Dino" Vice
Raymond Calhoun
Rudy Taylor
Greg C Jackson
Buddy Jones