The Gap Band

The Gap Band was an American contemporary R&B and funk band. The group became famous in the 1970s. The band had three brothers, Ronnie, Charlie and Robert Wilson. They were based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In 1979, the group released "Oops Up Side Your Head" (also titled "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!)". The studio album released that year, The Gap Band II, went gold.[1]

In 1980, the album Gap Band III' hit #1. This album had soul ballads. They were, "Yearning for Your Love", "Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)", which was a chart topper, and "Humpin".

In 1982, the album Gap Band IV peaked at #1. Songs from this album included "Early in the Morning", which hit #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, then known as the Hot Black Singles chart. Another Gap Band #1 hit in 1982 on the same chart was "Outstanding".

On August 26, 2005, The Gap Band was honored as a Broadcast Music, Inc. Icon at the 57th annual BMI Urban Awards.[2]

Robert Wilson died from a heart attack at his home in Palmdale, California. He was 53.

Starting in the 1990s, R&B and hip hop artists, including Brand Nubian, Mary J. Blige, Shaquille O'Neal, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg.[3]

References

  1. "Gap Band II". All Music. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  2. Top Honors at BMI Urban Awards. Broadcast Music, Inc. https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234529. Retrieved May 19, 2021. 
  3. "Gap Band Music Sampled by Others". Who Sampled. Retrieved May 19, 2021.