The Gap Band

The Gap Band
The Gap Band in 1983
Background information
Origin	Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Genres	Electro-funk, electro, funk, R&B, soul, quiet storm
Instruments	Guitar, Synthesizer, Drums, Horns
Years active	1967–2010
Labels	Shelter Records, Tattoo/RCA, Mercury, Total Experience, Capitol
Associated acts	Charlie Wilson, Dawn Silva, P-Funk, Yarbrough and Peoples, Oliver Scott
Website	[1]

The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band which rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. With the nucleus consisting of brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson. The band is named after streets in the historic Greenwood neighborhood in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The group shortened its name to The Gap Band in 1973. After 43 years together, they retired in 2010.

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 reminiscent of the early 70s. This style failed to catch on, and their first two LP's, 1974's Magician's 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. Afterwards, they were introduced to LA producer Lonnie Simmons, who signed them to his production company Total Experience Productions (named after his successful Crenshaw Boulevard nightclub), and managed to get them a record deal with Mercury Records.

On their first album, 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. Although it did not hit the Hot 100, it soared to #4 R&B, 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.