The SOS Band

The S.O.S. Band (an abbreviation of Sounds of Success) is an American R&B and electro-funk group formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1977. The original line-up consisted of Mary Davis (lead vocals), Jason Bryant (keyboards), Billy Ellis and Willie “Sonny” Killebrew (horns), Bruno Speight (guitar), John Simpson (bass) and James Earl Jones III (drums). The group achieved commercial success with their debut single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" in 1980, which reached number one on the US R&B chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Their self-titled debut album "S.O.S." (1980) was also certified gold. In the early 1980s, their sound developed further through collaborations with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, resulting in a series of successful singles including "Just Be Good to Me", "Tell Me If You Still Care" and "The Finest". The band was formed in 1977 under the name Sounds of Santa Monica and performed at venues in Atlanta, including the Regal Room nightclub. Their manager, Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, secured a recording contract with Tabu Records, whose head Clarence Avant encouraged the group to work with producer Sigidi Abdullah. The band subsequently adopted the name The S.O.S. Band, with the acronym standing for Sounds of Success. Their debut single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", produced and co-written by Sigidi Abdullah and Harold Clayton, spent five weeks at number one on the US R&B chart in 1980. The album "S.O.S." sold in excess of 800,000 copies and reached number two on the R&B chart. During this period, Abdul Ra’oof joined the group as a trumpeter, vocalist and percussionist. Their second album "Too" (1981) reached the top 40 of the R&B chart. On their third album "III" (1982), the band worked with producer Leon Sylvers III as well as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The single "High Hopes" reached the R&B top 30. Jam and Lewis assumed a greater production role on the album "On the Rise" (1983), which included the singles "Just Be Good to Me" and "Tell Me If You Still Care". The album was certified gold and reached the top 10 of the R&B chart. Subsequent releases included "Just the Way You Like It" (1984), which reached the top 10 on the R&B chart, and "Sands of Time" (1986), which also achieved gold certification and included the hit single "The Finest". The band’s recordings from this period contributed to the wider use and popularity of the Roland TR-808 drum machine in R&B and electro-funk music. In 1986, Mary Davis left the group to pursue a solo career. The band contributed the song "It's Time to Move" to the soundtrack of the film "Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol" (1987). Their seventh studio album, "Diamonds in the Raw" (1989), featured lead vocals by Chandra Currelley and Fredi Grace and reached the R&B chart. During its recording, founding member Billy Ellis died. The follow-up album "One of Many Nights" (1991), with Chandra Currelley as lead vocalist, did not chart. Davis later rejoined the group for live performances. In 2021, Mary Davis temporarily stepped back from performing following a stroke, but later returned to selected live appearances. In October of that year, she performed with original and later members of the group at a birthday celebration for James Earl Jones III. Studio albums S.O.S. (1980) Too (1981) III (1982) On the Rise (1983) Just the Way You Like It (1984) Sands of Time (1986) Diamonds in the Raw (1989) One of Many Nights (1991)

Lakeside is an American funk band, best known for their 1980 number one R&B hit "Fantastic Voyage". In 1969, Dayton, Ohio native Stephen Shockley formed the Young Underground after exiting the Monterreys. Vocalist Mark Woods, who was a member of the local band the Nomads, joined up with Shockley to form a more mature-sounding Young Underground. The group initially had a record deal with Curtom Records as a result of winning a talent contest in Chicago. However, Curtom folded shortly thereafter. While in Chicago the group renamed itself Lakeside Express, after the Lakeside Express Newspaper in Chicago. In 1974 the emerging Lakeside Express and another group by the name of Liquid Funk, which featured Dallas native Fred Alexander, Jr. on drums, arrived in Los Angeles around the same time. For the next couple of years the bands performed at events around the greater L.A. area, occasionally crossing paths. The members of Liquid Funk returned to Dallas, but Alexander remained in L.A. Lakeside, who by now had dropped the Express from their name, was seeking additional personnel to solidify their band. After two auditions, Alexander was welcomed into the group. Lakeside inked a deal with Motown, but found no success. Consequently, they released a ballad on ABC Records, but that label went under. The good fortune they were seeking turned out to be at Dick Griffey's Solar Records. The group signed a deal with Griffey, and released their first Top Ten hit on Solar Records, "It's All the Way Live," which peaked at number four on the Billboard R&B charts. Lakeside released a host of songs that scaled the R&B charts, but didn't threaten the position of any other artists. However, in 1980 they went storming up the charts again with their smash number one single, "Fantastic Voyage," which was produced by the self-contained band. They followed the success of "Fantastic Voyage" with another Top Ten R&B single, a remake of the Paul McCartney and John Lennon classic "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The group continued their success with the Billboard Top Ten singles "Raid," "Outrageous," and a string of R&B party songs and ballads. More hits on the R&B charts, such as "Raid" (1983) and "Outrageous" (1984), kept the group going.

All-female band formed in 1979 by producer/drummer Bernadette Cooper, guitarist Cheryl Cooley and keyboard player Lynn Malsby. The original lead vocalists were Lorena Porter Shelby and Joyce "Fenderella" Irby, who later left for a solo career. In 1990, the group became a trio, with Shelby, guitarist Cheryl Cooley, and keyboardist Robbin Grider. "I Miss You" was a major hit for the band in 1985.