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The Gap Band
188,548 plays (44,010 listeners)
funk, soul, disco, rnb, 80s… see all
The first major hit for the Gap Band was a snazzy juke tune called “Shake.” Just prior to the completion of their first album, Charlie Wilson cited the song for his brothers, thinking they might ridicule the lyric. His brothers loved it though, and the song was a smash number four single on the R&B charts, elevating the group to national status.
Born and raised in Tulsa, OK, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father’s Pentecostal church, and it was also mandatory they practice their music lessons at home as well. They learned various instruments which primarily included the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, it proved to be a value tool for all three.
With Ronnie being the oldest, he established his own band by the age of 14. Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival band a couple of years later. One night the two bands were performing across the street from one another. Ronnie stopped by to check out Charlie grooving on the organ. While there, Ronnie asked Charlie to join his band for 50 dollars over what he was making. Though Charlie’s bandmates doubled his offer, he joined his brother’s band, as Ronnie gave him no choice.
At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the group’s bass player quit and Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely 14, to the group to play bass. For a short while, the band performed without a name. Finally they began going by the name the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band. As advertising such a name on posters became too lengthy, the group shortened the name to the G.
Born and raised in Tulsa, OK, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father’s Pentecostal church, and it was also mandatory they practice their music lessons at home as well. They learned various instruments which primarily included the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, it proved to be a value tool for all three.
With Ronnie being the oldest, he established his own band by the age of 14. Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival band a couple of years later. One night the two bands were performing across the street from one another. Ronnie stopped by to check out Charlie grooving on the organ. While there, Ronnie asked Charlie to join his band for 50 dollars over what he was making. Though Charlie’s bandmates doubled his offer, he joined his brother’s band, as Ronnie gave him no choice.
At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the group’s bass player quit and Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely 14, to the group to play bass. For a short while, the band performed without a name. Finally they began going by the name the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band. As advertising such a name on posters became too lengthy, the group shortened the name to the G.
Videos
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Play
Gap Band - Lonely Like Me
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Play
Gap Band - I Can't Get Over You
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Play
The Gap Band - Got To Get Away
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Play
Gap Band - Open Up Your Mind (Wide)
Top Albums
Top Tracks
| 1 |
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You Dropped A Bomb on Me
full track
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| 2 |
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Outstanding
full track
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| 3 |
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Early In The Morning
full track
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| 4 |
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Yearning For Your Love
full track
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| 5 |
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Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
full track
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| 6 |
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Shake
full track
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| 7 |
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Party Train
full track
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| 8 |
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| 8 |
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Humpin'
full track
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| 10 |
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Open Up Your Mind (Wide)
full track
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| 11 | ||||
| 12 | ||||
| 13 |
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You Can Count On Me
full track
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| 14 |
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| 15 |
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Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
full track
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Shoutbox
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Chiz5701 wrote:
Brings back some funky memories of the good ol' days.
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FORRRCE wrote:
DON'T FAKE THE FUNK WE GOTTA KEEP IT GOING!!!!!!! RIGHT ON Good And Plen-ti-uv-it
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BlackSouljah wrote:
Oh lawd! When "You Dropped A Bomb On Me" was played at gatherings/get togethers my uncles would get up and groove their old azzes off. Always saying "You young bucks don't know nothin about this here" and wiggle their old hips. LoL, memories
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MrStyle wrote:
Who else thinks The Gap Band are the greatest group of the 70's? Vote www.afreshmusic.com
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dopemoves wrote:
Long live the funk!
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suchalady31 wrote:
yarning for yoour love was fav jam sto;;; love that song
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tompa_fisk wrote:
they got some awesome tracks !
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film_ronin wrote:
SPECIAL $5 MUSEUM ADMISSION MAY 11TH - 18TH!!! STAX MUSEUM OFFERS SPECIAL $5 ADMISSION TO CELEBRTATE NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK AND THE MUSEUM'S FIFTH BIRTHDAY! Come help the Stax Museum of American Soul Music celebrate National Tourism Week with our special admission price of just $5 for everyone Sunday, May 11 - Sunday, May 18!! This is for regular museum hours: Monday - Saturday 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and
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SillyWilly wrote:
Gap Band 3 is a truly great album from start to finish.
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belle_starr wrote:
never gets old!! <3
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coquinamarble wrote:
Oh, and Double Dutch Bus isn't theirs, either. That's Frankie Smith. That said, The Gap Band had some fantastic singles. Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) might be my favorite of those.
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coquinamarble wrote:
Funny how Laid Back's White Horse appears in the Top Ten as Ride the White Horse. Fix those tags, everyone!
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Tr1xx wrote:
Thomas_BONG14. . . I just looked at the Guiness Book of British Hit Singles, and it has a space. Photos of the original 7 vinyl on eBay confirm this. Newer versions & 12 vinyl have no space though, so take your pick
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ultra_silence wrote:
You Dropped A Bomb On Me :)
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Thomas_BONG14 wrote:
On my 12 there is Oops Up Side.. where here in the top tracks it reads Oops Upside.. - somebody knows for sure what is right?
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80sfever wrote:
Outstanding! Girl you knock me out!
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soulfinger wrote:
soOooOoooOoo Outstanding!
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Colfire wrote:
Girl You know you knock me out
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misscarmen wrote:
@BecomingX: i think that an S.O.S. Band track you're thinking of?
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soulfinger wrote:
Got some new Gap photos. Go vote, please.
Listeners
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Dr_Chandra
Listening now
to Outstanding -
kzo70
Listening now
to You Dropped A Bomb on Me -
Nougie2
Listening now
to You Dropped A Bomb on Me -
Brutulus
Top Listener
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charlie909
Top Listener
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FORRRCE
Top Listener
Recent Activity
- lucy6996 tagged The Gap Band with ‘70s’. 3 hours ago
- lucy6996, Musikhamster, capone41 and 9 other people added The Gap Band to their libraries. 3 hours ago
- Hellbilly tagged The Gap Band with ‘urban’, ‘soul’, ‘funk’ and ‘quiet storm’. Wednesday afternoon
- simonb32, Steve_Ai, remyman117 and 11 other people added The Gap Band to their libraries. Wednesday afternoon
- TheBartner tagged The Gap Band with ‘soul’ and ‘funk’. Monday evening
- traumatoloco, rmj51156, MP-1 and 2 other people added The Gap Band to their libraries. Monday evening
- ContraEnzo tagged The Gap Band with ‘funk’. Monday morning
- Doodoo288, laakea09, Shazae and 24 other people added The Gap Band to their libraries. Monday morning
- l0vemusick tagged The Gap Band with ‘funk’. August 2008
- Fritchala, Richieshears, Chris047 and 11 other people added The Gap Band to their libraries. August 2008
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