Brick

Brick emerged from Atlanta as a group that fused disco rhythms with jazz improvisation during the 1970s under their self-coined banner "dazz." The lineup featured lead vocalist, saxophonist and flutist Jimmy Brown alongside guitarist, bassist and vocalist Regi Hargis Hickman; Ray Ransom handled lead vocals while also contributing on bass, keyboards and percussion, and Eddie Irons supplied lead vocals, drums and keyboards. The band cut the single "Music Matic" for Main Street in 1976, then moved to Bang, a label distributed by CBS. Their debut Bang release, "Dazz," climbed to the top of Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and peaked at number three on the Hot 100. Two additional major successes followed in 1977—“Dusic” and “Ain’t Gonna’ Hurt Nobody”—each driven by a chunky, propulsive rhythm and a bright, melodic pop-jazz hook. The final Top Ten R&B entry arrived in 1981 with “Sweat (‘Til You Get Wet),” a collaboration featuring Ray Parker, Jr. Their sixth and last Bang album, After 5, appeared in 1982. Operating as a quartet on the Magic City imprint, they issued Too Tuff in 1988 before disbanding. Guitarist Regi Hargis Hickman passed away on October 15, 2021, at age 70.