Biography
The S.O.S. Band burst onto the scene with its debut single, the two-million-selling “Take Your Time (Do It Right),” before releasing several additional hits crafted by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1977, the ensemble began as Santa Monica, a nightclub act at the Regal Room whose original lineup featured keyboardist/vocalist Jason Bryant, saxophonists Billy Ellis and Willie “Sonny” Killebrew, guitarist Bruno Speight, bassist John Alexander Simpson, drummer James Earl Jones III, and lead vocalist Mary Davis.
Manager Bunny Jackson-Ransom, later associated with Cameo, forwarded a demo to Tabu Records chief Clarence Avant. After the label signed the group, Avant recommended collaboration with songwriter/producer Sigidi Abdullah, who questioned why an Atlanta outfit had adopted the name Santa Monica. Bryant explained that the musicians had enjoyed a particularly strong show in Santa Monica, California, prompting Abdullah to rename the act the S.O.S. Band, an abbreviation for “Sounds of Success.”
Abdullah produced and co-wrote “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” with Harold Clayton; the platinum-certified track topped the R&B chart for five weeks and reached number three on the Billboard pop listing in spring 1980. The self-titled debut album S.O.S. earned gold status after moving more than 800,000 copies and holding the number-two R&B position for three weeks. During the ensuing world tour, trumpeter/vocalist/percussionist Abdul Ra’oof came aboard. The follow-up Too climbed to number 30 R&B in summer 1981.
For the third album, S.O.S. Band III, the group enlisted producer Leon Sylvers III alongside Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis of the Time. The single “High Hopes” peaked at number 25 R&B in fall 1982 while the LP itself reached number 27 R&B later that year. Jam and Lewis assumed full production duties on the fourth release, On the Rise, which yielded the number-two hit “Just Be Good to Me” and the number-five ballad “Tell Me if You Still Care.” The set became the band’s second gold album, attaining number seven R&B in summer 1983.
The pattern persisted with Just the Way You Like It, featuring the number-six R&B single of the same name and rising to number six R&B in fall 1984, and with Sands of Time, whose number-two R&B track “The Finest” helped the album achieve gold status and a number-four R&B peak in spring 1986. These recordings, alongside early Chicago house releases, helped establish the signature sound of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. Mary Davis departed for a solo career in 1987, after which the remaining members issued Diamonds in the Raw (number 43 R&B, fall 1989), produced by Eban Kelly and Jimi Randolph, and One of Many Nights, helmed by Curtis Williams.
In August 1994, Davis rejoined Ra’oof and Bryant to assemble a new configuration that retained the group’s established funk approach; the revived lineup appeared on Sinbad’s HBO concert specials and contributed to the various-artists collection United We Funk, released by Rhino on October 5, 1999.
Manager Bunny Jackson-Ransom, later associated with Cameo, forwarded a demo to Tabu Records chief Clarence Avant. After the label signed the group, Avant recommended collaboration with songwriter/producer Sigidi Abdullah, who questioned why an Atlanta outfit had adopted the name Santa Monica. Bryant explained that the musicians had enjoyed a particularly strong show in Santa Monica, California, prompting Abdullah to rename the act the S.O.S. Band, an abbreviation for “Sounds of Success.”
Abdullah produced and co-wrote “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” with Harold Clayton; the platinum-certified track topped the R&B chart for five weeks and reached number three on the Billboard pop listing in spring 1980. The self-titled debut album S.O.S. earned gold status after moving more than 800,000 copies and holding the number-two R&B position for three weeks. During the ensuing world tour, trumpeter/vocalist/percussionist Abdul Ra’oof came aboard. The follow-up Too climbed to number 30 R&B in summer 1981.
For the third album, S.O.S. Band III, the group enlisted producer Leon Sylvers III alongside Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis of the Time. The single “High Hopes” peaked at number 25 R&B in fall 1982 while the LP itself reached number 27 R&B later that year. Jam and Lewis assumed full production duties on the fourth release, On the Rise, which yielded the number-two hit “Just Be Good to Me” and the number-five ballad “Tell Me if You Still Care.” The set became the band’s second gold album, attaining number seven R&B in summer 1983.
The pattern persisted with Just the Way You Like It, featuring the number-six R&B single of the same name and rising to number six R&B in fall 1984, and with Sands of Time, whose number-two R&B track “The Finest” helped the album achieve gold status and a number-four R&B peak in spring 1986. These recordings, alongside early Chicago house releases, helped establish the signature sound of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. Mary Davis departed for a solo career in 1987, after which the remaining members issued Diamonds in the Raw (number 43 R&B, fall 1989), produced by Eban Kelly and Jimi Randolph, and One of Many Nights, helmed by Curtis Williams.
In August 1994, Davis rejoined Ra’oof and Bryant to assemble a new configuration that retained the group’s established funk approach; the revived lineup appeared on Sinbad’s HBO concert specials and contributed to the various-artists collection United We Funk, released by Rhino on October 5, 1999.
Albums
