Music Metrics Vault

The Gap Band

Data updated on 2024-10-09 18:52:58 UTC
The Gap Band, centered around brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, toiled in obscurity for several years prior to becoming one of the most popular funk groups of the late '70s and 1980s. The Tulsa, Oklahoma natives produced 15 Top Ten R&B singles ranging from ferocious funk anthems to gorgeous slow jams. Many of their hits, such as "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me," featured instantly memorable, rippling synthesizer basslines. All of them featured Charlie's deep, invigorating lead vocals. While casual R&B fans and most critics associate the Gap Band with the early '80s, the Wilsons' run of hits spanned nearly 20 years, from 1977 through 1995.

Born and raised in Tulsa, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father's Pentecostal church; at home, music lessons were mandatory. They learned various instruments, primarily the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, they proved to be invaluable. Ronnie, the oldest sibling, established his own band by the age of 14. Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival group a couple 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 that offer, he joined his brother's band. Ronnie gave him no choice.

At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the bass player quit and Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely 14, to take the spot. For a short while, the group performed without a name, but they eventually settled on the Greenwood, Archer & Pine Street Band. As advertising such a name on posters was cumbersome, the Wilsons shortened the name to the G.A.P. Street Band. Due to a typographical error, they were advertised as the Gap Band, and it stuck.

The band performed at venues around the Tulsa area, including country & western joints, tennis clubs, and rock clubs. However, by the middle of the 1970s, Charlie left Tulsa to explore his possibilities in Los Angeles. A short time later, he convinced his brothers to join him. The bandmembers floundered until they met entertainment businessman Lonnie Simmons through their friend, singer/songwriter/musician D.J. Rogers. Simmons owned a recording studio and nightclub, both of which were dubbed Total Experience (also the name that would appear on Gap Band releases during the '80s), and signed the Wilsons along with their nine bandmates.

The Gap Band's first album, Magician's Holiday, was released in 1974 to little fanfare. A self-titled album followed three years later; despite guest appearances from D.J. Rogers, Reverend James Cleveland, Chaka Khan, Leon Russell, and Les McCann, it didn't leave any chart impressions, either, though it did feature a pair of minor hits in "Out of the Blue (Can You Feel It)" -- an excellent, mellow, electric piano-driven song written by Charlie -- and "Little Bit of Love."

A deal with Mercury put the Gap Band on the fast track. A self-titled 1979 album reached number ten on Billboard's R&B chart, led by the success of "Shake" (number four R&B) and "Open Up Your Mind" (number 13 R&B). They followed it later in the year with The Gap Band II, an album that spawned two more Top Ten R&B singles. Released in 1980, The Gap Band III was their first number one R&B album, where their sound became even more distinctive. It wasn't just the voice of Charlie that stood out. "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" was the group's first major hit dominated by a synthesizer bassline, provided by Cavin Yarbrough, who scored around the same time with his and Alisa Peoples' "Don't Stop the Music." Just as those two songs defined the sound of clubs in 1980, "Yearning for Your Love" quickly became a classic ballad, and was covered a decade later by Guy (whose Aaron Hall was the younger singer most evidently inspired by Charlie's sound and style).

There's no denying that the Gap Band's peak came during the early '80s. This notion would have been easy to predict as early as 1982, when they released three major hits: "Early in the Morning" (number one R&B; covered by Robert Palmer), "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" (number two R&B), and "Outstanding" (number one R&B). Even so, it's not as if the remainder of the decade was dry for them, not when they released 16 additional charting A-sides (including the title song to Keenan Ivory Wayans' I'm Gonna Git You Sucka), six of which reached the R&B Top Ten, as well as popular albums on an almost annual basis. Their popularity waned only when they slowed their recording schedule. Three studio Gap Band albums were released during the 1990s. Charlie Wilson concentrated on his solo career, starting in 1992 with You Turn My Life Around. The singer began to reach out to a younger audience in 1996, when Snoop Dogg featured him on "Snoop's Upside Your Head." Further collaborations with Snoop, R. Kelly, and Justin Timberlake followed throughout the 2000s. In August 2010, Robert Wilson died of a heart attack. Ronnie Wilson died on November 2, 2021, at the age of 73. ~ Andy Kellman & Craig Lytle, Rovi

Total plays

452.0 million
Updated on 2024-10-09

Monthly listeners

1,619,388

Followers

1,097,605

Top Cities

  1. United States
    53,087 listeners
  2. United States
    25,817 listeners
  3. United States
    25,853 listeners
  4. United Kingdom
    26,443 listeners
  5. United States
    22,992 listeners

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Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Outstanding - Original 12" Mix
Outstanding - Original 12" Mix
81,163,698 6:15 1994-06-07
Cha Cha Slide - Hardino Mix
Cha Cha Slide - Hardino Mix
73,283,940 3:42 2014-01-01
You Dropped A Bomb On Me
You Dropped A Bomb On Me
61,766,038 5:15 1982-01-01
Outstanding
Outstanding
35,555,556 3:19 1982-01-01
Yearning For Your Love
Yearning For Your Love
33,944,902 5:41 1980-12-08
Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
25,713,586 5:35 1980-12-08
I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head)
I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head)
14,503,882 8:41 1979-01-01
Oops Up Side Your Head - 12" Single Version
Oops Up Side Your Head - 12" Single Version
14,503,882 8:40 2010-06-28
Early In The Morning - 12" Version
Early In The Morning - 12" Version
13,527,287 7:37 1994-06-07
Early in the Morning - Remastered
Early in the Morning - Remastered
13,527,287 7:39 2008-01-09
Party Train
Party Train
7,898,354 5:43 1983-08-22
Shake
Shake
6,683,571 4:58 1979-01-01
Early In The Morning
Early In The Morning
6,535,492 6:30 1982-01-01
Oops Upside Your Head - Club Mix
Oops Upside Your Head - Club Mix
6,444,436 8:41 2009-06-30
Big Fun
Big Fun
6,153,183 6:49 1986-01-01
Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) [Club Mix]
Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) [Club Mix]
4,520,098 5:36 2008-04-15
Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) - Club Mix
Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) - Club Mix
4,520,098 5:36 2008-04-15
Humpin'
Humpin'
3,582,807 5:16 1980-12-08
Oops Upside Your Head (Live)
Oops Upside Your Head (Live)
3,365,907 5:13 1996-01-01
Steppin' Out
Steppin' Out
1,810,970 4:28 1979-01-01
I Found My Baby
I Found My Baby
1,777,336 4:48 1984-01-01
You Are My High
You Are My High
1,518,930 5:40 1979-01-01
Yearning for Your Love (Live)
Yearning for Your Love (Live)
1,451,505 8:57 1996-01-01
Yearning For Your Love
Yearning For Your Love
1,451,505 8:56 2003-03-25
Wednesday Lover
Wednesday Lover
1,326,924 4:57 1989-01-01
Early In The Morning
Early In The Morning
1,096,540 6:31 1985-03-01
I'm In Love
I'm In Love
999,065 5:26 1979-01-01
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - Single Version
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - Single Version
963,646 4:04 2001-01-01
No Hiding Place
No Hiding Place
834,616 5:39 1979-01-01
We Can Make It Alright
We Can Make It Alright
740,962 4:48 1989-01-01
Open Up Your Mind (Wide)
Open Up Your Mind (Wide)
736,649 7:06 1979-01-01
Going in Circles
Going in Circles
733,774 4:34 1985-12-09
Season's No Reason To Change
Season's No Reason To Change
642,599 4:49 1982-01-01
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - Original 12" Mix
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - Original 12" Mix
641,638 13:05 1994-01-01
I Can't Get Over You
I Can't Get Over You
601,978 6:03 1982-01-01
Disrespect
Disrespect
594,046 4:33 1984-01-01
Messin' With My Mind
Messin' With My Mind
545,585 3:59 1979-01-01
Party Lights
Party Lights
501,091 3:48 1979-01-01
Party Train - Original 12" Special Dance Mix
Party Train - Original 12" Special Dance Mix
501,026 7:30 1983-08-22
Outstanding (Live)
Outstanding (Live)
493,142 5:41 1996-01-01
Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
484,492 6:14 2013-04-29
Burn Rubber on Me (Live)
Burn Rubber on Me (Live)
484,492 6:25 1996-01-01
Burning Rubber
Burning Rubber
484,492 6:14 2003-03-25
You Can Count On Me
You Can Count On Me
483,425 4:60 1979-01-01
All Of My Love
All Of My Love
465,395 4:53 1989-01-01
Stay With Me
Stay With Me
456,156 4:11 1982-01-01
Lonely Like Me - 7" Version
Lonely Like Me - 7" Version
450,005 5:22 1982-01-01
Talkin' Back
Talkin' Back
414,618 6:43 1982-01-01
Drop the Bomb
Drop the Bomb
411,872 4:49 2003-03-25
You Dropped a Bomb on Me (Live)
You Dropped a Bomb on Me (Live)
411,872 4:50 1996-01-01
No Hiding Place (Live)
No Hiding Place (Live)
411,759 3:59 1996-01-01
There's No Hiding Place
There's No Hiding Place
411,759 4:01 2012-01-19
Early in the Morning (Live)
Early in the Morning (Live)
399,699 6:33 1996-01-01
Early In The Morning
Early In The Morning
399,699 6:33 2003-03-25
Early in the Mornin
Early in the Mornin
399,699 6:31 2003-05-20
The Boys Are Back In Town
The Boys Are Back In Town
394,126 5:46 1979-01-01
Gotta Get Up
Gotta Get Up
362,285 1:47 2003-03-25
Gotta Get up (Live)
Gotta Get up (Live)
362,285 1:47 1996-01-01
When I Look In Your Eyes
When I Look In Your Eyes
313,195 4:59 1980-12-08
Gap Band Party (Live)
Gap Band Party (Live)
312,999 1:53 1996-01-01
The Way
The Way
312,959 4:47 1980-12-08
Someday
Someday
301,407 4:38 1983-08-22
Party Train (Live)
Party Train (Live)
280,010 7:02 1996-01-01
Humpin' (Live)
Humpin' (Live)
258,437 3:56 1996-01-01
Nothin Comes To Sleepers
Nothin Comes To Sleepers
247,450 5:34 1980-12-08
Yearning For Your Love
Yearning For Your Love
214,162 4:05 1997-01-01
Baby Baba Boogie
Baby Baba Boogie
201,007 6:48 1979-01-01
Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline
198,383 3:21 1980-12-08
Shake - Original 12" / Disco Version
Shake - Original 12" / Disco Version
189,055 6:01 1999-03-05
Wide (Live)
Wide (Live)
183,114 0:48 1996-01-01
Beep a Freak
Beep a Freak
180,208 6:25 1984-01-01
Addicted To Your Love
Addicted To Your Love
180,085 4:52 1989-01-01
Intro (Live)
Intro (Live)
179,059 0:50 1996-01-01
Who Do You Call
Who Do You Call
167,957 4:60 1979-01-01
I'm Ready (If You're Ready)
I'm Ready (If You're Ready)
165,909 5:15 1983-08-22
Humpin'
Humpin'
152,508 3:56 1997-01-01
Ooh What a Feeling
Ooh What a Feeling
145,065 4:16 1985-12-09
Gash Gash Gash
Gash Gash Gash
139,475 5:18 1980-12-08
Are You Living
Are You Living
138,689 4:23 1980-12-08
Lets Talk About Love
Lets Talk About Love
136,266 4:24 1989-01-01
You're My Everything
You're My Everything
135,224 4:14 1983-08-22
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - 80s Flashback Dance Fitness
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - 80s Flashback Dance Fitness
114,699 4:01 2009-01-01
Bop B Da B Da Da (How Music Came About)
Bop B Da B Da Da (How Music Came About)
112,902 4:36 1986-01-01
You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Live)
You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Live)
108,917 3:56 2000-01-01
Get Loose Get Funky
Get Loose Get Funky
107,879 5:26 1986-01-01
Got To Get Away
Got To Get Away
105,882 3:47 1979-01-01
I Can't Live Without Your Love
I Can't Live Without Your Love
95,661 4:36 1986-01-01
Keep Holding On
Keep Holding On
84,431 4:23 1986-01-01
Don't Take It Away
Don't Take It Away
75,731 4:04 1986-01-01
Party Train - Bonus Track (Single Version)
Party Train - Bonus Track (Single Version)
74,715 4:03 1983-08-22
Jam The Motha'
Jam The Motha'
74,322 4:18 1983-08-22
Yearning - Reprise (Shooby Doo Mix)
Yearning - Reprise (Shooby Doo Mix)
70,660 4:53 2003-03-25
Yearning for Your Love
Yearning for Your Love
70,660 4:50 2012-01-19
Yearning for Your Love (Reprise) [Shooby Doo Mix] [Live]
Yearning for Your Love (Reprise) [Shooby Doo Mix] [Live]
70,660 4:48 1996-01-01
I Can Sing
I Can Sing
64,147 5:18 1979-01-01
Going in Circles (Remix)
Going in Circles (Remix)
63,115 5:33 1986-01-01
I Like It
I Like It
60,712 5:22 1989-01-01
Big Fun - Mega Mix
Big Fun - Mega Mix
56,481 8:40 2018-06-29
I Expect More
I Expect More
51,431 3:57 1983-08-22
Burn Rubber On Me (Live)
Burn Rubber On Me (Live)
49,969 5:28 2000-01-01
Mega Mix
Mega Mix
46,783 7:07 2019-07-14
MEGA MIX (GOTTA GET UP MIX)
MEGA MIX (GOTTA GET UP MIX)
46,778 7:07 2003-03-25
I Want a Real Love
I Want a Real Love
44,973 3:58 1985-12-09
Bumpin' Gum People
Bumpin' Gum People
44,418 4:37 1985-12-09
I Need Your Love
I Need Your Love
40,542 3:45 1985-12-09
Good Old Fashion Lovin'
Good Old Fashion Lovin'
33,440 4:24 1999-05-25
Automatic Brain
Automatic Brain
33,233 5:06 1985-12-09
Jam
Jam
33,162 3:58 1989-01-01
I'm Dreaming
I'm Dreaming
31,128 4:41 1989-01-01
Shake A Leg
Shake A Leg
30,991 4:01 1983-08-22
Weak Spot
Weak Spot
30,845 4:01 1984-01-01
The Sun Don't Shine Everyday
The Sun Don't Shine Everyday
28,327 5:15 1984-01-01
It's Our Duty
It's Our Duty
25,020 4:44 1989-01-01
You're Something Special
You're Something Special
24,695 5:22 1983-08-22
I'll Always Love You
I'll Always Love You
24,166 3:59 1986-01-01
L'il Red Funkin Hood
L'il Red Funkin Hood
23,961 5:28 1985-12-09
Video Junkie
Video Junkie
22,906 6:07 1984-01-01
Party Train - Sped Up
Party Train - Sped Up
22,793 4:49 2023-11-17
Smile
Smile
22,453 3:05 1983-08-22
No Easy Out
No Easy Out
21,534 4:10 1989-01-01
Antidote (To Love)
Antidote (To Love)
20,069 3:26 1989-01-01
Desire
Desire
17,628 5:35 1985-12-09
I Believe
I Believe
16,802 4:46 1984-01-01
Messin With My Flow
Messin With My Flow
16,413 3:30 2000-01-01
I Know We'll Make It
I Know We'll Make It
16,166 4:52 1985-12-09
Don't You Leave Me
Don't You Leave Me
15,128 4:52 1984-01-01
No Color Lines
No Color Lines
14,666 4:26 1999-05-25
Introduction - Where Are We Going
Introduction - Where Are We Going
14,638 1:36 1983-08-22
I'm Ready (If You're Ready) - Extended Remix
I'm Ready (If You're Ready) - Extended Remix
14,244 5:53 1983-08-22
The Sun Don't Shine Everyday (Instrumental Interlude 1)
The Sun Don't Shine Everyday (Instrumental Interlude 1)
13,897 1:10 1984-01-01
Jammin' In America
Jammin' In America
13,318 5:01 1983-08-22
Jam The Motha' - Party Mix
Jam The Motha' - Party Mix
12,668 5:51 1983-08-22
Outstanding - Remastered
Outstanding - Remastered
12,417 6:15 2008-01-09
Baby I Remember Your Face
Baby I Remember Your Face
11,310 4:29 1999-05-25
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - Sped Up
You Dropped A Bomb On Me - Sped Up
11,154 4:20 2023-11-10
The Sun Don't Shine Everyday (Instrumental Interlude 2)
The Sun Don't Shine Everyday (Instrumental Interlude 2)
10,508 0:40 1984-01-01
Baby Baba Boogie
Baby Baba Boogie
9,703 4:16 2016-04-01
Jam The Motha' - Munchkin People
Jam The Motha' - Munchkin People
8,168 5:27 1983-08-22
Funkin' Till 2000 Comz
Funkin' Till 2000 Comz
7,356 5:18 1999-05-25
Shake A Leg - Dub Version
Shake A Leg - Dub Version
7,129 4:01 1983-08-22
Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
5,127 4:24 1997-11-18
Untouchable
Untouchable
5,086 5:26 1999-05-25
Scandalous
Scandalous
5,012 3:51 1999-05-25
Good Old Fashion Lovin' - AC Mix-Bonus Track
Good Old Fashion Lovin' - AC Mix-Bonus Track
4,700 4:26 1999-05-25
Messin' With My Flow
Messin' With My Flow
4,117 5:14 1999-05-25
Style & Grace
Style & Grace
3,885 4:10 1999-05-25
Otta' Be Like This
Otta' Be Like This
3,530 4:09 1999-05-25
For the People
For the People
3,496 5:24 1999-05-25
Shake - Single Version
Shake - Single Version
3,225 3:34 2001-01-01
Funkin' Till 2000 Comz - Millennium Mix
Funkin' Till 2000 Comz - Millennium Mix
2,584 5:25 1999-05-25
Open Up Your Mind (Wide) - Single Version
Open Up Your Mind (Wide) - Single Version
2,350 4:05 2001-01-01
Intro
Intro
< 1000 1:03 2004-01-01
You Dropped a Bomb on Me - 12" Version - Extended Version
You Dropped a Bomb on Me - 12" Version - Extended Version
< 1000 5:11 2009-03-24
Burn Rubber on Me / Early in the Morning / Party Train / You Dropped a Bomb on Me (Live)
Burn Rubber on Me / Early in the Morning / Party Train / You Dropped a Bomb on Me (Live)
< 1000 6:49 1996-01-01
Intro - Gap Band
Intro - Gap Band
< 1000 0:07 2007-08-28

New releases

Party Train (Sped Up)
Party Train (Sped Up)
2023-11-17
[Mercury Records]
You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Sped Up)
You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Sped Up)
2023-11-10
[Mercury Records]
Live and Funky
Live and Funky
2019-07-14
[P.E.R Music]
Fresh Takes
Fresh Takes
2018-06-15
[Intersound]
Oops Upside Your Head: The Best Of
Oops Upside Your Head: The Best Of
2013-01-01
[UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Oops Upside Your Head (Live)
Oops Upside Your Head (Live)
2012-01-19
[Blacksheep Music]
Drop The Bomb (Live)
Drop The Bomb (Live)
2007-08-28
[Indieblu Music]
Oa Hit List: The Gap Band
Oa Hit List: The Gap Band
2003-03-25
[Intersound]
Ultimate Collection: The Gap Band
Ultimate Collection: The Gap Band
2001-01-01
[Universal Music Enterprises,]
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Gap Band
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Gap Band
2000-01-25
[Mercury Records]
Y2K Funkin' Till 2000 Comz
Y2K Funkin' Till 2000 Comz
1999-05-25
[Tommy Boy Entertainment, LLC]
The 12" Collection And More (Funk Essentials)
The 12" Collection And More (Funk Essentials)
1999-03-05
[Mercury Records]
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
1997-01-01
[PSM]
Live & Well
Live & Well
1996-01-01
[SPS]
The Best Of The Gap Band
The Best Of The Gap Band
1994-06-07
[Mercury Records]
Round Trip
Round Trip
1989-01-01
[CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92)]
Gap Band 8
Gap Band 8
1986-01-01
[Cavalcade Records Ltd]
Gap Band VII
Gap Band VII
1985-12-09
[Cavalcade Records Ltd]
Gap Gold - Best Of The Gap Band
Gap Gold - Best Of The Gap Band
1985-03-01
[Island Def Jam]
Gap Band VI
Gap Band VI
1984-01-01
[Cavalcade Records Ltd]
The Gap Band V - Jammin'
The Gap Band V - Jammin'
1983-08-22
[Mercury Records]
The Gap Band V - Jammin' (Deluxe Edition)
The Gap Band V - Jammin' (Deluxe Edition)
1983-08-22
[Mercury Records]
The Gap Band IV
The Gap Band IV
1982-01-01
[Island Mercury]
The Gap Band III
The Gap Band III
1980-12-08
[Mercury Records]
The Gap Band I
The Gap Band I
1979-01-01
[Island Mercury]
The Gap Band II
The Gap Band II
1979-01-01
[Island Mercury]