Ozone was a funk and R&B group during the late 1970s and early 1980s, signed to

Motown Records Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmant ...

History

When the Nashville

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

band The Endeavors broke up in 1977, three of its members, Benny Wallace, Jimmy Stewart and Charles Glenn, formed a new group of their own. They called it ‘Ozone’. The trio later recruited trumpeter Thomas Bumpass, saxophonist and vocalist William "Billy" White, saxophonist and vocalist Ray Woodward, guitarist Greg Hargrove and drummer Paul Hines. In 1981 guitarist Herman Brown replaced Greg Hargrove.Ozone a
Soulwalking
/ref> During their first two years, Ozone performed as backup singers for

Billy Preston William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, during which he ba ...

and

Syreeta Syreeta Wright (February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004), who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights we ...

, who were with

at the time. This relationship led to them receiving a deal of their own in 1979. They released their debut LP, ''Walk On'', in 1980. It was mostly instrumental funk and jazz-funk. For the group’s next album, Motown appointed

Michael Lovesmith Michael Lovesmith (born Michael Larry Smith, 1953) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and executive. He has sometimes been credited as Michael L. Smith. Life and career Born in St Louis, Missouri, he wrote songs for ...

on vocals. Over the next two years, they released 3 full-length albums on Motown: ''Jump On It'' (which failed to chart), ''Lil' Suzy'' (#45 R&B, #152 Hot 200), and ''Send It'' (#61 R&B). Their final album to be released, the LP ''Glasses'', came also out on Motown in 1983, and which was reissued around 2008 on CD by PTG Records in the Netherlands. The song "(Our Hearts) Will Always Shine" from that album had minor success in the UK. Although Ozone served as backup to

and

, they are best remembered for their work with

Teena Marie Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before taking the sta ...

. They appeared on several tracks on '' Lady T'' in 1980. Lady T a
Discogs
/ref> They were also featured on the song "Chains" from her album ''Irons in the Fire'' that same year. ''Irons in the Fire'' a
Discogs
/ref> The majority of her songs’ horn arrangements were handled by Ozone. Marie returned the favor by composing for and performing with Ozone on several of their albums. She appeared on half of the tracks on ''Send It'' in 1981. Marie also wrote and can be heard on their minor hit "Gigolette". Ozone also aided Bobby Nunn on his 1982 single “She's Just A Groupie”''She's Just a Groupie'' a
Discogs
/ref> and his 1983 album ''Private Party''.''Private Party a
Discogs
/ref> Motown’s Bobby Nunn is not to be confused with doo-wop singer Bobby Nunn. Even though their biggest hits "Strutt My Thang" and "Gigolette" only peaked at #73 and 55 on the R&B charts respectively, and no other singles charted, Ozone have made their way onto several

compilation albums A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

.Funkology Vol. 2 at

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

/ref> In 2018 Ozone is reported to make a return with Charles Glenn, Rodney Trotter, Derek Organ, Ewen Williams, Rodney Thomas, Patricia Thomas and D'LaVance.

Discography

*''Walk On'' (Motown, 1980) *''Jump On It'' (Motown, 1981) *''Send It'' (Motown, 1981) *''Lil' Suzy'' (Motown, 1982) *''Glasses'' (Motown, 1983)

Featured on

*''Lady T'' (1980) 1 track *''Irons in the Fire'' (1980) 3 tracks Bobby Nunn *''She's Just a Groupie'' (1982) *''Private Party'' (1983)

References

External links

*Ozone a
Soulwalking
*Ozone a
SoulAndFunkMusic.com
*Discography at

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ozone Motown artists American funk musical groups African-American musical groups