The S.O.S. Band (sometimes written as S.O.S. Band; abbreviation for Sounds of Success) is an American R&B and

electro-funk Electro (or electro-funk)Rap meets T ...

group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...

who gained fame in the 1980s. They are best known for the songs "

Take Your Time (Do It Right) "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" is the debut single by the S.O.S. Band. It was released on March 18, 1980 as the lead single from the debut album '' S.O.S.'' through Tabu Records, three months before the album's release. Chart performance In the ...

", "

Just Be Good to Me "Just Be Good to Me" is a song by the S.O.S. Band, written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for their fourth studio album, ''On the Rise'' (1983). "Just Be Good to Me" was released as the lead single from ''On the Rise'' in March 1983, ...

", and " The Finest".

History

The Atlanta, Georgia, band was started in 1977, when 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 formed a group called Sounds of Santa Monica that played at Atlanta nightclub the Regal Room. Their manager (Bunny Jackson-Ransom) sent a demo to Clarence Avant, head of Tabu Records. After signing the band to Tabu, Avant suggested that the band work with songwriter/producer Sigidi Abdullah. Abdullah was curious as to why an Atlanta-based band named itself Santa Monica. Keyboardist Jason Bryant replied that the band had an enjoyable concert in

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. Abdullah then came up with a new band name, The S.O.S. Band, with S.O.S. standing for "Sounds of Success". Abdullah produced and co-wrote "

" – which went platinum – with Harold Clayton, the song parking at number one R&B for five weeks and peaking at number three pop on Billboard's charts in spring 1980. Their eponymous debut album, '' S.O.S.'', went gold, selling over 800,000 copies and holding the number two R&B spot for three weeks. While the band was on its world tour, trumpeter/vocalist/percussionist Abdul Ra'oof joined them. Their second album, '' Too'', went to number 30 R&B in the summer of 1981. On the band's third album, '' III'', they worked with producer Leon Sylvers III and writers

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...

. Their breaking single, " High Hopes", hit number 25 R&B in the fall of 1982 while the album went to number 27 R&B in late 1982. Jam and Lewis took over the production duties on their fourth album, ''

On the Rise ''On the Rise'' is the fourth album by the R&B band the S.O.S. Band, released by Tabu Records on July 1, 1983. It was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Gene Dozier. History The album peaked at #7 on the R&B albums chart. It also reac ...

'', scoring with the number two hit "

" (A song that would later be featured as the theme to

Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as on ...

's stand-up film, " Here and Now", and again in

Grand Theft Auto IV ''Grand Theft Auto IV'' is a 2008 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the sixth main entry in the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series, following 2004's '' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'', and the ...

's in-game radio, The Vibe 98.8) and the number five ballad "

Tell Me If You Still Care "Tell Me If You Still Care" is a song by the S.O.S. Band. It is the opening track on the group's fourth studio album '' On the Rise'' and was issued as the album's second single. Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the song peaked ...

". ''On the Rise'' became their second gold album, hitting number seven R&B in the summer of 1983. The formula continued to work: '' Just the Way You Like It'' (including the number six R&B single "Just the Way You Like It") went to number six R&B in the fall of 1984 and ''Sands of Time'' (including the number two R&B hit "The Finest") went gold and hit number four R&B in the spring of 1986. Many of these releases, as well as the sound of early releases, helped to popularize the now-classic sound of the TR-808 Roland drum machine. In late 1986, vocalist Mary Davis left the S.O.S. Band to pursue a solo career. In 1987, the band contributed a song called "It's Time to Move" to the '' Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol'' soundtrack. The band released their seventh album in 1989. For ''

Diamonds in the Raw ''Diamonds in the Raw'' is the seventh studio album by the S.O.S. Band, released by Tabu Records in 1989. The album marked the absence of lead singer Mary Davis, who left in 1987 to pursue a solo career. Chandra Currelley-Young, Chandra Currelley ...

'' the lead vocalists were Chandra Currelley and Fredi Grace, and three producers were used (Curtis Williams, Eban Kelly & Jimi Randolph, Jason Bryant, and Sigidi). Saxophonist Billy Ellis, also one of the founder members, died during the recording of ''Diamonds in the Raw''. The album reached number 43 on the R&B chart. ''One of Many Nights'', with lead vocalist Chandra Currelley and produced by Curtis Williams, followed in 1991. It failed to chart. In 2021 Mary Davis retired from performing after suffering a stroke.

Discography

''All albums and singles listed below were issued on

Tabu Records Tabu Productions was an American record label founded by Clarence Avant in 1975. The label, Tabu Records, focused on R&B and funk. Founding Avant founded the label after Sussex Records went out of business in June 1975. Tabu Record's flagshi ...

.''

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Singles

References

External links

*
S.O.S. Band performing "Take Your Time (Do It Right)"'
on ''

Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series w ...

'' in 1980. {{DEFAULTSORT:Sos Band, The African-American musical groups American boogie musicians American dance music groups American disco groups American funk musical groups American soul musical groups Musical groups established in 1977 Musical groups from Atlanta Musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)