The Gap Band

The Gap Band are an American R&B, funk and soul music group who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s with their heavily-charged dance anthems and their sentimental and ethereal love songs. Comprised of brothers Charlie, Ron

The Gap Band are an American R&B, funk and soul music group who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s with their heavily-charged dance anthems and their sentimental and ethereal love songs. Comprised of brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, the band first formed as the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street band in 1967 in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma and shortened its name to the Gap Band in 1979.

Growing up with a Pentecostal minister father, the Wilson brothers formed the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band in 1967, with Tuck Andress (later of Tuck and Patti). The name was derived from the streets that formed the African American business district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. They released their first record on an indie label in 1974 to little or no success. At the time, the group had up to twelve musicians. Shortening down to the three brothers and with producer Leon Russell on the helm, the group began to find success in 1978 with songs like "I'm in Love" and "Shake", The latter becoming a Top 10 R&B hit near the end of the year.