"Ronnie Wilson was a genius with creating, producing, and playing the flugelhorn, Trumpet, keyboards, and singing music, from childhood to his early seventies. He will be truly missed!!!"
Wilson formed The Gap Band in the late 1960s along with his brothers Charlie and Robert, according to the band's website.
The group was originally named The
Greenwood Archer Pine Street Band, after three streets in a Black area of their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was targeted by a White mob during the 1921 Tulsa race massacre.
They later abbreviated the name to The G.A.P. Band and finally The Gap Band.
The group rose to fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s, opening for bands such as The Rolling Stones.
Their best-known songs include "You Dropped a Bomb on Me," "Party Train" and "Burn Rubber on Me."
Another famous song, "Outstanding," has been sampled by more than 150 artists, according to the band's website.
Oh yeah, People’s restaurant, line out the door... cook line pounding out quality food as fast as could happen and singing this song.
Yep, they were Leon Russel's band for a while.
In 1972, my girlfriend invited me to her high school prom that was at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. I had just finished my second semester at college.
The Gap Band was the music. Rocked the place…. 2 or 3 guitars, Hammond, drums and a piano player that was almost behind the band and in shadows. I didn't realize till quite a bit later that Leon Russell was on piano that night. No vocals, just rocked the piano. Lol…
Link below is to a short Leon Russell concert. 4:35 in there is a song with Leon Russell lead vocal and the original Gap Band.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RCkqwgIwkFA
