Dazz Band

 ( American Funk Musical Groups ) 

Kinsman Dazz was signed to 20th Century Records in 1977, and the group expanded from the original quintet consisting of Harris, Calhoun, Pettus, and the Wiley brothers and added newcomers Ed Meyers (trombone), Wayne Preston (saxophonist), and Les Thaler (trumpet). In 1977, the group went to Los Angeles to record with producer Marvin Gaye. Due to illness, Gaye was unable to complete the project. Harris requested and got Philip Bailey, the vocalist of Earth, Wind & Fire, to produce the group's first album Kinsman Dazz. They released their first single, "I Might as Well Forget About Loving You" in 1978. Philip Bailey made significant contributions to the group's vocal arrangements and overall sound. He also co-produced the second album Dazz in 1979, when the band achieved their second charting hit, "Catchin' Up on Love".

In 1980, the Kinsman Dazz changed its name to Dazz Band, after being signed to Motown Records, which simultaneously included a re-organization of members. Wayne Preston and Les Thaler were no longer with the group, and Sennie "Skip" Martin, (trumpet, vocals), Pierre DeMudd (trumpet, vocals; April 20, 1953 – May 10, 2017), and Kevin Kendricks (keyboards) were added. In 1981, guitarist Eric Fearman was also added.

Dazz Band's first album for Motown was Invitation to Love (1980). The album's title track began a string of hits starting in March 1981. The group's next album Let the Music Play (1981) featured the single "Knock! Knock!" which reached the top 50. Dazz Band's breakthrough came with the hit "Let It Whip", written and produced by Reggie Andrews, from their Keep It Live (1982) album. "Let It Whip" reached No. 1 on the US Billboard R&B record chart and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Members of the Grammy Award winning Dazz Band included: Sennie "Skip" Martin, Pierre DeMudd, Bobby Harris, Eric Fearman, Kenny Pettus, Steve Cox, Keith Harrison, Michael Wiley and Isaac Wiley.

On December 31, 1982, during Dazz Band's New Year's Eve concert at the Front Row Theatre in Cleveland, Mayor George V. Voinovich presented Bobby Harris and Dazz Band the Key to the City with proclamations from the State of Ohio. Dazz Band continued to score R&B hits with the songs such as "Party Right Here" (1983), "On the One for Fun" (1983) "Joystick" (1983), and "Let It All Blow" (also their biggest UK hit single, peaking at No. 12 in 1984).

• Bobby Harris – saxophone, clarinet, vocals (1977–present)
• Keith Harrison – keyboards, vocals (1982–1988; 2020–present)
• Marlon McClain – guitars (1984–2014; 2019–present)
• Raymond Calhoun – drums (1998–2001; 2019–present)
• Alvin Frazier – bass guitar, vocals (2021–present)

• Sennie "Skip" Martin – trumpet, lead vocals (1980–1985; 1997–2024)
• Donny Sykes – lead vocals (2014–2024)
• Wayne Preston – saxophone (1977–1979)
• Les Thaler – trumpet (1977–1979)
• Michael G. Jackson – keyboards (1977–1979; died 1997)
• Ed Meyers – trombone (1977–1981)
• Michael Wiley – bass guitar, vocals (1977–1988; died 1993)
• Isaac Wiley Jr. – drums (1977–1985; died 2023)
• Michael Calhoun – guitars, vocals (1977–1981)
• Kenny Pettus – percussion, vocals (1977–1986; 1998–2001)
• Kevin Kendrick – keyboards (1980–1981; 1998–2001)
• Pierre DeMudd – trumpet, vocals (1980–1988; 1998–2001; died 2017)
• Eric Fearman – guitars (1980–1985)
• Steve Cox – synthesizer (1981–1988)
• Jerry Bell – lead vocals (1984–1999, 2011)
• Juan Lively – lead vocals (1988–1993)
• Terry Stanton – lead vocals (1994–2001; died 2006)
• Nathaniel Philips – bass (1995–1998)

• Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - 1982 - "Let It Whip".

• List of jazz fusion artists

• Thompson, Dave (2025). 9780879306298, Backbeat Books. ISBN 9780879306298

• Dazz Band official site
• Discography at Discogs
• Dazz Band official Facebook Page