The S.O.S. Band (an abbreviation of Sounds of Success) is an American R&B and electro-funk group formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1977. The original line-up consisted of Mary Davis (lead vocals), Jason Bryant (keyboards), Billy Ellis and Willie “Sonny” Killebrew (horns), Bruno Speight (guitare), John Simpson (bass) and James Earl Jones III (drums).
The group achieved commercial success with their debut single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" in 1980, which reached number one on the US R&B chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Their self-titled debut album "S.O.S." (1980) was also certified gold. In the early 1980s, their sound developed further through collaborations with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, resulting in a series of successful singles including "Just Be Good to Me", "Tell Me If You Still Care" and "The Finest".
The band was formed in 1977 under the name Sounds of Santa Monica and performed at venues in Atlanta, including the Regal Room nightclub. Their manager, Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, secured a recording contract with Tabu Records, whose head Clarence Avant encouraged the group to work with producer Sigidi Abdullah. The band subsequently adopted the name The S.O.S. Band, with the acronym standing for Sounds of Success.
Their debut single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", produced and co-written by Sigidi Abdullah and Harold Clayton, spent five weeks at number one on the US R&B chart in 1980. The album "S.O.S." sold in excess of 800,000 copies and reached number two on the R&B chart. During this period, Abdul Ra’oof joined the group as a trumpeter, vocalist and percussionist.
ShalamarView profile
The WhispersView profile
CameoView profile
ChangeView profile
Atlantic StarrView profile
HeatwaveView profile