The Dazz Band, which scored more than 20 hits on Billboardโs rhythm and blues and pop charts, was founded in 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio. It was led by clarinet player, saxophonist and vocalist Bobby Harris and included Kenny Pettus (lead vocalist, percussion), Isaac โIkeโ Wiley Jr. (drums), his brother Michael Wiley (bassist), and Michael Calhoun (lyricist/guitarist). They were initially named Kinsman Dazz after Sonny Jonesโ Kinsman Grill Lounge in Cleveland, where they worked as the house band.
In 1977, Kinsman Dazz was signed to 20th Century Records, and the ensemble added Ed Meyers (trombone), Wayne Preston (saxophonist), and Les Thaler (trumpet). They then moved to Los Angeles, California, to record with singer/producer Marvin Gaye. In 1980 the ensemble dropped โKinsmanโ from its name and called themselves The Dazz Band after signing with Motown Records. Their first single with Motown, โCatchinโ Up on Love,โ was released later that year and peaked at no. 33 on the Billboard R&B chart. It remained on the chart for 14 weeks.
The Dazz Bandโs first Motown album Invitation to Love was also released in 1980 followed in 1981 by the album, Let the Music Play. The hit single from that album, โKnock! Knock!โ peaked at no. 44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1982 they released what would be their greatest hit, โLet It Whip,โ from their third album Keep it Alive. The song reached no.1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, no. 2 on the Dance chart, and peaked at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remained charted for five weeks and sold more than 500,000 records. In addition, the hit led to the Dazz Band winning its first Grammy for โBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocalsโ in 1983. They were the first R&B group from Cleveland to win a Grammy.
Later in 1983, the single โJoystickโ from the album Joystick peaked at no. 1 on the R&B chart while โOn the One for Funโ reached no. 9 on that chart. Their single โParty Right Hereโ peaked at no. 64 on the U.S. R&B chart but in 1984, it reached no. 12 in the United Kingdom. In 1986, The Dazz Band released Wild & Free, and from that album, the single sharing the same title peaked at no. 44 on the R&B chart while another single from the album โLOVE MIAโ reached no. 48 on that chart.
In 1988, The Dazz Band left Motown and signed a contract with RCA Records. They charted three singles from their Rock the Room album on the R&B chart: โSingle Girlsโ reached no. 19, โAnticipationโ peaked at no. 38, and โOpen Sesameโ reached no. 83.
In 2021, The Dazz Band released their first single in 33 years, โDrop It,โ on the Bogi Music Group label. They then released โSoul Jam (EP)โ which reached no. 14 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs and remained there for seven weeks. As of 2021, the group continues to record and perform, marking 45 years as active entertainers.
