The Dazz Band belongs to a cluster of superior funk bands from Ohio including Faze-O, Zapp, Lakeside, The Ohio Players and Bootsy Collins’ The Pacemakers who became The J.B.’s. Formed in the late ’70s by Bobby Harris the group was the combination of the funk crews Bell Telefunk and the Kinsman Grill house band. Their first deal was with 20th Century Records in 1978 a project that Marvin Gaye was supposed to produce but had to decline because of illness. Phillip Bailey produced their first two albums Kinsman Dazz and Dazz with no success until they signed with Motown and changed their name to The Dazz Band in 1980. “Invitation To Love” from the album of the same name was their first hit song followed by “Knock Knock.” Their major breakthrough came with “Let It Whip” from the album Keep It Live which is where the single of the same name was included. Joystick was their next step in transitioning to the synthesizer funk of the ’80s that produced two hits “Swoop” and “Joystick.” “On The One For Fun” was the their answer to Joystick from the album On The One. Jukebox released in 1984 produced their last major hit song “Let It All Blow” a metallic jazzy funk piece with cool R&B vocals. Hot Spot would be their last album for Motown and the title track would be the end of their chart travels. They recorded six more albums that remained under the radar but they still tour mostly overseas.
