"The S.O.S. Band” are an American R&B and electro-funk musical group. The band was founded in 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, by singer Mary Davis, keyboardist/singer Jason Bryant, saxophonists Billy Ellis and Willie "Sonny" Killebrew, drummer James Earl Jones III, guitarist Bruno Speight and bassist Alexander Simpson. Initially, the group was called "Sounds Of Santa Monica" and the first performances took place in the nightclub "Regal Room" in Atlanta. The band signed a record deal with "Tabu Records" and changed the name to "The S.O.S. Band "with the initials S.O.S. which stands for "Sounds of Success". They began a collaboration with producer/songwriter Sigidi Abdullah who wrote and produced their first single "Take Your Time (Do It Right)". The song reached #1 on Hot R & B / Hip-Hop Songs and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went platinum. Their debut album, "SOS", went gold, sold over 800,000 copies and held second place for three weeks on Hot R&B. n 1981, the second album "Too" was released, but it did not go beyond the thirtieth position of Hot R&B. Their most successful single from the album was "Do It Now". The band's third album, "III," featured producer Leon Sylvers III and writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Their most successful single, "High Hopes", peaked at number 25 on R&B in the fall of 1982 as the album peaked at number 27. In 1983, their fourth studio album "On The Rise" written and produced was released. by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The hit single "Just Be Good To Me" peaked at #2 on the "Billboard Single USA" and #3 on the "Billboard Hot Dance Club". The percussion and rhythms of the song were created using a Roland TR-808 drum machine. The song was subsequently performed by several artists, including Deborah Cox, Mariah Carey, Shayne Ward, Faithless ft Dido, Seany B. In 2008, the song was included in the video game “Grand Theft Auto IV”.
Album
1980 - S.O.S.
1981 - The S.O.S. Band Too
1982 - S.O.S. III
1983 - On The Rise
1984 - Just The Way You like It
1986 - Sands Of Time
1989 - Diamonds In The Raw
1991 - One Of Many Nights
1980 - What's Wrong With Our Love Affair?
1980 - S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash)
1980 - Take Your Time (Do It Right)
1981 - Do It Now
1981 - You / There Is No Limit
1982 - Have It Your Way
1982 - High Hopes / Good & Plenty
1982 - Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')
1982 - Can't Get Enough
1983 - For Your Love
1983 - Tell Me If You Still Care
1983 - Just Be Good To Me
1984 - Break Up (Remix)
1984 - No One's Gonna Love You
1984 - Just The Way You Like It
1984 - Weekend Girl
1986 - Even When You Sleep
1986 - The Finest
1986 - Borrowed Love
1986 - No Lies
1989 - Do You Love Me?
1989 - Secret Wish
1989 - I'm Still Missing Your Love