Throughout 2012, the S.O.S. Band has been celebrating 35 years in the music business, and is still delivering the energetic, lively performances fans have come to expect.
Over the years, many longtime supporters and newer fans have been more than happy to see the band repeatedly, because an S.O.S. Band concert can easily turn into a party.
The group will showcase its timeless parade of hits this weekend during the Circle City Classic Friday Nite Cabaret on Oct. 5 at the Indiana Convention Center.
Tickets for seats are still available, but attendees will probably not need them when the S.O.S. Band arrives on stage, performing such classics as “Just Be Good to Me,” “Tell Me If You Still Care” and “Borrowed Love.”
Formed in Atlanta in 1977 with the name Santa Monica, the group developed a loyal following as a reliable nightclub act at the then popular Regal Room.
“We started working on Friday and Saturday nights, then we got so tight and so good that the owner of the club hired us for five nights straight, and the club was packed every night,” lead singer Mary Davis said recently.
The ensemble was soon discovered by Tabu Records manager Clarence Avant. Their name was changed to The S.O.S. (Sounds of Success) Band, and in 1980, released their first single, “Take Your Time (Do It Right),” which became a smash hit and defined the group’s rhythmic sound.
Along with peers such as Atlantic Starr, Cameo, The Gap Band, Midnight Star, Ready for the World, and Klymaxx, the S.O.S. Band produced some of the most popular R&B classics of the 1980s.
In 1983, the S.O.S. Band joined producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the album “On the Rise,” which featured the quiet storm favorite “Tell Me If You Still Care,” and the grooving, hypnotic “Just Be Good to Me.”
This dance floor oriented formula continued to reap massive benefits on the charts with 1984’s dreamy “Weekend Girl,” as well as the club favorites “No One’s Gonna’ Love You (Like I Do)” and “Just the Way You Like.”
During the latter half of the decade The S.O.S. Band kept partygoers on their feet with cuts like 1987’s “The Finest” and “Even When You Sleep.”
In addition to having good producers, Davis explained that the S.O.S. Band’s signature sound was developed from the diverse experiences of its members.
“We had jazz influence, we had rock influence, we had calypso, and we each had years of experience doing songs,” she said. “When we came together as a band we were so hot because we all knew what we were doing, we liked what we were doing and were very creative at that time, and that’s how that sound came about.”
Davis left the S.O.S. Band for a brief solo career but returned in 1995 to reform the group with original co-lead vocalist and trumpet player Abdul Ra’oof, and original keyboardist Jason Bryant.
Although it has been 20 years since the S.O.S. Band released an album of new material, the group remains a very popular and profitable live attraction, performing throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Currently, two versions of the band are on tour, including the original one featuring Davis and Ra’oof, and another version led by original guitarist Bruno Speight.
“We still have the opportunity to do many concerts,” Ra-oof said. “We are still around after more than 30 years, something that a lot of groups haven’t been able to do, and we know it is because of our fan base.”
The S.O.S. Band can claim a proud collection of nine R&B, pop and dance Top 20 singles and four albums that reached the Top 10. Billboard has ranked “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” among the Top 50 dance songs of all time, and ranked “The Finest” among the best dance maxi singles.
Although rarely seen away from the stage, Davis has become one of the most beloved vocalists in R&B music. She and the group appreciate the support fans have given them and she looks forward to continuing her career for the foreseeable future.
“Music has always, and will always be a part of my life, because that’s something that I do well, and I really don’t know what else to do,” Davis said. “It’s just a gift from God.”
