Kinsman Dazz was signed to 20th Century Records by Joe Lewis in 1978. The group went to Los Angeles to record for producer Marvin Gaye. Owing to illness, Gaye had to back out of the duties. Harris requested and got Philip Bailey, the vocalist of Earth, Wind & Fire, to produce the group's first album, Kinsman Dazz. Bailey would co-produce the second album, Dazz, and had a major input into the group's vocal arrangements. They released their first single, "I Might as Well Forget About Loving You", in late 1978. "Catchin' Up on You" followed in 1979.
The Kinsman Dazz became the Dazz Band in 1980. Separately, the 20th Century Records label was closed, and the Dazz Band was signed to Motown Records. The group expanded from the original quintet — Harris, Calhoun, Pettus, and the Wiley brothers — with newcomers Kevin Kendrick, Steve Cox, Eric Fearman, Pierre DeMudd, Sonny "Skip" Martin, Jerry Bell and Terry Stanton. They had their first hit with "Shake It Up" in 1980.
Dazz's first album for Motown was Invitation to Love (1980), a self-produced set, whose title track, the ballad "Invitation to Love", began a string of hits for the band starting in March 1981. The group's next album, Let The Music Play (1981), featured the minor hit single "Knock! Knock!", reaching the Top 50. The group's biggest breakthrough came with the album Keep It Live (1982), containing the hit "Let It Whip" — which reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. They would go on to score R&B hits with the songs "Party Right Here" (1983), "Joystick" (1984), and "Let It All Blow" (which was also their biggest UK single, peaking at #12) (1984).
After Keep It Live, the band recorded the albums On the One, Joystick, Jukebox and Hot Spot, all for Motown. The band was known for its live performances, often proving more popular than the headlining act. In 1985, Fearman left the group and were replaced by Marlon McClain and Keith Harrison. In 1986, Dazz Band recorded Wild & Free for Geffen Records, and moved to RCA Records.
[edit] 1990s revival
The popularity of classic funk/R&B/soul acts performing in the US and abroad started to expand in the mid-1990s on events like the awarded Sinbad's Summer Jam: '70s Soul Music Festival. Bobby Harris decided to form a tribute band with members from the Bar-Kays, Con Funk Shun, the Gap Band and the SOS Band, called the United We Funk All-Stars. A studio album followed, including a tribute to the late Roger Troutman, who performs on the album as well. Other artists from the genre who contributed to the album were the late Rick James and The System. The concept was a great success, and was captured on a live CD, presented and promoted by radio jockey Tom Joyner, who made the announcements on the UWF-All Stars shows.
Current members
* Bobby Harris - saxophone, clarinet, background vocals
* Sennie Skip Martin - trumpet, vocals
* Marlon McClain - vocals and guitar
Past members
* Jerry Bell (Lead Vocals, Background Vocals)
* Juan Lively(Lead Vocals, Background Vocals)
* Michael Calhoun(Lead Guitar)
* Steve Cox - (keyboards)
* Pierre DeMudd - (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals)
* Eric Fearman - (lead guitar, songwriter)
* Keith Harrison - (keyboards)
* Kenny Pettus -( percussion, vocals)
* Terry Stanton - (lead vocals R.I.P.)
* Michael Wiley - bass (R.I.P.)
* Isaac Wiley, Jr. - (drums, percussion, background vocals)
Discography
Albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Label
US 200 US R&B
1980 Invitation to Love - - Motown
1981 Let the Music Play 154 36 Motown
1982 Keep It Live 14 1 Motown
1983 Joystick 73 12 Motown
1983 On the One 59 12 Motown
1984 Jukebox 84 18 Motown
1984 Greatest Hits - - Motown
1985 Hot Spot 114 24 Motown
1986 Wild & Free 178 37 Geffen
1988 Rock the Room - 91 RCA
1996 Under the Streetlights - 42 LKY
1997 Double Exposure - - Intersound
1998 Here We Go Again - 99 Intersound
2001 Time Traveler - - Eagle Music Group
Singles
Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US R&B US Dance
1980 "Shake It Up" - 65 - Invitation to Love
1981 "Invitation to Love" 109 51 - Invitation to Love
1981 "Knock Knock" - 44 - Let the Music Play
1982 "Let It Whip" 5 1 - Keep It Live
1982 "Keep It Live (On the K.I.L)" - 20 - Keep It Live
1983 "On The One For Fun" - 9 52 On the One
1983 "Cheek To Cheek" - 76 - On the One
1983 "Party Right Here" - 63 - On the One
1983 "Joystick" 61 9 - Joystick
1984 "Swoop (I'm Yours)" - 12 - Joystick
1984 "Let It all Blow" 84 9 - Jukebox
1985 "Heartbeat" 110 12 - Jukebox
1985 "Hot Spot" - 21 33 Hot Spot
1986 "L.O.V.E. M.I.A." - 48 - Wild & Free
1986 "Wild and Free" - 44 - Wild & Free
1988 "Anticipation" - 38 - Rock the Room
1988 "Single Girls" - 19 38 Rock the Room
1988 "Open Sesame" - 83 - Rock the Room
1998 "Ain't Nothin' but a Jam Y'all" - 58 -
1998 "Girl Got Body" - 81 - Here We Go Again
Heartbeat
Dazz Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The minute I saw you
I knew that I had to have you then
You looked right back at me
That's when I felt the magic
Wohoa
Don't wanna play games wid you baby
I want this to be real ooh
And if you will no cheap thrill
Want this to last forever and ever
So baby be still wooha
(Listen)
Listen girl
To your heartbeat
Heartbeat
Needing and beating
Beating and needing me
Listen
To your herartbeat
Heartbeat
Just follow your heart
Are you having problems
Expressing the way you feel about me?
I'm sure I can solve them
And we can be as one
Woho whoa wohaoa
Reach out I'll be there
Can't you see I wanna touch you baby
Don't be afraid of your feelings
Nooooo
Take my love
Within it flow
Promise it will never be a baby
So girl if you will whoa
Listen
To your heartbeat
Heartbeat
Girl can't you tell what it's saying to you Baby
Listen
To your heartbeat
Heartbeat
It will answer all questions
Yeah
Listen
Listen baby
To your heartbeat
Heartbeat
Wohooa whhoaooo
Listen
Listen baby
To your heartbeat
Heartbeat
Just follow your heart
I'm taking you to the stars
Whoa whoa
No need for you
Tremble when I touch you
Girl you know how much I wanna be with you
Make love to you baby
Whoa oo whoa oo
I need your body next to mine baby
Needing and beating
Beating and needing me
The lyrics of Dazz Band's Heartbeat tell the story of a person who falls in love at first sight. From the moment he saw her, he knew that he had to have her, and when she looked back, there was magic in the air. The singer is serious about his intentions, and he doesn't want to play games. He wants the relationship to be real and long-lasting. He urges her to listen to her heart, and he assures her that he will be there for her. He tells her that he knows how much he loves her and wants to be with her. He wants to take her to the stars and make love to her.
Line by Line Meaning
The minute I saw you
As soon as I laid my eyes on you
I knew that I had to have you then
I felt an instant attraction towards you
You looked right back at me
You reciprocated the same feeling
That's when I felt the magic Wohoa
Those mutual feelings created a magical moment
Sometimes the light may play a game
There could be deceiving external factors
Don't wanna play games wid you baby
I wish to avoid any games in our relationship
I want this to be real ooh
I desire a genuine, authentic relationship
And if you will no cheap thrill
And if you also seek a serious relationship, avoiding any short-term excitements
Want this to last forever and ever
I hope we can make our relationship last forever
So baby be still wooha (Listen)
So, let's carefully consider our options (Listen)
Listen girl
Listen to me carefully, girl
To your heartbeat
Pay attention to your instincts
Heartbeat
Your intense emotions towards me
Needing and beating
Desiring and coupling with me
Beating and needing me
Feeling love and closeness towards me
Are you having problems
Do you have any concerns?
Expressing the way you feel about me?
Confessing your feelings towards me?
I'm sure I can solve them
I am confident that I can help you
And we can be as one Woho whoa wohaoa
And we can unite our hearts and souls together
Reach out I'll be there
Just call me and I'll come to you
Can't you see I wanna touch you baby
I desire closeness and intimacy with you
Don't be afraid of your feelings
Don't be hesitant to express your emotions
Nooooo Take my love
Trust me and accept my love
Within it flow
Let it surround and uplift you
Promise it will never be a baby
I promise it won't be temporary or insignificant
So girl if you will whoa
So, if you're willing
Girl can't you tell what it's saying to you Baby
Can't you feel what your emotions are conveying to you, Baby?
It will answer all questions
Your emotions can solve any doubts
I'm taking you to the stars Whoa whoa
I will elevate our love to the highest level
No need for you Tremble when I touch you
You don't need to feel nervous when we're close
Girl you know how much I wanna be with you
You know how much I crave a union with you
Make love to you baby Whoa oo whoa oo
Express my passion for you intimately
I need your body next to mine baby
I need to express physical closeness with you
Needing and beating
Desiring and coupling with me
Beating and needing me
Feeling love and closeness towards me
Listen baby
Listen to me, Baby
Just follow your heart
Trust your instincts and follow your heart
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK EGG, MARTIN GEOFFREY PEARSON, RON PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tashawnayoung3782
We need old school on the radio again
@karencoleman4781
Facts!!!
@dollysmith2596
Real There music didn’t respect woman #1❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉
@cuchulainnmurphy8729
True that! 😊
@jamesgrover3328
❤
@trevaegreen9566
True
@stephanie3506
This song still sounds GREAT today!!! It doesn't even sound like its over 30 years old......Good music truly has no expiration date!!!! FACTS!!!
@theknow7557
I met my wife of 34 years at a Dazz Band concert!! How about that!! 80's magic!!
@tawanabrown8908
One of my favorite jams!! Skip is one of the best lead singers ever!!
@mygodisable2
Yesss, all of his solos were so good. The group had it going on. They had vocals, rock, funk, r & b, choreography. Skip, Pierre de Mud, Bobby I can't remember all of their names but they tore Cleveland up. The Best of the best.