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
Let It All Blow
Dazz Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to Dazz Band's "Let It All Blow" speak to a sense of release and freedom. The repetition of "let it all blow" and "heave-ho" suggests a desire to let go of any burdens, stresses, or worries and simply be in the moment. The repetition also builds a sense of momentum, as if the listener is being urged on to release whatever is holding them back.
The repeated phrase "let it all blow down" adds to this sense of release, as if the weight of whatever is holding the listener back is being taken away or demolished. This could refer to anything from emotional baggage to societal restrictions or expectations. It is a call to open up and let go of these constraints, allowing oneself to be free and uninhibited.
Overall, the lyrics to "Let It All Blow" are an anthem for letting go and embracing the moment. The song invites the listener to shed their inhibitions and live fully in the present moment. It is a reminder to release the weight of the past and any expectations for the future, and simply live in the now.
Line by Line Meaning
Let it all blow.
Release all of your worries and troubles.
Heave-ho heave-ho let it all blow.
Push away all negative energy and stress from your life.
Let it all blow down down down down down.
Allow everything that is causing unease to collapse and disappear completely.
Let it all blow blow down down.
Eliminate all sources of disruption and hindrance from your life.
Let it all blow Let it all blow'down down down down down. . . .
Let go of everything that is causing chaos and disturbance to your peace of mind.
Let it all blow.
Free yourself from all of the things that are weighing you down.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY HARRIS, KEITH D HARRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alfredatrawick649
The Dazz Band was way ahead of their time. This group was awesome!!! They do not make music like this anymore. You gotta love them ❤
@mblackwell5121
As A Grandad, with 4 fantastic Grandchildren, they all like granddad's music.x
@virgilwyatt4632
IT'S AMAZING how songs just pop into your head after you haven't heard them for years, even decades. But when they do, such as this one did while was doing yard work around the house, you just gotta satisfy that urge and punch it up on You Tube! This is 2019 and keep wondering why there are 20 people who disliked this track. This is an incredible sound!
@SuperBigDog2U
This song is amazing today, but it was soo much more back in the day, in the moment, in those times in the 80's. Need more music like this today...sadly no talent like this any more.
@wendysulewski3846
Oh man I go way back with these memories and such great music
@wendysulewski3846
I love Twilight 22, Full Force, Gap band and so much more
@decoder3449
Yip exactly what just happened 🤣. I'm a 45 year old from New Zealand. What's the odds.
@trentdavis733
My older brother and I used to crank this up driving through the Mojave Desert en route to Sac-Town (Sacramento) back in 1984! Good times!!!
@World-Superbike
This is an absolutely epic track. If you can keep still to this and the Gap Band, dropped the bomb, then you must be dead!!
@kennethcarversr6873
I love the Dazz Band music.