Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father's Pentecostal church, and it was also mandatory they practice their music lessons at home as well. They learned various instruments, which primarily included lots of playing the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, it proved to be a value tool for all three. With Ronnie being the oldest, he established his own band when he was just a fourteen-year-old.
Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival band a couple of years later. One particular night, the two bands were performing just across the street from one another. Ronnie stopped by to check out Charlie grooving on the organ. While there, Ronnie asked Charlie to join his band for $50 over what he was making. Though Charlie's band-mates doubled his offer, he joined his brother's band as fate would have it
At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the group's bass player quit; Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely fourteen himself, to the group to play bass. For a short while, the group performed without a name. Musician Carlton Morales, co-writer of Julian Lennon's pop hit "Vallotte" played with the band shortly after leaving the outfit The Mighty Majors. Finally, the Wilson brothers began calling their outfit the "Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band". As such a name proved too long for music posters, the band shortened their name to the "G.A.P. Street Band". Due to a typographical error, the group was actually advertised as "Gap Band" and "The Gap Band". That title stuck.
They performed at various venues around the Tulsa area, including country & western joints, tennis clubs, rock clubs, and wherever else called on their services. However, by the middle of the 70s, Charlie became interested in Los Angeles, California and left Tulsa to explore his possibilities; the country's big cities were in the middle of a soul music boom, and he wanted in.. A short time later, Charlie convinced his brothers to join him. The group floundered about L.A.; hitting and missing on record deals, gigs, and the like, the guys had a lot of talent but needed guidance. Still maintaining their interest in major label work, the group met entertainment businessman Lonnie Simmons through a friend, a musician D.J. Rogers, and their destiny was set. Simmons owned a nightclub called "The Total Experience" on Crenshaw Blvd and a recording studio at the time, and he signed the group to his company, which was called "Total Experience Records". Simmons would later start up a record label, also co-songwriting the Gap Band's tunes at times.
The Top Five single "Shake" followed in 1979, along with "Steppin' Out" (number ten) and "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)" (number four) in 1980. The latter was inspired at a concert in Pittsburgh where some kids were chanting the groove and the Gap Band picked up on it. In December of 1980, the trio dropped its first number one single with "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and followed it with the Top Five ballad "Yearning for Your Love" (1981).
The group went on to score three more number one songs ("Early in the Morning" and "Outstanding" in 1982 and "All of My Love" in 1989), three more number two songs ("You Dropped a Bomb on Me" in 1982, "Beep a Freak" in 1984, and "Going in Circles" in 1986) and a horde of Top Ten hits. They also did the soundtracks for Leon Isaac Kennedy's Penitentiary III and Keena Ivory Waynans' I'm Gonna Get You Sucker. The group was given only 24 hours notice to complete the title song.
In 1984 Ronnie became a born-again Christian and started pastoring. He joined Melba Moore and David Peaston in the touring play Mama, I'm Sorry. Charlie went through rough times fighting a cocaine addiction until finally rehabilitating a few years later. Charlie has been one of most sought-after vocalists in the music industry. He has worked with Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Eurythmics, Snoop Dogg, and scores of others. The Gap Band has recorded for various labels, including Mercury and Capitol Records. The group remained together for quite song time, enduring the good with the bad, and kept on touring into the new millennium.
The death of Robert Wilson, at the age of 53, on August 15, 2010 changed everything. Mourned by fans of the group across the world, many musicians cited his role in creating the band's funky soul sound. Numerous singles such as "Outstanding" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" remain radio classics to this day.
Big Fun
The Gap Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to The Gap Band's song "Big Fun" are all about enjoying life and having a good time. The song encourages the listener to come and get love if they want it and to forget about work and problems and instead focus on having a lot of play and fun under the sun. This is emphasized through the repetition of the phrase "having big fun." The song also talks about the importance of friendships that are strong enough to withstand any difficulties that may come along.
The chorus of the song repeats the sentiment of loving someone each and every day, no matter what anyone else may have to say. It is a celebration of love and the happiness that comes with it. The lyrics use playful and fun phrases like "make good hot clean fun" to emphasize the idea that it's important to let go of stress and just have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want my love come and get it girl
I am open to a romantic relationship with you, and if you desire it, you just have to ask.
And if you want me for a toy do I have a choice? I don't know!
If you see me as a plaything or object, I am unsure if I can consent to that or not.
And if you want to be my friend through thick and thin
If you want to be a true friend to me, through good and bad times,
You can fill in that's no sin having big fun.
We can have a lot of fun together, and there is no harm in that.
Because I'm gonna love you each and every day
I am committed to loving and caring for you every day, without fail.
No more work just a lot of play having big fun under the sun.
We can put aside the responsibilities of life and just enjoy ourselves in the sun.
No matter what people have to say having big fvn vnder the sun
We will not be swayed by the opinions of others; we will continue to have fun together in the sun.
Uh I love you oh baby uh I love you so let's have some fun!
I express my love for you and suggest that we have a good time together.
I'm gonna need you I'm gonna want you
I will require and desire your presence and affection.
Say you love me say you need me say you want me Say you got to have me baby.
Let's verbally express our feelings for each other, and state our need to be together.
I'm gonna need you each and every way
I will need you in every aspect of my life and relationship with you.
Having big fun having big fun having big fun.
We will enjoy ourselves to the fullest, repeatedly.
I'm gonna love you each and every day
I am committed to loving and caring for you every day, without fail.
I'm gonna want you I'm gonna need you make good hot clean fun!
I will desire and require you to join me in having healthy and enjoyable activities.
Contributed by Connor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DOMONIQUE AYERS
GAP BAND HAS ALWAYS PRODUCED GREAT MUSIC TO ENTERTAIN THEIR
FOR A LIFETIME, & I DO
MISS THEM, BUT IT'S ALSO GREAT TO STILL HAVE THEIR LEAD
SINGER CHARLIE WILSON AROUND & LAYING DOWN
GREAT SOUNDS BACK 2 BACK & HOT OFF
THE TRACKS WITH HIS GREAT SOLO CAREER & MOVING INTO ANOTHER
YEAR & DECADES W/HIS
AMAZING LEGACY TO LIVE ON IN HISTORY
YES CHARLIE WILSON IS TRULY BLESSED
Albe White
What a song really gets you going ,what a fantastic decade I'm 55 now and I will still play these when I'm 95
busisiwe
💯im 18 hahah i love this song ...my mum introduced me to it
walter ruperty
@Westley Manc I'm 59 years, 2 month ago I did't know about this song, right now I can't stop listen to it. Makes me fresh, young and whatever, joy, joy and more joy.
jaybaisden1971
Love this tune
Westley Manc
That makes u 57 now! I'm 54 and loved it, and still loving it, April 2021
paul wignall
When it was fantastic to wake up living in the UK
paul wignall
@Kevin Hancock merry Christmas Kevin to you & your family 👪
Kevin Hancock
Must agree with you my friend. Excellent times and music.
Jamie Grieve
Yes and people were nicer girls didn't try acting like guys who were boys trying to be gangster. Before the madness.. Rip Ronnie Wilson from the GAP BAND
Joanie 345
Yep the good old days.