LOS ANGELES – The man partly responsible for the monster funk and R&B hits, “You Dropped a Bomb On Me,” “Yearning for Your Love,” and “Oops Upside Your Head,” has died, authorities said. Robert Wilson, co-founder and bassist for the Gap Band, was found dead in his home, on Aug. 15, in Palmdale, California.
Wilson was 53.
Wilson’s manager, Don Jackson, said Wilson’s body was discovered by his son after family members became concerned when they hadn’t heard from him. Wilson reportedly suffered a massive heart attack.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Wilson, who grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his brothers Charlie and Ronnie, began playing music together around 1967. The brothers formed a group and originally called themselves the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band, after three streets in their Tulsa neighborhood.
For most of the 1970s they reportedly worked as back up musicians before being influenced by their cousin, and fellow musician, Bootsy Collins.
In 1974, the group was recruited as a back up band by session musician Leon Russell, who later signed them to his record label, Shelter.
“Leon heard us one night and snatched up the whole band,” Robert Wilson said in a recent interview in Tulsa. “He basically removed his band and installed us.”
Later that year, and with a new name – formed from their original name – the Gap Band recorded their first album, Magician’s Holiday, which was considered unsuccessful financially.
It wasn’t until the group moved to Los Angeles, and caught the attention of Mercury/Polygram Records, that they hit the music charts for the first time with “Shake” and “Open Your Mind (Wide)” from their second album, Gap Band.
In 1979, the group struck gold with their third album, Gap Band II, which released the hits, “Party Lights,” “Steppin’ Out,” and “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance,” better known as “Oops Upside Your Head.”
Writer Alex Henderson said when the group released Gap Band III the following year, they were regarded as true heavyweights in the ever-growing musical world of “funkadelic.”
“Creatively, they were right up with the likes of Cameo, Rick James, The Isley Brothers and the Bar-Kays,” Henderson said.
Produced by Lonnie Simmons, Gap Band III produced three of the Wilson brothers’ biggest radio hits: “Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Want to Hurt Me),” Humpin’,” and the quiet storm slow jam “Yearning For Your Love.”
In 1982, the group earned three more chart toppers with “Early In the Morning,” “Outstanding,” and “You Dropped A Bomb on Me.”
Wilson’s dynamic basslines, which added to the group’s distinctive sound, earned him the title The Godfather of Bass. Wilson later said: “I don’t like players whose main goal is to show that they’re technical wizards,” he said. “Bass is all about creating a mood.”
The Gap Band scored with a few more hits over the years, but changing musical tastes and personal demons led to the group’s significant decline.
The group’s musical influence, however, began to surge in the new millennium with artists like Notorius BIG, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Shaquille O’Neal and Mary J. Blige all recording or sampling songs from the Gap Band.
“You Dropped A Bomb on Me” was also sampled for the popular video game, Grand Theft Auto.
Wilson was trying to restore his musical career and even signed a solo record deal in 2009 with Lucky 7 Records. He was scheduled to release a new CD later this year.
At the time of his death, Wilson was touring the country, including a stop in his hometown of Tulsa.
Wilson’s manager said the bassist was set to headline the Timeless Music Festival in Tulsa on Aug. 28, which will carry on as scheduled. But officials said now the festival will serve as a tribute to Wilson.
“My brother Robert was a bad boy on the bass,” Charlie Wilson said in a statement. “We shared a bond as brothers, musicians and friends. I loved him, and losing him is difficult for both Ronnie and I. The music world has lost a very talented man.”
Wilson is survived by his two brothers, Charlie and Ronnie, his wife, Brenda, two daughters, Robin and Latina, a son Dejuan, and 10 grandchildren.
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