Sun (R&B band)

Sun is an R&B, soul, disco, and funk band that was formed in the mid-1970s and recorded prolifically for Capitol Records from 1976 to 1984. The band was founded by Byron Byrd in Dayton, Ohio, in 1976. Additional members included Kym Yancey, Chris Jones, John Wagner, Hollis Melson, and Shawn Sandridge.^[1]

After being signed to Capitol by Larkin Arnold, Sun was faced with an immediate problem: an incomplete band. The black hole was in the rhythm section, so Byron Byrd recruited Roger Troutman and Lester Troutman (now with Zapp) and paid them to do some studio sessions so he could get the album finished. Lester laid drum tracks with Roger on bass, then Roger overdubbed guitar for four songs on the album, including "Live On, Dream On." It was on "Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My BIC)" that Troutman (Roger) contributed his signature Talk Box embellishments.^[2] Roger Troutman died April 25, 1999.

As the first single from the debut LP, Live On, Dream On (1976),^[3] "Wanna Make Love" became Sun's first hit, peaking at #31 on Billboard’s R&B chart.

With the release of their second album, Sun Power (pressed on orange vinyl in 1977), Sun sprang into a ten-piece configuration of multi-instrumentalists and vocalists that consisted of Byron Byrd, John Hampton Wagner, Christopher D. Jones, Hollis Melson, Dean Hummons, Kym Yancey, Shawn Sandridge, Bruce Hastell, Gary King and Ernie Knisley. The album also contained “Conscience,” the song "Time Is Passing” (used and sampled many Rap Artists including Dr. Dre)^[4] plus the instrumental “We’re So Hot,” which has been used in sports telecasts.

Sun had people from NASA do the cover animation for their fifth album, Sun Over The Universe (1980)^[5]

Original group members/instrument played

• Byron M. Byrd (Tenor Saxophone, Keyboards, Vocals)
• Kym Yancey (Drums)
• John Wagner (Trumpet, Vocals)
• Chris Jones (Trumpet, Vocals)
• Hollis Melson (Bass, Vocals)
• Shawn Sandridge (Guitar)
• Note: Roger Troutman played Guitar and talk box on 1st SUN LP Live On, Dream On (1976)
• Note: Lester Troutman played Drums on 1st SUN LP Live On, Dream On (1976)

Past performers and session musicians

Byron Byrd: Sax, Bass, Keyboards Vocals | Christopher Jones: Trumpet, Xylophone, Vocals | John Wagner: Trumpet, Trombone, Vocals | Hollis Melson: Bass, Vocals | Dean Hummons: Keyboards, Sax | Shawn Sandridge: Guitar, Vocals | Kym Yancey: Drums, Vocals | Curtis Hooks: Bass | Sonnie Talbert: Keyboards | Dean Francis: Keyboards, Drums, Vocals | Keith Cheatham: Guitar, Vocals | Don Taylor: Bass, Vocals | Anthony Thompson: Guitar, Vocals | Sheldon Reynolds: Guitar, Vocals | ‘Drac’ (Slave): Guitar | Roger Troutman: Guitar, Bass, Talkbox | Lester Troutman: Drums, Percussion | Tony Allen: Bass | Roger Parker: Drums | Breck Bombeck: Guitar | Thomas Black: Guitar | Bruce Hastell: Guitar | Larry Houston: Keyboards | Ernie Knisley: Percussion, Background Vocals | Gary King: Trombone, Background Vocals | Nigel Bolton: Trumpet | Robert Arnold: Trumpet, Background Vocals | Andre' Butler: Trumpet | Robert "Mitch" Kinney: Drums | Raymond Moss: Trumpet | Joey Lobo: Drums | Pete Lemarr: Keyboards, Bass, Vocals | Donovan Blackwood: Percussion, Vocals | Alfie Harrison: Guitar, Vocals | Alfred Holbrook: Keyboards, Trumpet, Vocals |

Discography

SUN ALBUMS

• Wanna Make Love (1976)
• Sun Power (1977)
• Sunburn (1978)
• Destination Sun (1979)
• Sun Over the Universe (1980)^[5]
• Force of Nature (1981)
• Let There Be Sun (1982)
• Eclipse (1984)

Influences

SUN's songs have been covered and sampled by numerous artists, include:

MC Eiht 'Streiht Up Menace' ('Menace to Society' Title Movie Soundtrack) covered 'My Woman’,^[6] UGK 'Protect and Serve' used 'My Woman',^[7] O.C. 'Stronjay' used 'My Woman',^[8] STS 'The Interview' used 'My Woman',^[9] WC and the Maad Circle 'A Soldiers Story' used 'My Woman',^[10] Dr. Dre feat. Charis Henry and Mel-Man 'The Car Bomb' used 'Time is Passing',^[4] Pete Rock 'Just a Word or Two' used 'Time is Passing',^[11] Hard Knocks 'Ghetto Love' used 'Time is Passing',^[12] DJ JS-One and Dub L feat. Pryme and Common 'While I'm Dancing' used 'Time is Passing',^[13] Jet Life 'Lop-Sided' used 'Time is Passing',^[14] NEXT ’That’s my Word’ used Time is Passing’ DJ Quik 'Get At Me' used 'Conscience',^[15] Poison Clan 'Shine Me Up' used 'Sun Is Here',^[16] Sylk-E. Fyne feat. The Chill 'Romeo and Juliet' used 'Sun Is Here',^[17] O.S.T.R. 'Przemysi to Sobie' used 'Stay By My Side',^[18] Alliance Ethnik 'Respect' used 'On My Radio',^[19] Sunz of Man 'Intro' used 'Introduction: You Are My Sunshine', Large Professor 'Love wit U' used 'Give Your Love To Me',^[20] Booyah T.R.I.B.E., Payaso, Outtahand, NB Ridaz.

Television

United Negro College Fund "Cavalcade of Stars" Telethon,^[21] James Brown's Future Shock (TV series),^[22] Soul Train – SUN 'The Show Is Over',^[23] Soul Train - SUN, 'Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My Bic)',^[23] Soul Train - SUN, 'Sun Is Here',^[23] Soul Train - SUN, 'Pure Fire',^[23] WHIO-TV, ABC Celebrity Superstars.

References