The Cleveland-based Dazz Band is one of the more popular funk groups to emerge from the early ’80s. Bobby Harris formed the group in the late ’70s. Harris and lead songwriter/guitarist Mike Calhoun’s concept for the group was “danceable jazz.” He shortened the description to “dazz” and called the group Kinsman Dazz. Under that name, the group had two small hits. After Calhoun left, they changed their name to the Dazz Band in 1980 and signed to Motown. Invitation to Love, the band’s first release for the record label, was released in 1980. Once the group veered away from the more melodic, pop-oriented dance music that dominated their debut and started playing a tougher, more groove-oriented funk, the Dazz Band began racking up the hits. “Let It Whip,” taken from their second album Keep It Live , reached number five and won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an R&B Vocal Duo or Group. While they never reached those heights again, the Dazz Band had a string of six consecutive Top 100 albums. They continue to groove around the world.
