Ronnie Wilson, founding member of the R&B group The Gap Band, has died. He was 73 years old, The Associated Press reports. “The love of my life was called home this morning,” Wilson’s wife, Linda Boulware-Wilson, wrote in a Nov. 2 Facebook post confirming his death. Wilson formed The Gap Band in the late 1960s along with his brothers Charlie and Robert, according to the band’s website. The group chose their name after Greenwood, Archer and Pine streets in their beloved hometown in honor and remembrance of the “Black Wall Street” district, where for two days in 1921, the Tulsa race massacre occurred. There, white mobs murdered entire families and torched the neighborhood in which scores of Black businesses were finding prosperity.
“Ronnie Wilson was a genius with creating, producing, and playing the flugelhorn, trumpet, keyboards, and singing music, from childhood to his early seventies. They later abbreviated the name to The G.A.P. Band and finally The Gap Band. The group rose to fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s, opening for bands such as The Rolling Stones. Their biggest hits arrived in the 80s, such as “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!)” from their gold-certified album The Gap Band II; “Burn Rubber on Me” off The Gap Band III; and “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” and “Outstanding” from 1982’s Gap Band IV. Which all remain soul music hits. Ronnie Wilson and his brothers completed many studio albums.
According to the band’s website, four out of nine of their projects went platinum. In 2005, they were honored with a BMI Icon Award, an award given to songwriters for their “enduring influence on generations of music makers.”The group’s website also says “Outstanding” is one of the most sampled songs in history and has been used by more than 150 artists, including Madonna, Tina Turner and Usher.
Thank you for sharing your prayers & love regarding the loss of my brother Ronnie. I appreciate all your messages & am grateful for the support during this difficult time. 🙏🏿 “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” (Psalms 147:3)
— Charlie Wilson (@CharlieWilson) November 4, 2021
The group retired in 2010 after the death of Robert Wilson at the age of 53.Charlie Wilson, who was the lead singer in the band, still performs solo.
