Timex Social Club | |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
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| Origin | Berkeley, California |
| Genres | Contemporary R&B, go-go, funk, urban contemporary, soul |
| Years active | 1985–1987, 2011–present |
| Labels | Jay Records/ Danya/ Fantasy Records |
| Members |
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| Past members |
|
Timex Social Club is an American R&B group, formed in 1985 and best known for the 1986 hit single "Rumors".[1]
History
Originally known as the Timex Crew, members included Marcus Thompson (founder), Gregory "Greg B" Thomas, Michael Marshall, Craig Samuel, and Darrien Cleage. By 1986, Samuel, Cleage, and Thomas had departed, Alex Hill and Kevin Moore were added, and the name Timex Social Club was adopted[1] (despite the group's name, Timex Group USA bears no sponsorship of the group). They fused funk and urban R&B.
In 1986, the group released the Vicious Rumors album on Danya/Fantasy Records (A&M in Canada; Mercury in Germany). Its one major hit, "Rumors", written by Thompson, Hill and Marshall, peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 in the UK,[2] and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B, Hot Dance Club Play, and Hot Dance/Disco-12 inch Singles-Sales charts. The two follow-up singles, "Thinkin' About Ya" and "Mixed-Up World", reached the R&B Top 20.[3]
Tour
The success of the single "Rumors" prompted hip hop impresario Russell Simmons to hire the group as the opening act for 38 dates on Run DMC's Raising Hell tour in 1986.[4] Other acts on the tour were Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Whodini. Besides solo dates, the group also opened for New Edition, Midnight Star, the S.O.S. Band, Kool & the Gang, and Jermaine Jackson.[5]
Split
Timex Social Club disbanded shortly after the success of "Rumors". The band's producer Jay King, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy formed Club Nouveau, whose first single was "Jealousy", an answer song to "Rumors" that references Timex Social Club's split. Club Nouveau subsequently had a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1987 with a go-go cover of Bill Withers's "Lean on Me".[6]
Revival
As of 2011, the current Timex Social Club roster consisted of founding member Marcus Thompson as DJ and Samuelle Prater on vocals.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | US R&B [7] |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Vicious Rumors | 29 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 100 [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US Dance [3] |
CAN |
UK [8] | ||
| 1986 | "Rumors" | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| "Mixed Up World" | — | 15 | — | — | 81 | |
| "Thinkin' About Ya" | — | 15 | ― | — | ― | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
Awards and nominations
| Year | Source[5] | Song | Result | Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | CRIA/Music Canada | "Rumors" | Gold single | Certification/Label A&M |
| 1986 | CRIA/Music Canada | "Rumors" | Platinum single | Certification/Label A&M |
| 1986 | Commendation | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Awarded (key to city) | Mayor Richard L. Berkley Kansas City MO. |
| 1986 | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Won | Governor John D. Ashcroft state of MO. | |
| 1986 | The 1986 NARM Awards | "Rumors" | Won | Best Selling New Artist |
| 1986 | Bay Area Top Star Music Awards | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Won | — |
| 1987 | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — | |
| 1987 | Bammies/Bay Area Music Awards | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — |
| 1987 | Juno Awards (CANADA) | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — |
| 1987 | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — |
See also
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of bands from the San Francisco Bay Area
References
- 1 2 Wynn, Ron. "Timex Social Club - Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 560. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- 1 2 3 4 . Also in 1986 Ocea Savage was added on keyboards and background vocals"Timex Social Club Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ↑ Michaels, Randolph (2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. US. pp. 196, 198. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - 1 2 Thompson, Marcus (2011). How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story of Timex Social Club. US. pp. 6, 173. ISBN 978-1-257-28542-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ↑ Wynn, Ron. "Club Nouveau - Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Timex Social Club - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ↑ "TIMEX SOCIAL CLUB - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
Further reading
- Thompson, Marcus A. (2011). How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story of Timex Social Club. US. ISBN 978-1329954939.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Turner, Patricia A. (1993). I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture. US. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-520-08936-5.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Stone, Joseph (2005). Mad Season: (Changing Stations). US. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
- Timex Social Club at AllMusic
- Official Website
- Timex Social Club discography at Discogs