RIP brother. Lonnie Simmons and The Total Experience This mural on Crenshaw and 43rd included positive affirmations and listed natural herbs and plants used to heal the body. Gap Band IV, released in early 1982, was the first Total Experience album release. Died on February 6, 2019. An m indicates the group released multiple full-length albums on Total Experience. . It originally began in 1977 as a production company whose artists recorded for Mercury Records before becoming a label in 1981. Total Experience Records was a record label founded by Lonnie Simmons. Attorney Lonnie Simmons has built his practice based on an exceptional work ethic, precision, thoroughness, and a sincere concern for his clients. The duo Yarborough & Peoples were also produced by Lonnie Simmons and recorded his songs on the Total Experience label. He took all their money and credit for songs!! For those of us who grew up listening to the Gap Band in the 1980s, there was usually one name wed see on all of their records. well it may be true but after 1974/1977 Lonnie brought my IDOL FAVORITE PERSON CHARLIE WILSON and THE GAP BAND from 1977-1988 and I applaud and respect Lonnie for that .When they went to capitol they lost their FUNK roots . Later in 1984, the Gap Band released Gap Band VI, which included Simmons co-penned hit Beep A Freak, another gimmick-filled song (with lots of beeps) that peaked at No. The Total Experience was a legendary night spot on Crenshaw Blvd in Los Angeles from 1972 -1990. Legendary producer, songwriter and record label executive Lonnie Simmons, best known for his role in the emergence of The Gap Band, has died, causes unknown. Rogers signed with Lonnie Simmons' Total Experience Records (the Gap Band, Yarbrough and Peoples) and the LP Love, Music & Life was issued in 1977. 1 on the soul chart in February 1983 between the No. Lonnie C. Simmons began his legal career in 1982 as a writ clerk at the West Virginia Supreme Court. Thank you for a great first year! The latter album went gold, while the former went platinum, selling over a million copies. Durante la dcada de los aos 80, un tipo llamado Lonnie Simmons so con ser el Rey Midas de la msica negra. Simmons had co-written only one song on The Gap Band but co-wrote six of The Gap Band II's seven tracks. The Los Angeles resident started making a name for himself in the R&B world in the '70s, when he operated a South Central L.A. nightclub called the Total Experience (which was located on Crenshaw Boulevard, one of the most famous thoroughfares in L.A.'s African-American community). Outstanding was tapped in 85 different songs, including Ashantis Happy from 2002 and Soul IV Reals Every Little Thing I Do from 1995. They recorded the demo, and when he heard it, Simmons had yet another act in his ranks: Yarbrough and Peoples. In the late 1970s he founded Total Experience Records, which got a distribution deal with Mercury/Polygram, and he signed up the Gap Band who he had met through DJ Rogers. 24 on the pop chart. Lonnie Simmons, a pioneer of funk and a legend who helped transform the black music scene in the 1980s during its post-disco doldrums. His debut album, Call Me Goodie, peaked at #31 R&B. Following a short and ultimately disappointing time at Leon Russell's Shelter Records, the band found initial success on Mercury before transferring to Lonnie Simmons' Total Experience label with the release of 1982's Gap Band IV . It was the first album producer Lonnie Simmons released directly on his label, Total Experience Records. Lonnie Simmons (December 12, 1944 - February 6, 2019) was an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. As a composer, he co-wrote several #1 R&B songs for his label's major acts, The Gap Band and Yarbrough and Peoples. Super producer Lonnie Simmons.. Thanks for reading and providing comments. 1 and its second platinum release. Their first Total Experience-produced single, 1979's "Shake", went to #4 on the R&B charts. 4 soul; No. Hollywood Beauty Awards Announce Viola Davis, Carey Mulligan, Jenny Cho Joe Manganiello & Sonequa Martin-Green To Join Presenter Lineup, Get Ariana DeBose SAG Glam Look by Andra Tiller and Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, Watch SAG Awards: Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Yeoh and More Win Big, VitakraftLick n Lap Cat Treats Get Four Paws Up, Wanda Sykes Comedy Special Premieres This May on Netflix, Listen To Jonas Brothers New Single Wings, Pedro Pascal and Jon Favreau Pose At The Forge: Inspired by The Mandalorian Exhibit, Watch: Robert De Niro and Sebastian Maniscalco Star In ABOUT MY FATHER, 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards Winners Include Elvis and The Banshees of Inisherin, Law & Order TV Detective and Comedian Richard Belzer Dies At Age 78, Ryan Seacrest Is Leaving Live With Kelly and Ryan. The Gap Band released 4 albums: Gap Band VI, Gap Band VII, Gap Band 8, and Straight from the Heart before moving on to Capitol Records in 1989. When they released The Gap Band II late in 1979, a song Simmons co-wrote with the Wilson brothers, "Oops Up Side Your Head", not only matched the success of "Shake" on the R&B charts, reaching #4 also, but exceeded it by propelling the album to over half-a-million in sales. In keeping with the gimmicky sound effects Simmons had used on the Gap Bands previous top hits like the revving car engine and screeching tires on Burn Rubber, a crowing rooster on Early In The Morning and the high-pitched shrill of bombs dropping on You Dropped A Bomb On Me he employed a whistle-blowing choo-choo train to begin Party Train, whose shuffling beat resembled that of a locomotive anyway. Lonnie Simmons (December 12, 1944 - February 6, 2019) was an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. The Gap Band's final hurrah with Total Experience, Straight from the Heart, got a top-40 song from the title track but failed to sell, causing the Gap Band to leave for Capitol Records. He formed Total Experience Records and had major hits throughout the 80s before turning his efforts into film and video production. 1 soul, 1 week; No. Who did you see there? "Party Train" Charlie Wilson, Lonnie Simmons, Rudy Taylor, Ronnie Wilson: Gap Band V: Jammin' (1983) 5:42: Total length: 1:17:26: References This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 05:16 (UTC). Career While at RCA she promoted at radio artist from the subsidiary labels such as Dick Griffy's Solar Records who lead the charts as well as had a heavy dance presence on the West Coast and Lonnie Simmons Total Experience, Gap Band as well as Richard Perry's Planet Records where Lygia broke The Pointer Sisters out of the West Coast. Yarbrough and Peoples had left the label in 1986 to return to Texas where they got married, never to be heard from again, musically speaking. Total Experience Record Label Founder Lonnie Simmons Dies Of Causes Unknown By: LATF Staff Member Music February 11, 2019, 11:09 pm Several reports have surfaced regarding the passing of legendary producer, songwriter and record label executive Lonnie Simmons, best known for his role in the emergence of The Gap Band, has died, causes unknown. InLos Angelesin the 1970s he had a club called the Total Experience which staged performances of bands who had a smaller following. Lonnie Simmons, the man who brought Charlie Wilson and The Gap Band to the world has died. From its inception in 1981 to late 1983, Total Experience was a subsidiary label of Mercury's parent company, PolyGram. Discover Lonnie Simmons's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. I worked for Lonnie back in the early 80s. Not to be confused with jazz saxophonist Lonnie Simmons (who played with well-known improvisers like Fats Waller and Ella Fitzgerald), the Lonnie Simmons profiled here is a funk/soul/urban contemporary The signing hit immediate pay dirt with the 1979 hit Shake. The Gap Band followed later that same year with the top smash Oops Upside Your Head, which Simmons co-wrote, and which had a bit of a second life a couple years ago, when Simmons and company received co-writing credits on the Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars hit Uptown Funk, for that songs similarity to Oops., With The Gap Band driving Total Experience forward, Simmons then signed the duo Yarbrough and Peoples, who went on to a successful recording career and the #1 hit Dont Stop the Music. Through the first half of the 1980s, it seemed that Total Experience could do no wrong, as The Gap Band and Simmons teamed for hit after hit such as Outstanding, You Dropped A Bomb On Me, and Early In the Morning. Last edited on 17 September 2022, at 03:58, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me), "Lonnie Simmons: The Man Who Discovered The Gap Band Has Died", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lonnie_Simmons&oldid=1110720171, This page was last edited on 17 September 2022, at 03:58. After a brief audition, Simmons exchanged contact information with them. Lonnie Simmons (December 12, 1944 - February 6, 2019) was an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. But thanks to Simmons, the Gap Bands fortunes improved considerably in 1979, when Total Experience Records put out the groups third album. Dont Miss A Story. 181 satisfied customers. 1 soul, 1 week; No. Lonnie had a recording studio in the building and produced hits on The Gap Band, Yarbrough and Peoples, Switch and more. 2 in early 1986. While in Texas in 197 7, Gap Band leader Charlie Wilson discovered Alisa Peoples & Calvin Yarbrough, who were performing as part of the band, Grand Theft. . I dare say that without Lonnies influence, whatever that may be, we wouldnt have heard of the Gap Band. (1983) " You Dropped a Bomb on Me" er en sang fremfrt af Gap Band, udgivet i 1982 p producer Lonnie Simmons 'label, Total Experience Records. Lonnie Simmons is an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. Just happens I was listening to some Gap band 12 promos from the club. It originally began in 1977 as a production company whose albums were released by Mercury Records before becoming a label in 1981. From its inception in 1981 to late 1983, Total Experience was a subsidiary label of Mercury's parent company, PolyGram. He was founder and president of the now-defunct Total Experience Records. The Yarbrough and Peoples hit would become a major smash, spending a total of five weeks at No. Login or Create Account My Page Collection Wishlist Messages . With No. Experience in NYC (PICS), Strategic Solutions Research Presents Nielsen Audio January '23 Ratings Today. A year later, Yarbrough and Peoples would match Beep with Guilty, a song they took to No. After Simmons switched Total Experience from Polygrams distribution arm to that of RCA Records in late 1984 and with him now having more than a dozen acts signed to the label who werent having nearly the success that the Gap Band and Yarbrough and Peoples were having Simmons good fortunes began to run out. 2 soul, 1 wk), Going In Circles Gap Band (1986); (No. Yearning For Your Love was sampled in SWVs Youre Always On My Mind plus songs by Nas, the Pharcyde and Will Smith.