Reggie Andrews masterful knowledge of music and smooth temperament brought musical stability that would make an everlasting mark on The Dazz Band's history. Members of the Grammy Award Winning Dazz Band included: Sennie "Skip" Martin, Pierre DeMudd, Bobby Harris, Eric Fearman, Kenny Pettus, Steve Cox, Keith Harrison, Michael Wiley & Isaac Wiley. 1 on the R&B charts, and achieved a Grammy Award and continues in recurring radio and Sirius XM rotation. The Dazz Band's breakthrough came with the hit "Let It Whip" written and produced by Reggie Andrews off of the Keep It Live (1982) album. The group's next album, Let The Music Play (1981), featured the hit single "Knock! Knock!", reaching the Top 50. The bands title track began a string of hits starting in March, 1981.
The Dazz Band's first album for Motown was Invitation to Love(1980). In 1981 guitarist Eric Fearman was also added. Wayne Preston and Les Thaler were no longer with the group, and Sennie "Skip" Martin, (trumpet, vocalist) Pierre DeMudd (trumpet, vocalist) and Kevin Kendricks (keyboards) were added. In 1980, The Kinsman Dazz changed its name to The Dazz Band after being signed to Motown Records which simultaneously included a re-organization of members. He went on to co-produce the second album, Dazz in 1979 when the band achieved their second charting hit "Catchin' Up On Love". Philip Bailey made significant contributions to the group's vocal arrangements and overall sound. Leader Bobby Harris requested and got Philip Bailey, the vocalist of Earth, Wind & Fire, to produce the group's first album Kinsman Dazz They released their first single, "I Might as Well Forget About Loving You" in 1978. Due to illness, Gaye was unable to complete the project. In 1977, the group went to Los Angeles to record with producer Marvin Gaye. Kinsman Dazz was signed to 20th Century Records in 1977 and the group expanded from the original quintet consisting of Harris, Calhoun, Pettus, and the Wiley brothers and added newcomers Ed Meyers (trombone), Wayne Preston (saxophonist), and Les Thaler (trumpet). The group was originally named Kinsman Dazz at the suggestion of Ray Calabrese, who would later become the band's manager along with Sonny Jones, owner of The Kinsman Grill, located near the street Bobby Harris grew up on, and where the band worked as a house band. Original Kinsman Dazz/ Dazz Band members included Bobby Harris, (saxophonist, vocalist) Kenny Pettus, (lead vocalist, percussions) Isaac "Ike" Wiley, Jr., (drums) his brother Michael Wiley (bassist), and Original Founding member Michael Calhoun (songwriter/guitarist). Founded by Bobby Harris, The Dazz Band has performed since 1976 and continues to perform in 2015. The Dazz Band grew out of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1976 stemming from the jazz fusion band Bell Telefunk.
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