Total Experience Records
Encyclopedia
Total Experience Records was a record label founded in 1977 by Lonnie Simmons
. Its two major acts were The Gap Band and Yarbrough & Peoples. It originally began as a production company with a distribution deal through Mercury/PolyGram before becoming a full fledged label in 1981. In 1984, Total Experience changed its distribution to RCA Records.
, Lonnie Simmons
operated a club on Crenshaw Boulvevard in South Central
Los Angeles called The Total Experience, similar to the West-Hollywood Roxy Theatre. Eventually he invested in a recording studio, launching his production company, and met the Wilson brothers through a friend, singer D. J. Rogers
. After signing Total Experience Productions (as it was then called) to a distribution deal with Mercury in 1977, Simmons himself personally produced the Gap Band's albums during their tenure, and co-wrote their breakthrough song, "Oops Upside Your Head
".
While in Texas in 1977, Gap Band leader Charlie Wilson
discovered Alisa Peoples & Calvin Yarbrough, who were performing as part of the band, Grand Theft. Charlie convinced Lonnie to give the couple a chance, which paid off in 1980, when they released the song "Don't Stop the Music
", which topped the R&B charts. This was immediately following the Gap Band #1 R&B song "Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
". Both of those albums went gold
, and two of the Gap Band's albums went platinum
. The first three Simmons-produced Gap Band albums, as well as Yarbrough and Peoples debut album The Two of Us
were released by Mercury. These recordings were solid enough to give Simmons credibility to establish his production company as a full-independent label, and PolyGram launched Total Experience Records in 1981.
Gap Band IV
, released in early 1982, was their first Total Experience album release. The success of Gap Band IV, Robert "Goodie" Whitfield's debut album Call Me Goodie
(also released in 1982), 1983's Gap Band V: Jammin'
and Yarbrough and Peoples' Heartbeats resulted in a lucrative distribution deal with RCA Records
in early 1984. At the tail-end of 1984, A Total Experience Christmas was released, featuring songs by five of the label's acts, as well as two of the label's writers.
Even though the Gap Band and Yarbrough & Peoples still had high charting records through the mid-80s, the successes were ephemeral and they resulted in far fewer sales. Lonnie signed a plethora of new acts in 1984-85 and two established acts: Switch
and Billy Paul
. None of these acts managed to have any success with Total Experience. 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. Yarbrough and Peoples left the label in 1986, and moved back to Texas, where they married in 1987.
In 1987 Total Experience lost their distribution deal with RCA and carried on as an independent label, faltering soon after. The label's post 1984 holdings now belong to Minder Records, while its Mercury distributed holdings belong to the Island Def Jam Music Group, Lonnie Simmons is still listed as company president.
An m indicates the group released multiple full-length albums on Total Experience.
An s indicates the performer either only released one full-length album on Total Experience, or released multiple singles and no album at all.
A p indicates a writer/producer who also performed at least one song on the label.
Lonnie Simmons
Lonnie Simmons is an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. He is founder and president of the now-defunct Total Experience Records. As a composer, he wrote several #1 R&B songs for his label's major acts, The Gap Band and Yarbrough and Peoples....
. Its two major acts were The Gap Band and Yarbrough & Peoples. It originally began as a production company with a distribution deal through Mercury/PolyGram before becoming a full fledged label in 1981. In 1984, Total Experience changed its distribution to RCA Records.
History
In the 1970s1970s in music
For music from a year in the 1970s, go to 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 1970s....
, Lonnie Simmons
Lonnie Simmons
Lonnie Simmons is an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. He is founder and president of the now-defunct Total Experience Records. As a composer, he wrote several #1 R&B songs for his label's major acts, The Gap Band and Yarbrough and Peoples....
operated a club on Crenshaw Boulvevard in South Central
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A. and formerly South Central Los Angeles, is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central, and is still widely known...
Los Angeles called The Total Experience, similar to the West-Hollywood Roxy Theatre. Eventually he invested in a recording studio, launching his production company, and met the Wilson brothers through a friend, singer D. J. Rogers
D. J. Rogers
D.J. Rogers is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for the tender acoustic piano-based ballad "Say You Love Me," a charting single from his 1976 RCA album It's Good to Be Alive-Studio albums:-Singles:...
. After signing Total Experience Productions (as it was then called) to a distribution deal with Mercury in 1977, Simmons himself personally produced the Gap Band's albums during their tenure, and co-wrote their breakthrough song, "Oops Upside Your Head
Oops Upside Your Head
"I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance ", , is a 1979 funk anthem recorded by the R&B group The Gap Band and released off their fourth album, The Gap Band II....
".
While in Texas in 1977, Gap Band leader Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson (musician)
Charles Kent "Charlie" Wilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter-producer and the former lead vocalist for the Gap Band. As a solo artist he has been nominated for four Grammy awards, received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005...
discovered Alisa Peoples & Calvin Yarbrough, who were performing as part of the band, Grand Theft. Charlie convinced Lonnie to give the couple a chance, which paid off in 1980, when they released the song "Don't Stop the Music
Don't Stop the Music (Yarbrough and Peoples song)
"Don't Stop the Music" is a song by Yarbrough and Peoples, from the duo's 1980 debut album, The Two of Us. It was released as a single on Mercury Records in 1981....
", which topped the R&B charts. This was immediately following the Gap Band #1 R&B song "Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
"Burn Rubber on Me " is a song originally performed by The Gap Band and written by member Charlie Wilson and producer Lonnie Simmons. In 1981, it peaked at number eighty-four on the Hot 100 but it was a number one hit on the R&B charts...
". Both of those albums went gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
, and two of the Gap Band's albums went platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
. The first three Simmons-produced Gap Band albums, as well as Yarbrough and Peoples debut album The Two of Us
The Two of Us (Yarbrough & Peoples album)
The Two of Us is the debut album by the R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples. It was released in 1980 on Mercury Records, and produced by Total Experience Records owner Lonnie Simmons.-Reception:...
were released by Mercury. These recordings were solid enough to give Simmons credibility to establish his production company as a full-independent label, and PolyGram launched Total Experience Records in 1981.
Gap Band IV
Gap Band IV
Gap Band IV is an album by The Gap Band, released in 1982 on Total Experience Records. The album reached #1 on the Black Albums chart and #14 on the Pop Albums chart...
, released in early 1982, was their first Total Experience album release. The success of Gap Band IV, Robert "Goodie" Whitfield's debut album Call Me Goodie
Call Me Goodie
Call Me Goodie is the debut album by R&B singer Robert "Goodie" Whitfield, released in 1982 on Total Experience Records. It was produced by label owner Lonnie Simmons, famous for his work with the Gap Band and Jonah Ellis, producer for labelmates Yarbrough & Peoples.Call Me Goodie peaked at #31 on...
(also released in 1982), 1983's Gap Band V: Jammin'
Gap Band V: Jammin'
Gap Band V Jammin' is an album by The Gap Band, released in 1983 on Total Experience Records. The album was reissued on CD by Mercury Records, Total Experience's distributor at the time. Contrary to the title, the album is actually the Gap Band's seventh album.The album reached #2 on the Black...
and Yarbrough and Peoples' Heartbeats resulted in a lucrative distribution deal with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in early 1984. At the tail-end of 1984, A Total Experience Christmas was released, featuring songs by five of the label's acts, as well as two of the label's writers.
Even though the Gap Band and Yarbrough & Peoples still had high charting records through the mid-80s, the successes were ephemeral and they resulted in far fewer sales. Lonnie signed a plethora of new acts in 1984-85 and two established acts: Switch
Switch (band)
Switch was an R&B/funk band that found fame recording for the Gordy label in the late 1970s releasing hit songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name" and "The Best Beat in Town" and influenced bands such as DeBarge, which featured members Bobby and Tommy's siblings.-Early years:Formed in...
and Billy Paul
Billy Paul
Billy Paul is a Grammy Award winning American soul singer, most known for his 1972 number-one single, "Me and Mrs. Jones" as well as the 1973 album and single "War of the Gods" which blends his more conventional pop, soul and funk styles with electronic and psychedelic influences...
. None of these acts managed to have any success with Total Experience. 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
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1989. Yarbrough and Peoples left the label in 1986, and moved back to Texas, where they married in 1987.
In 1987 Total Experience lost their distribution deal with RCA and carried on as an independent label, faltering soon after. The label's post 1984 holdings now belong to Minder Records, while its Mercury distributed holdings belong to the Island Def Jam Music Group, Lonnie Simmons is still listed as company president.
Acts
- Bernie HamiltonBernie HamiltonBernie Hamilton was an American actor.Hamilton was born in East Los Angeles and attended Oakland Technical High School, where he first became interested in acting. In films from 1950, he laboured in bit roles for years before getting noticed in the film One Potato, Two Potato , the story of an...
& the Inculcation Band (1985) s - Billy & Baby Gap (1985) s
- Billy PaulBilly PaulBilly Paul is a Grammy Award winning American soul singer, most known for his 1972 number-one single, "Me and Mrs. Jones" as well as the 1973 album and single "War of the Gods" which blends his more conventional pop, soul and funk styles with electronic and psychedelic influences...
s - Eddie "E.T." Towns (1985) s
- The Gap Band (1977–1988) m
- Robert "Goodie" Whitfield (1982–1985) m
- Pattie HowardPattie HowardPattie Howard born Francine Patience Howard is an American Gospel and R&B singer-songwriter, producer, and vocal arranger. She is a 30 years+ music industry veteran who has released two albums with major record labels, RCA Records and Light Records...
(1985) s - Pennye Ford (1984) s
- Prime Time (1984) m
- Prophet (1985) s
- Sparkle s
- SwitchSwitch (band)Switch was an R&B/funk band that found fame recording for the Gordy label in the late 1970s releasing hit songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name" and "The Best Beat in Town" and influenced bands such as DeBarge, which featured members Bobby and Tommy's siblings.-Early years:Formed in...
(1984) s - Will King (1985) s
- Yarbrough and PeoplesYarbrough and PeoplesYarbrough and Peoples was an American R&B duo from Dallas, Texas. Their biggest selling release was "Don't Stop the Music", a US Billboard R&B chart topper in 1981.-Career:...
(1980–1985) m
An m indicates the group released multiple full-length albums on Total Experience.
An s indicates the performer either only released one full-length album on Total Experience, or released multiple singles and no album at all.
Key Producers
- Jonah Ellis p
- Lonnie SimmonsLonnie SimmonsLonnie Simmons is an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. He is founder and president of the now-defunct Total Experience Records. As a composer, he wrote several #1 R&B songs for his label's major acts, The Gap Band and Yarbrough and Peoples....
- Donny Maxwellwww.donnymxwll@aol.com
- Oliver Scott p
- Suha Gur
Key Writers
- Charlie WilsonCharlie Wilson (musician)Charles Kent "Charlie" Wilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter-producer and the former lead vocalist for the Gap Band. As a solo artist he has been nominated for four Grammy awards, received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005...
p - Jonah Ellis p
- Lonnie Simmons
- Malvin Vice
- Oliver Scott p
- Raymond Calhoun
- Robert Wilson p
- Ronnie Wilson p
- Rudolph Taylor
A p indicates a writer/producer who also performed at least one song on the label.
See also
- Charlie WilsonCharlie Wilson (musician)Charles Kent "Charlie" Wilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter-producer and the former lead vocalist for the Gap Band. As a solo artist he has been nominated for four Grammy awards, received a 2009 Soul Train Icon Award, and a recipient of a BMI Icon Award in 2005...
- The Gap Band
- Yarbrough & Peoples