KC and the Sunshine Band

KC and the Sunshine Band was established in 1973 in Hialeah, Florida, by Harry Wayne Casey (KC), who worked at TK Records. The band initially comprised KC, bassist Richard Finch, guitarist Jerome Smith, and drummer Robert Johnson, all of whom were studio musicians at TK Records. Their early releases included singles “Blow Your Whistle” (1973) and “Sound Your Funky Horn” (1974), which achieved success on the U.S. R&B chart and internationally. During this period, Casey also co-wrote “Rock Your Baby” (1974) for George McCrae, which became a number one hit in 51 countries.

The band’s self-titled second album, “KC and the Sunshine Band,” released in 1975, marked their breakthrough in the U.S., with “Get Down Tonight” topping the Billboard Hot 100 in August and the R&B chart in April. Another single from this album, “That’s the Way (I Like It),” also reached number one in November 1975. Their subsequent album, “Part 3” (1976), yielded two more number one hits: “I’m Your Boogie Man” and “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty.” The band continued to achieve success with hits like “Keep It Comin’ Love” (1977), which peaked at number two, and “Please Don’t Go,” which became the first number one hit of the 1980s in January 1980. The band also received two Grammy Award nominations in 1976 and another nomination in 1977. In 1980, with a shift in musical styles and the decline of disco, the band moved to Epic Records after TK Records’ bankruptcy.

The 1980s saw a temporary decline in the band’s commercial success, with new material from albums like “The Painter” (1981) and “Space Cadet Solo Flight” (1981) not charting significantly. However, “Give It Up” (1983) from the album “All in a Night’s Work” (1982) brought renewed success in the UK and later in the U.S. Top 40, despite initial resistance from Epic Records which led Casey to release it independently on Meca Records. The band went into hiatus around 1984. A resurgence of disco in 1991 led to Casey reforming the band with new members and resuming touring. In 2000, guitarist Jerome Smith passed away. The band was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 and a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2013.