The humble beginnings of the infamous S.O.S. Band can be traced back to 1977, when this gifted Atlanta born musical group stepped onto the music scene as “Santa Monica”; consisting of six skilled musicians (Jason Bryant, Billy Ellis, Willie “Sonny” Killebrew, Bruno Speight, John A. Simpson, James Earl Jones III) and one extraordinary lead vocalist, Mary Davis.
Early in the band’s career, hard work and dedication developed a strong following at the renowned Regal Room nightclub in Atlanta, Georgia. This recognition was the catalyst that led manager Bunny Jackson-Ransom to send a demo tape to Clarence Avant, the head of Tabu Records. After hearing the highly skilled musicians, Avant signed the band and quickly appointed the brilliant songwriter/producer Sigidi Abdullah to work with them.
While collaborating with Abdullah, he rebranded the band by changing their name to The S.O.S. Band. This was a fitting choice as the “Sounds of Success” debut LP in 1980 turned gold, selling over 800,000 copies, while holding the number two position on the R&B charts for three consecutive weeks. “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” was co-written by Harold Clayton and went platinum for five weeks in the number one position before peaking at number three on the American Billboard Music Charts with over two million sold worldwide. With all the newfound success, the band added the talents of trumpeter/vocalist Abdul Ra’oof while setting off on a world-wide tour.
The second album, “Too” was released in 1981 with much success and by the third album, “S.O.S. Band III” producer Leon Sylvers III and writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis continued the favorable outcome of singles with “High Hopes” hitting number twenty-five on the R&B charts, followed by the album coming in at number twenty-seven in late 1982. This was the beginning of the SOS Band’s musical relationship with the incredibly talented writing team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
With the positive outcome of the third album, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis took over production of the fourth album, “On The Rise”, which achieved gold in 1983 with the notable hit singles “Just Be Good To Me” and “Tell Me If You Still Care”. With two gold albums under their belt and a number two and number five charting hit, the next year “Just the Way You Like It” soared to number six on the R&B chart. By 1986, the fifth album, “Sands of Time” went gold and placed fourth on the R&B charts with the single “The Finest” posting an impressive number two.
n 1986, lead vocalist Mary Davis decided to pursue a solo career. In 1989, the band recorded two more albums: Diamonds in the Raw and One of Many Nights with new lead vocalists Chandra Currelley and Fredi Grace.
In August of 1994, former lead vocalist and the original sound of the SOS Band, Mary Davis reunited with Abdul Ra’oof and together they reconstructed a new band with the same unique funk the S.O.S. Band was known for during the 80s. Without missing a beat, the band continued to tour the world with two of the original members leading the way.
The S.O.S. Band worked diligently through 2000 to continue to create and perform great music that would stand the test of time. They toured throughout the world performing at top festivals and functions without skipping a beat; notably working with the Tom Joyner Foundation, Capital Jazz Cruise, Super Bowl 53, Black Expo Indianapolis, Sweetwater Festival, Sisters By Choice War Against Cancer, the BET Soul Train Honor Awards and the infamous ZULU Ball in New Orleans in 2019.
In 2020, Mary Davis retired from traveling to live performances due to health concerns. To continue the remarkable legacy of the SOS Band, it became imperative to find a talented lead vocalist to assist in continuing the touring schedule. Ab’dul Ra’oof led the charge by organizing a talent search for lead singers who could not only sing all of the SOS Band’s greatest hits, but also entertain the massive crowds nationally and internationally. Female vocalists from around the world submitted audition videos. After careful consideration, eight were chosen to be finalist.
The talented group of eight were reduced to two after multiple interviews. Each professional performer brought their unique vibe to the table. Marleen Thimas was selected to continue the legacy of the iconic Mary Davis.
Marleen Thimas originally hails from South Bend, Indiana and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2007 to pursue her career in the music industry. She joined the writing team in 2016. Kayla Cox joined the team from Delray Beach, Florida in 2022. Both vocalists were given a stamp of approval by the original lead vocalist Mary Davis before beginning the new journey with the SOS Band. Their abilities and talent have not gone unnoticed by fans. As 2021 came to a close, the SOS Band released a limited edition 12″ vinyl remix of the SOS Band single “Just Get Ready”, which sold out in Europe the first week.
As the world recovered from the pandemic in 2021, live entertainment rebooted and the SOS
Band came out full force, performing at the Riverfront Jazz Festival in Dallas, Texas, the Greek Amphitheater in Los Angeles, as well as Atlanta, Tuscaloosa, Nashville, Detroit and Indianapolis. The iconic Mary Davis made surprise appearances at several of the venues to the delight of the many SOS Band fans.
It is an exciting time for the SOS Band. With new members bringing the professionalism, excitement, and talent needed to carry the torch of the legendary voice of Mary Davis, we can see why the SOS Band continues to be everyone’s favorite band.
