Sun -

Sun was an American soul-funk band from Dayton, Ohio, best known for the songs “Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My BIC),” “Time Is Passing,” and “We’re So Hot.” They released seven name-spun albums (1976–1982) on Capitol and a 1984 final on Air City.

Members: John Wagner (trumpet), Chris Jones (vocals, keyboards, trumpet), Byron M. Byrd (tenor saxophone), Dean Hummons (organ), Hollis Melson (bass), Kym Yancey (drums), Shawn Sandridge (vocals, guitar), Bruce Hastell (guitar), Gary King (trombone, vocals), Ernie Knisley (percussion, trumpet), Keith Cheatham (guitar), Sheldon Reynolds (guitar), Anthony Thompson (guitar), Don Taylor (bass), Curtis Hooks (bass), Dean Francis (keyboards), Sonnie Talbert (keyboards), Larry Hatchett (horns), Nigel Boulton (horns), Robert Arnold (horns)

Background

Sun was the brainchild of saxophonist Byron Byrd, a science and engineering major who initially aspired to a career in aerospace. As a side pursuit, he headed the early ’70s Dayton R&B band Ohio Majestics, which morphed into Over Night Low.

The former opened locally for The O’Jays and The Spinners. Two Majestics, drummer James “Diamond” Williams and brass player Marvin “Merv” Pierce, joined the Ohio Players for their Mercury run, starting in 1974. A third, guitarist Clarence “Chet” Willis, surfaced in the Players’ late-’70s lineup and also played with Faze-O. Williams and Willis, who both followed Byrd into Over Night Low, later formed the Players spinoff trio Shadow.

As Over Night Low, Byrd’s band cut the single “The Witch Doctor (Catches “Jungle Fever”)” (b/w “Rev. Jay”) for the east coast DeLuxe label. The following year, they issued “To Be or Not to Be” (b/w “Get to Your Soul”) on Chess. One night in 1974, they opened for Mandrill at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus, where they impressed the headliner’s producer, Beau Ray Fleming, who also worked with Jon Lucien and Zulema. He took the unsigned act under his wing.

Given his aerospace background, Byrd wanted a band name with a more cosmic vibe. Fleming suggested Celestial Sun, which trumpeter John Wagner found too wordy. Wagner, in turn, proposed the monosyllabic Sun. To their surprise, it was not currently in use by any signed stateside act (though it had been used earlier by an Australian jazz-rock-soul band).

In late 1975, the newly named Sun cut a deal with Capitol Records, secured by record producer Larkin Arnold (Tavares, Sylvers, Nancy Wilson, Barbara Acklin).

Live On, Dream On [aka Wanna Make Love]

Sun released their debut album, Live On, Dream On, in February 1976 on Capitol.

The album mixes Dayton funk drive with jazz-inflected horn arrangements and vocal harmonies. Its balance of lusty numbers and spiritually tinged anthems sets the tone for the band’s stylistic range.

Multi-instrumentalist Byron Byrd composed five songs and co-arranged the material with Beau Ray Fleming. Trumpeter John Wagner co-wrote “Tell the People” with Byrd and “Love Is Never Sure” with Harry McLoud. Guitarist Chris Jones contributed “They’re Calling for Me,” “It’s Killing Me,” and “Give Your Love to Me,” and co-wrote “The Show Is Over” with Byrd, Wagner, Hollis Melson, Kym Yancey, and Dean Hummons.

The title track and “Tell the People” move with communal drive and layered brass textures. Jones’s “They’re Calling for Me” stretches into expansive form with vocal interplay and instrumental breaks, while “My Woman” works in a ballad framework with suspended keyboard voicings. The charting single “Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My Bic)” foregrounds rhythm guitar against vocal exchanges. Closing tracks like “It’s Killing Me” and “Give Your Love to Me” emphasize mid-tempo pacing with pointed horn stabs.

A1. “Live On, Dream On” (4:49)
A2. “Tell the People” (3:11)
A3. “My Woman” (5:10)
A4. “They’re Calling for Me” (7:05)

B1. “Wanna Make Love” (3:36)
B2. “Love Is Never Sure” (4:52)
B3. “The Show Is Over” (3:59)
B4. “It’s Killing Me” (4:18)
B5. “Give Your Love to Me” (4:01)

Sessions took place at Counterpart Recording Studios in Cincinnati with production by Byrd and supervision from Fleming. Don Schepmann handled recording, Steve Kusiciel mixed the tracks at Paragon Recording Studios, and Bob Kingsland and Bill Rascate assisted.

Capitol issued Live On, Dream On in February 1976 with “Live On, Dream On” backed with “Give Your Love to Me.” In April, they released “Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My Bic)” backed with “Love Is Never Sure.” The A-side reached No. 31 on the Billboard R&B chart. Capitol subsequently reissued the album as Wanna Make Love with a seductive cover reminiscent of the Ohio Players.

Sun Power

Sun released their second album, Sun Power, in April 1977 on Capitol, which pressed the record on orange vinyl.

The ten-piece lineup shifted from the spiritual leanings of their debut toward upbeat party funk and extended balladry. The material highlights rhythm-heavy jams, lust-driven themes, and one expansive quiet storm piece that later became widely sampled.

Byron Byrd wrote four songs and co-arranged the material with producer Beau Ray Fleming. Guitarist Chris Jones co-wrote the opener “Light Me Up” with bassist Hollis Melson and the ballad “Just a Minute of Your Time” with guitarist Shawn Sandridge. Keyboardist Dean Hummons and trumpeter John Hampton Wagner co-wrote “Boogie Bopper.”

“Light Me Up” sets the tone with handclaps, brass accents, and vocal interplay. “Boogie Bopper” pushes a driving rhythm with tight horn exchanges. “We’re So Hot” and “Conscience” emphasize band unity with layered harmonies. “Time Is Passing” stretches past seven minutes with jazzy chords, flute passages, and vocal suspensions, contrasting the rhythmic pulse of “Organ Grinder.” The closing “She Lives Alone” works as a dramatic slow number with heavy keyboard shading.

A1. “Light Me Up” (4:07)
A2. “Boogie Bopper” (3:20)
A3. “We’re So Hot” (4:28)
A4. “Conscience” (4:41)

B1. “Time Is Passing” (7:11)
B2. “Just a Minute of Your Time” (3:11)
B3. “Organ Grinder” (3:53)
B4. “She Lives Alone” (5:29)

Sessions occurred at Counterpart Recording Studio in Cheviot, Ohio. Capitol mixed the tapes in Hollywood with engineers Robert Norberg, Don Henderson, and Jay Ranellucci. The cover features an illustration by Shusei Nagaoka.

Capitol lifted three singles: “We’re So Hot” (b/w “Conscience”), “Boogie Bopper” (b/w “The Show Is Over”), and “Just a Minute of Your Time” (b/w “Organ Grinder”). “Time Is Passing” later became a popular sample source among rap artists.

Sunburn

Sun released their third album, Sunburn, in February 1978 on Capitol.

The album marked a major lineup overhaul, with Byron Byrd and Kym Yancey the only holdovers from the original formation. Five new players joined alongside Gary King and Ernie Knisley, giving the band a nine-piece configuration. The sound emphasizes brassy, hard-edged funk and smoother ballads, yielding one of their most consistent sets.

Byrd wrote two songs outright and co-wrote four with Yancey, guitarist Keith Cheatham, and bassist Curtis Hooks. Cheatham contributed lead guitar and co-wrote the side-one closer “Long Drawn Out Thang” with Byrd, Hooks, and Yancey. Hooks also co-wrote “I Had a Choice” with Byrd and Yancey. Keyboardist Sonnie Talbert contributed across the arrangements, while trumpeters Robert Arnold and Nigel Boulton provided fresh brass input.

“Sun Is Here” drives with layered horns and percussion, becoming a signature piece for the group. “Dance (Do What You Wanna Do)” runs six minutes with vamping rhythm guitar and voicebox textures. “When You Put Your Hand in Mine” stands as a reflective ballad, balancing the uptempo numbers. “I Had a Choice” leans on Northern soul pacing with layered vocal lines. Closing track “Sun of a Gun” returns to aggressive funk with brass stabs and rhythmic accents.

A1. “Introduction: You Are My Sunshine” (0:15)
A2. “Sun Is Here” (5:02)
A3. “Dance (Do What You Wanna Do)” (6:05)
A4. “When You Put Your Hand in Mine” (5:54)
A5. “You’re the One” (4:18)

B1. “Long Drawn Out Thang” (6:16)
B2. “You Don’t Have to Hurry” (5:11)
B3. “I Had a Choice” (4:37)
B4. “Sun of a Gun” (4:54)

Sessions occurred at Cyberteknics Recording Studio in Dayton, Ohio. Capitol mastered and remixed the tapes in Hollywood with engineer Phil Mehaffey and mastering by Wally Traugott. Beau Ray Fleming and Byron Byrd produced and arranged the set. The cover features photography by Olivier Ferrand with design by Art Sims.

Capitol lifted three singles: “Dance (Do What You Wanna Do)” (b/w “I Had a Choice”), “Sun Is Here” (b/w “Long Drawn Out Thang (Instrumental)”), and “Sun of a Gun” (b/w “You Don’t Have to Hurry”). “Sun Is Here” reached No. 18 on the R&B chart.

The album itself peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.

Destination Sun

Sun released their fourth album, Destination Sun, in 1979 on Capitol.

The album continues their Dayton-based brass funk sound with an expanded emphasis on layered percussion, synthesizers, and vocal interplay. Its material ranges from high-tempo funk workouts to reflective ballads, giving equal weight to instrumental density and vocal variety.

Byron Byrd wrote three songs and co-wrote one with drummer Kym Yancey. Guitarist Keith Cheatham contributed two numbers, while keyboardist Sonnie Talbert and Yancey each provided one. Byrd handled lead guitar, saxophones, keyboards, percussion, and production duties in tandem with Beau Ray Fleming.

“Radiation Level” sets the tone with sharp horns, call-and-response vocals, and clipped guitar against a pounding rhythm. Yancey’s “Pure Fire” keeps to brisk funk pacing, while “Everybody Disco Down” plays to the dancefloor. Cheatham’s “Light of the Universe” and Talbert’s “Baby I Confess” show a more reflective side, balancing the set. Byrd closes with “Hallelujah Spirit,” marked by bright brass and percussive accents.

A1. “Radiation Level” (5:56)
A2. “Pure Fire” (5:20)
A3. “I Want to Be With You” (4:43)
A4. “Everybody Disco Down” (3:36)

B1. “Light of the Universe” (5:02)
B2. “Deep Rooted Feeling (Stand Up)” (5:05)
B3. “Baby I Confess” (4:01)
B4. “Hallelujah Spirit” (5:16)

Sessions occurred at Cyberteknics Recording Studio in Dayton, Ohio, with production by Beau Ray Fleming and Byron Byrd and engineering by Phil Mehaffey. Charles Faris handled additional engineering and mixing.

The cover features artwork by Shusei Nagaoka, noted for his cosmic-themed illustrations.

Capitol issued two singles: “Radiation Level” (b/w “Radiation Level (Instrumental)”) in May, which reached No. 25 on the R&B chart, and “Pure Fire” (b/w “Deep Rooted Feeling (Stand Up)”) in October.

Destination: Sun reached No. 17 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.

Sun Over the Universe

Sun released their fifth album, Sun Over the Universe, in 1980 on Capitol.

The album finds Sun expanding its science fiction imagery while keeping to a tight mix of horn-driven funk, ballads, and instrumental passages. The lineup shifted with the exit of Curtis Hooks, Sonnie Talbert, Keith Cheatham, and Nigel Boulton and the arrival of guitarist Sheldon Reynolds, trumpeter Larry Hatchett, and keyboardist Dean Francis.

Byron Byrd wrote five tracks and co-wrote one with drummer Kym Yancey. Byrd also co-wrote “Stay By My Side” with producer Beau Ray Fleming. Yancey shared credits on “Space Ranger (Majic’s In the Air)” and “I Want Your Love.”

“Space Ranger (Majic’s In the Air)” opens with clipped guitar and smooth, throbbing bass, overlaid with phased, cosmic keyboards. “Hot Spot” and “Fancy Feet” maintain propulsive funk pacing with bright brass accents, while “Quest” delivers an instrumental marked by shifts in rhythm and theme. Ballads such as “Stay By My Side” and “You Threw My Love Away” balance the set with smoother vocal phrasing and restrained instrumental backdrops.

A1. “Space Ranger (Majic’s In the Air)” (4:58)
A2. “Hot Spot” (5:37)
A3. “Stay By My Side” (4:50)
A4. “Quest” (4:40)

B1. “You Threw My Love Away” (4:28)
B2. “I Want Your Love” (4:49)
B3. “I Made a Mistake” (4:52)
B4. “Fancy Feet” (4:08)

Capitol issued three singles: “Space Ranger (Majic’s In the Air)” (b/w “Space Ranger (Instrumental Version)”) in May, “Hot Spot” (b/w “Hot Spot (Instrumental)”) in August, and “Quest” (b/w “I Want Your Love”) in October.

Sun: Force of Nature

Sun released their sixth album, Sun: Force of Nature, in 1981 on Capitol.

The nine-piece lineup carried forward the brass-driven funk and balladry of earlier records, with new members Don Taylor on bass and Anthony Thompson on rhythm guitar. Byron Byrd remained the sole original member, anchoring the group’s sound with Beau Ray Fleming as co-producer.

Byrd wrote all eight tracks and supplied saxophone, flute, synthesizer, strings, and talkbox parts in addition to vocals and guitar. Reynolds contributed lead guitar and vocals, while Taylor added bass and rhythm guitar.

The album opens with “On My Radio,” paced by brass lines and layered vocals. “Jammin’ En Brazil” pushes Latin-tinged percussion against sharp guitar accents, while “Reaction Satisfaction (Jam Ya’ll: Funk It Up)” and the title track lean on funk propulsion with chanted refrains. “Guiding Light” and “Love Baby Love” highlight softer phrasing, with the latter featuring backing by Barbara Furman and Colleen and Nadine Copeland. “It Seems So Hard” and “This Is What You Wanted” round the set with mid-tempo balladry.

A1. “On My Radio” (5:11)
A2. “Jammin’ En Brazil” (4:41)
A3. “Guiding Light” (4:55)
A4. “Love Baby Love” (4:46)

B1. “Reaction Satisfaction (Jam Ya’ll: Funk It Up)” (5:41)
B2. “Force of Nature” (5:20)
B3. “It Seems So Hard” (5:09)
B4. “This Is What You Wanted” (5:38)

Sessions occurred at Counterpart Studios in Cincinnati, Ohio, with production by Beau Ray Fleming and Byron Byrd. Ralph Moss and Phil Maheffey engineered, with Hugh Davies joining Moss for mixing. Wally Traugott mastered.

Capitol issued “Reaction Satisfaction (Jam Ya’ll: Funk It Up)” (b/w “It Seems So Hard”) in March 1981, followed by “Jammin’ En Brazil” (b/w “This Is What You Wanted”) in June.

Let There Be Sun

Sun released their seventh album, Let There Be Sun, in 1982 on Capitol.

The set marked their final outing for the label, with Byron Byrd still fronting the band on vocals, saxophone, flute, bass, guitar, and keyboards. He co-produced the record with Beau Ray Fleming, keeping the brass-heavy ensemble format intact while leaning toward dance-floor funk.

Byrd wrote seven of the eight tracks and arranged the album with Fleming. Guitarist Anthony “Packrat” Thompson supplied “You and I.” Reynolds played lead guitar and sang co-leads, while Dean Francis handled piano and keyboards. Gary King contributed percussion and trombone, with backing vocals from Francis, King, and Robert Arnold.

The record opens with “Slamm Dunk the Ffunk!,” a hard-paced workout with chant vocals. “We’re Gonna Party Tonite” and “Super Duper Super Star” press the brass into fast funk mode, while “Turn Out the Light” and “Be My Lady” land as mid-tempo numbers. Ballads come with “A Love Affair,” “You and I,” and the closing “I Wanna Be With You.”

A1. “Slamm Dunk the Ffunk!” (6:00)
A2. “We’re Gonna Party Tonite” (4:12)
A3. “Turn Out the Light” (4:36)
A4. “A Love Affair” (4:49)

B1. “Super Duper Super Star” (4:40)
B2. “Be My Lady” (4:42)
B3. “You and I” (4:23)
B4. “I Wanna Be With You” (4:08)

Sessions occurred at Counterpart Studios in Cincinnati with producers Beau Ray Fleming and Byron Byrd. Phil Mehaffey engineered and Wally Traugott mastered.

Capitol issued “Slamm Dunk the Ffunk!” (b/w “I Wanna Be With You”) in March 1982, followed by “A Love Affair” (b/w “Be My Lady”) in May.

Eclipse

Sun released their eighth album, Eclipse, in 1984 on Air City Records.

The album marked their final release and reflected Byron Byrd’s decision to scale the band into a studio-centered project. He produced the record under the Da-Ton Productions banner with William T. Cochran, layering drum machines, vocoder, and synthesizers into Sun’s brass-and-guitar foundation.

Byrd wrote six of the eight tracks and co-wrote “Turn the Music Up” and “Dance, Let’s Shake It Tonight” with guitarist Anthony Thompson, who also sang lead and played guitar. Vocalist Huncey Cochran fronted “Heartbreak Hideaway,” and Lora Easey took a guest spot on “Reggae Man.” Marvin Wheatley contributed acoustic piano and backing vocals on “Dance, Let’s Shake It Tonight.”

The record combines programmed funk with horn flourishes and vocal trade-offs. “Legs (Bring the Wolf Out of Me)” opens the set with six minutes of clipped rhythm guitar and electronic pulse. “Dance, Let’s Shake It Tonight” stretches across nearly five minutes with layered vocals and piano fills. “Reggae Man” moves at a relaxed pace with female leads, while “Heartbreak Hideaway” serves as the ballad centerpiece.

A1. “Legs (Bring the Wolf Out of Me)” (6:21)
A2. “Turn the Music Up” (4:11)
A3. “Reggae Man” (3:40)
A4. “True Love” (4:30)

B1. “Irresistable” (4:20)
B2. “Dance, Let’s Shake It Tonight” (4:50)
B3. “Fallout, On the Dance Floor” (4:16)
B4. “Heartbreak Hideaway” (4:40)

Sessions occurred at QCA Studios and Fifth Floor Studios in Cincinnati with producers Byron Byrd and William T. Cochran. Ric Probst mixed the record, assisted by Jim Greene. Gary Platt, Greene, Probst, and Robin Jenny engineered. Todd Deasey mastered.

Eclipse features cover art directed by James Henderson with a front image by photographer Fran Maria. Bob Rae supplied the airbrush backdrop, and Danny Holihand illustrated the airbrush logo.

Air City issued “Dance, Let’s Shake It Tonight” (Part 1 b/w Part 2) in November 1983 and “Legs (Bring the Wolf Out of Me)” (b/w “True Love”) in July 1984.

Discography: