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).
He later became the band's manager along with Sonny Jones, owner of The Kinsman Grill, located near the street Harris grew up on, and where the band worked as a house band. The group was originally named Kinsman Dazz at the suggestion of Ray Calabrese. (drums), his brother Michael Wiley (bassist), and Michael Calhoun (songwriter/guitarist). Original Kinsman Dazz/ Dazz Band members included Bobby Harris (saxophonist, vocalist), Kenny Pettus (lead vocalist, percussions), Isaac "Ike" Wiley, Jr. Founded by Bobby Harris, the Dazz Band has performed since 1976 and continues to perform today. The Dazz Band grew out of Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in 1976 stemming from the jazz fusion band, Bell Telefunk. The name of the band is a portmanteau of the description "danceable jazz". Emerging from Cleveland, Ohio, the group's biggest hit songs include the Grammy Award-winning " Let It Whip" (1982), " Joystick" (1983), and "Let It All Blow" (1984). The group failed to have another hit and quietly faded away.The Dazz Band is an American R&B, funk band most popular in the early 1980s. Soon after its release, the band switched to RCA. That year they had their final charting album, Wild and Free. The Dazz Band switched labels to Geffen in 1986.
While they never reached those heights again, the Dazz Band had a string of six consecutive Top 100 albums that ran until 1986 during that time, they scored two other Top 100 singles, "Joystick" and "Let It All Blow." In 1985, Fearman and Frederick left the band they were replaced by Marlon McClain and Keith Harrison, respectively. "Let It Whip," taken from their second album Keep It Live (1982), reached number five and won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an R&B Vocal Duo or Group. Once the group veered away from the more melodic, pop-oriented dance music that dominated their debut and started playing a tougher, more groove-oriented funk, the Dazz Band began racking up the hits. Invitation to Love, the band's first release for the record label, was released in 1980.
After Calhoun left they changed their name to the Dazz Band in 1980 and signed to Motown. Under that name, the group had two small hits in the U.S.A. Harris and lead songwriter/guitarist Mike Calhoun's concept for the group was "danceable jazz" he shortened the description to "dazz" and called the group Kinsman Dazz. After myriad lineup changes, the end result was an eight-piece band featuring Harris, Skip Martin III, Pierre DeMudd on horns and vocals, guitarist Eric Fearman, bassist Michael Wiley, drummer Isaac Wiley, keyboardist Kevin Frederick, and percussionist Kenny Pettus. Bobby Harris formed the group in the late '70s, merging two Cleveland funk bands, Bell Telefunk and Mother Braintree. The Cleveland-based Dazz Band was one of the more popular funk groups of the early '80s.
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