Skip’s voice combined with masterful trumpet sklls and high level performance skills make him a musical force to be reckoned with. The African American Music Association also presented Skip with a Lifetime Acheivement Award. Skip is a MOBO award recipient who also received an honorary Doctorate in music for his talents both vocally and through instrumentation. Skip also spent 15 years as lead vocalist with Kool & The Gang and spent many years traveling between both bands. Skip has been performing with the Dazz Band for a combined total of over 30 years. Lead Singer Skip Martin also received a Grammy for Best Performance by a group or duo for “Let It Whip”. Bobby Harris credits Producer & Co- Writer of “Let It Whip” Reggie Andrews (Patrice Rushen, Rick James, Tyrese) for bringing musical stability to the group. Their music continues to be featured in major motion pictures, video games and on television today. The Dazz Band performed on popular televison shows inlcuding Soul Train, Solid Gold and American Bandstand.
In the early 1980’s the Dazz Band signed with the legendary Motown Records and toured with groups like The Gap Band, Rick James, Kool & The Gang, Luther Vandross & more. The Dazz Band (formerly Kinsman Dazz) is led by original Grammy Winning Saxophonist, Songwriter and Producer Bobby Harris who started the group in the late 1970’s. “Gamble with My Love”, “Knock Knock”, “Party Right Here”, “You Are My Starship”, and “Let It All Blow” stood the test of time and remain in recurring rotation as millions of fans continue to seek out Dazz Band music online and across the globe. Known for their electrifying R&B/ Funk AND soulful ballads hits like “Let It Whip”, “Swoop”, “Joystick”, “Heartbeat”, The Dazz Band went on to score 20 hits on Billboards R & B and Pop Charts and achieved Gold & Platinum record status. The winners were the Dazz Band’s “Let It Whip” for Best Performance by a Group or Duo and Earth Wind and Fire’s “Wanna Be with You.” That evening also marked a first for Cleveland, Ohio, as Dazz Band was the first R & B Group to bring home a Grammy. That night the Dazz Band ended up in a rare tie. King & The Crusaders, and Earth Wind & Fire. Leader Bobby Harris recalls not expecting to win as the group was up against the heaviest of heavyweights including: Michael Jackson & Stevie Wonder, The Travares, Josie James, B.B. The 25th Annual Grammy Awards took place on Februat the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The success of “Let It Whip” led to a Grammy Nomination for Best Performance by a Group or Duo. Over the next year “Let It Whip” spent 5 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s R & B charts, and crossed over to Billboard’s Pop chart landing at #5. On FebruThe Dazz Band released their smash hit “Let It Whip” off the Keep It Live album on the Motown Record label.