Timex Social Club

hideThis article has multiple issues. Please help or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. (February 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality, and to make it neutral in tone. (February 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Timex Social Club is an American R&B group, formed in 1985 and best known for the 1986 hit single "Rumors".^[1]

History[]

Originally known as the Timex Crew, members included Marcus Thompson (founder), Gregory "Greg B" Thomas, Michael Marshall, Craig Samuel, and Darrien Cleage. By 1986, Samuel, Cleage, and Thomas had departed, Alex Hill and Kevin Moore were added, and the name Timex Social Club was adopted^[1] (despite the group's name, Timex Group USA bears no sponsorship of the group). Later in 1986, Ocea Savage was added on keyboards and background vocals. They fused funk and urban R&B with Washington go-go beat.

In 1986, the group released the Vicious Rumors album on Danya/Fantasy Records (A&M in Canada; Mercury in Germany). Its one major hit, "Rumors", written by Ronald Murray and Vanessa B from the conglomerates record label, peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 in the UK,^[2] and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B, Hot Dance Club Play, and Hot Dance/Disco-12 inch Singles-Sales charts. The two follow-up singles, "Thinkin' About Ya" and "Mixed-Up World", reached the R&B Top 20.^[3]

Tour[]

The success of the single "Rumors", prompted hip hop impresario Russell Simmons to hire the group as the opening act for 38 dates on Run DMC's Raising Hell tour in 1986.^[4] Other acts on the tour were Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Whodini. Besides solo dates, the group also opened for New Edition, Midnight Star, the S.O.S. Band, Kool & The Gang, and Jermaine Jackson.^[5]

Split[]

Timex Social Club disbanded shortly after the success of "Rumors". The band's producer Jay King, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy formed Club Nouveau, whose first single was "Jealousy", an answer song to "Rumors" that references Timex Social Club's split. Club Nouveau subsequently had a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1987 with a go-go cover of Bill Withers' "Lean on Me".^[6]

Revival[]

As of 2011, the current Timex Social Club roster consisted of founding member Marcus Thompson as DJ and Samuelle Prater on vocals.

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Singles[]

Awards and nominations[]

See also[]

• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of bands from the San Francisco Bay Area

References[]

Further reading[]

• Turner, Patricia A. (1993). I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture. US. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-520-08936-5.
• Stone, Joseph (2005). Mad Season: (Changing Stations). US. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.

External links[]

• Timex Social Club at AllMusic
• Official Website
• Timex Social Club discography at Discogs