8 Dayton acts you should give a funk about
Dayton was "all the way live" even before Lakeside first dubbed it "The Land of Funk" in its swashbuckling 1980 hit "Fantastic Voyage."
The city that gave aviation its wings also gave the world baselines it won't soon forget.
In the 1970s and 1980s, southwestern Ohio - particularly Dayton’s west side - was known for its stable of funk bands whose influence can be heard in hip-hop, house and other musical forms popular today.
The Ohio Players - the granddaddies of 'em all - have seen their songs sampled or remade by Snoop Dogg, Puff Daddy, Salt-N-Pepa, Soundgarden and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to name a few.
Funk Music Hall of Fame & Exhibition Center architect David R. Webb said music fans can't ignore that the Players and other funky, funky musicians hail from the Gem City.
"It was just that Marshall Jones bass," David R. Webb said. "Everybody look at the 'ow' sound of (Leroy) Sugarfoot (Bonner)."
Here are just 8 acts that made this Midwest town one of the funkiest places on Earth.
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Ohio Players
Formed: 1959 as the Ohio Untouchables
Key jams: "Fire," "Love Rollercoaster," "I Wanna be Free," "Pain," "Funky Worm," "Skin Tight," "Honey" and "Sweet Sticky Thing."
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Zapp (Zapp Band or Zapp & Roger)
Formed: 1977
Key jams: "More Bounce to the Ounce," "Doo Wa Ditty," "I Can Make You Dance," "Heartbreaker" and "Computer Love."
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Roger Troutman
Key jams: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "I Want to Be Your Man," "California Love (2Pac featuring Troutman and Dr. Dre)"
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Slave
Formed: 1975
Key jams: "Watching You," "Slide," "Just a Touch of Love" and "Snap Shot"
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Lakeside
Formed: 1969
Key jams: "Fantastic Voyage," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Your Love Is on the One" and "It's All the Way Live"
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Faze-O
Formed: Late 1970s
Key jams: "Riding High," "Toe Jam" and "Good Thang"
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Heatwave
Formed: 1975
Key jams: "Boogie Nights," "Always and Forever" and "The Groove Line"
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Sun
Formed: 1976
Key jams: "Wanna Make Love," "Live On, Dream On" and "I Had a Choice"
