Timex Social Club

Timex Social Club
Timex Social Club
Also known as	TSC; The Social Club; The Timex Crew;
Origin	Berkeley, California
Genres	R&B, new jack swing, dance, post-disco, soul
Years active	1985–1987, 2011–present
Labels	Jay Records/ Danya/ Fantasy Records
Associated acts	Club Nouveau
Members	Marcus Thompson (DJ); Samuelle Prater (vocals);
Past members	Michael Marshall; Greg Thomas; Craig Samuel; Ocea Savage; Darrien Cleage; Alex Hill; Kevin Moore;

Timex Social Club is an American R&B group, formed in 1982 and best known for the 1986 hit single "Rumors".

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. Later in 1986, Ocea Savage was added on keyboards and background vocals. They specialized in both old school hip hop and the merger of urban R&B with hip hop rhythms, which was later known as new jack swing.

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", peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100; it reached #1, #13 in the UK,[1] 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.

Tours

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. 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.

Split

Timex Social Club disbanded shortly after the success of "Rumors". The band's producer and sideman Jay King 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 cover of Bill Withers' "Lean on Me".

Revival

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

Discography

Albums

Vicious Rumors (1986) - US R&B #29

Singles

Song	Chart Peak	Chart
"Rumors"	8, 1, 1, 13, 1	U.S., U.S. R&B, U.S. Dance, UK, CAN
"Mixed Up World"	15	U.S. R&B
"Thinkin' About Ya"	15	U.S. R&B[2]

Awards and nominations

Year	Source	Song	Result	Misc.
1986	CRIA/Music Canada	"Rumors"	Gold single	Certification/Lable A&M
1986	CRIA/Music Canada	"Rumors"	Platinum single	Certification/Lable A&M
1986	Commendation	"Rumors"/Vicious Rumors	Awarded (key to city)	Mayor Richard L. Berkley Kansas City MO.
1986	Proclamation	"Rumors"/Vicious Rumors	WON	Governor John D. Ashcroft state of MO.
1986	The 1986 NARM Awards	"Rumors"	WON	Best Selling New Artist
1986	Bay Area Top Star Music Awards	"Rumors"/Vicious Rumors	WON	-
1987	American Music Awards	"Rumors"/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-
1987	Bammies/Bay Area Music Awards	"Rumors"/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-
1987	Juno Awards (CANADA)	"Rumors"/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-
1987	Soul Train Music Awards	"Rumors"/Vicious Rumors	Nominated	-

Books

I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture by Joseph Stone(1994)[3]
Mad Season: (Changing Stations)] by Joseph Stone(2005)[4]
Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited by Randolph Michaels (2005)[5]
How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story of Timex Social Club by Marcus A. Thompson (2011)[6]

TV and film

References

Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 560. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
Timex Social Club- R&B chart placements @Billboard.com Retrieved 6-12-2011.
Turner, Patricia (1994). 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.
Michaels, Randolph (2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. US. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.
Thompson, Marcus (2011). How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story of Timex Social Club. US. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-257-28542-6.

External links

Timex Social Club at AllMusic
Official Website
Timex Social Club discography at Discogs
Timex Social Club Album and Chart History @ Billboard.com

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[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-1] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 560. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[Billboard-2] Timex Social Club- R&B chart placements @Billboard.com Retrieved 6-12-2011.

[I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine:_Rumor_in_African-American_Culture-3] Turner, Patricia (1994). I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture. US. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-520-08936-5.

[Mad_Season:(Changing_Stations)-4] Stone, Joseph (2005). Mad Season: (Changing Stations). US. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.

[Flashbacks_to_Happiness:_Eighties_Music_Revisited-5] Michaels, Randolph (2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. US. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-595-37007-8.

[How_Do_Rumors_Get_Started:_The_True_Story_of_Timex_Social_Club-6] Thompson, Marcus (2011). How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story of Timex Social Club. US. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-257-28542-6.