Perhaps the first group in the history of rap, the
Sugarhill Gang brought a whole new sound to the music industry and helped launch a genre that is still evolving to this day. The group came about when music-industry producer and label-owner Sylvia Robinson became aware of the massive hip-hop block parties occurring around the New York area during the late '70s. Robinson thought there was a big market for the music at these gatherings and, after hearing him rap along with the lyrics to several songs, asked Henry Jackson, a club bouncer, if he were interested in joi
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ning a group. He agreed and Robinson quickly dubbed him Big Bank Hank and hooked him up with Wonder Mike (Mike Wright) and Master Gee (Guy O’Brien) to form the Sugarhill Gang. They went on to record “Rapper’s Delight,” a song that would eventually sell over two million copies, hit #4 on the R&B chart and become the highest selling 12 inch single ever. The group did record several other singles, but none reached the commercial heights as “Rapper’s Delight.” However, “8th Wonder” reached #15 on the R&B chart, while “
Apache” went as high as #13. Kory O eventually replaced Master Gee and in 1999 the group released Jump On It, an album aimed at children. The Sugarhill Gang still tours fairly frequently and can be seen from time to time on various music-oriented television specials.