Ronnie Wilson founder of legendary GAP Band dies aged 74

Ronnie Wilson founder of legendary GAP Band dies aged 74

Ronnie Wilson, the R&B legend and founder of hitmakers The GAP Band, has passed away, aged 73. This sad news was confirmed to TMZ by his wife Linda Boulware-Wilson. She revealed that Ronnie passed peacefully at 10.01am on Tuesday, November 2, at their family home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Linda had held Ronnie’s hand as he took his last breath said the news outlet. He had reportedly been in a semi-coma after suffering a stroke last week, and never recovered. Wilson was known to have survived several strokes throughout his musical career.

“A genius with creating, producing, and playing the flugelhorn, trumpet, keyboards, and singing music”, is how Linda posted her memory of her late husband on social networks.

Ronnie founded the GAP Band in the early 1970s, with his two brothers Charlie and Robert Wilson. They signed to Mercury Records in the 1980s, achieving national success after collaborating with Lonnie Simmons, going on to top the soul charts, competing with the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, and Stevie Wonder.

A smash hit came their way in 1979 with the disco dancefloor classic, ‘0ops Upside Your Head’, followed up with ‘Burn Rubber On Me’ in 1980, and the smash in 1982 with ‘You Dropped a Bomb on Me’.

Fans poured onto social media to pay tribute to Ronnie after the news broke, with one writing, “One of the great ones has died. Tonight we say a sad goodbye to Ronnie Wilson of The Gap Band”, while another posted, “Prayers to the Ronnie Wilson family. Ronnie died today at the age of 73 and was one of the founding members of the Gap Band. #RIPRonnie”, as reported by dailystar.co.uk.

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Written by

Chris King

Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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