ArtistInfo

Sun

Band, *1976 US
R&B/Soul
A.k.a. Over Night Low

American funk group from Dayton, Ohio, led by Byron Byrd. Sun was a brainstorm of Byron Byrd, a young Ohioan given to stargazing and eventual pursuits of Aerospace engineering and research science, developing the use of wireless microphones and guitars for the stage. But music began for him as a hobby. Byron's first bands were Over Night Low and the Ohio Majestics, which gigged around the area and as support for acts like The O'Jays and The Spinners. The horn section even cut a session for James Brown at King Studios for VP Henry Glover. Members of this band included James "Diamond" Williams, Marvin "Merv" Pierce and Clarence "Chet" Willis, all of whom went on to The Ohio Players. It was in 1974 that Over Night Low, while opening for Mandrill at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus caught the attention of record producer Beau Ray Fleming, who'd worked with Mandrill, Jon Lucien and Zulema up to this point. He heard them on stage and came from the dressing room to peep the scorching band - up close. At the after party, Beau was doubly surprised to see them again. Determined to connect he went backstage, met the players and they exchanged numbers. In under a year, he flew back to Dayton from his New York offices with contracts in his briefcase. Sensing the need for a stronger band concept, Byron, Beau and the group began searching for a new name, something that would give them a more universal and cosmic vibe. Beau said Celestial Sun, but band member John Wagner suggested they make it less of a mouthful and just call it Sun. They thought surely somebody already had that name, but they didn't. Thus. Sun was born. Shortly after that, the group was being signed to Capitol by Larkin Arnold.

Members

	Byron Byrd US
	Kym Yancey dr, perc, bvoc, voc US
	David Shawn Sandridge syn, bvoc US
	Gary King tb, bvoc
	John Wagner US
	Sheldon Reynolds g, voc *1959 US
	Robert Arnold tr, bvoc
	Ernie Knisley perc US
	Dean Hummons ep US
	Larry Hatchett tr
	Chris Jones perc, bvoc, voc
	Dean Francis dr, ep 1951-2012 US
	Hollis Melson b, bvoc, voc, perc US
	Don Taylor voc, g, eb
	Anthony Thompson voc, acg