Brick

Brick was an Atlanta band that created a successful merger of disco and jazz in the '70s that they called "dazz." Brick's roster included lead vocalist/saxophonist/flutist Jimmy Brown; guitarist/bassist/vocalist Regi Hargis Hickman; lead singer Ray Ransom, who doubled as a bassist/keyboardist/percussionist, and Eddie Irons, who sang lead vocals and played drums and keyboards. They recorded "Music Matic" for Main Street in 1976 before signing to the CBS-distributed label Bang. Their first Bang single, "Dazz," topped Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart and reached number three on the Hot 100. In 1977, Brick scored two more huge hits with "Dusic" and "Ain't Gonna' Hurt Nobody," each with a chunky, propulsive beat and catchy, light pop-jazz refrain. Their last Top Ten R&B hit was "Sweat ('Til You Get Wet)" -- a collaboration with Ray Parker, Jr. -- in 1981. After 5, their sixth and final album for Bang, was released in 1982. As a quartet on the Magic City label, they released Too Tuff in 1988 and then broke up. Guitarist Regi Hargis Hickman died on October 15, 2021 at the age of 70. ~ Ron Wynn