Timex Social Club

Timex Social Club is an American R&B group, formed in 1985 and best known for the 1986 hit single "Rumors".^[1]

Timex Social Club
Also known as	TSC The Social Club The Timex Crew
Origin	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, new jack swing
Years active	1985–1987, 2011–present
Labels	Jay Records, Danya, Fantasy Records
Spinoffs	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

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^[1] (despite the group's name, Timex Group USA bears no sponsorship of the group). They fused funk and urban R&B.

In 1986, the group released the Vicious Rumors album produced by Jay King on Danya/Fantasy Records (A&M in Canada; Mercury in Europe; CBS/Sony in Japan). Its one major hit, "Rumors", written by Thompson, Hill, and Marshall, peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 13 in the UK,^[2] and number 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.^[3] Also in 1986 Ocea Savage was added on keyboards and background vocals.

Tour

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Split

Timex Social Club disbanded shortly after the success of "Rumors". The band's producer Jay King, Denzil Foster, and Thomas McElroy 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 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1987 with a go-go cover of Bill Withers's "Lean on Me".^[6]

Revival

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

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	US R&B [7]
1986	Vicious Rumors	29

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
		US 100 [3]	US R&B [3]	US Dance [3]	CAN	UK [8]
1986	"Rumors"	8	1	1	1	13
	"Mixed Up World"	—	15	—	—	81
	"Thinkin' About Ya"	—	15	―	—	―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Year	Source[5]	Song	Result	Misc.
1986	CRIA/Music Canada	"Rumors"	Gold single	Certification/Label A&M
1986	CRIA/Music Canada	"Rumors"	Platinum single	Certification/Label 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	—

See also

• 1980s portal

• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of bands from the San Francisco Bay Area