But none of those acts played instruments and therefore don’t qualify as “bands” for this article’s premise. Of course, many R&B vocal groups have topped the chart since then – acts like Boyz II Men, TLC, SWV, Divine, Silk, BLACKstreet, Next, and more. So if you exclude one-time ensembles and backing bands, then the last time a true R&B band topped the Hot 100 was in early 1991 when the trio of Surface hit the top with “The First Time.” The Revolution-era smash “When Doves Cry” was billed as a solo Prince single and thus doesn’t qualify. 1 singles in 1984 and ‘86 (“Let’s Go Crazy” and “Kiss,” respectively). His purple majesty had a few of those over his hit-making career, including The Revolution, with whom he scored two No. Secondly, Prince’s one-time backing band New Power generation was just that…a backing band. But it remains to be seen whether this is a band we’ll be hearing from for any length of time beyond this year.
They do have an album coming out this year and they’ve been endorsed by someone who knows a thing or two about real bands, the legendary Bootsy Collins (who reportedly coined the name Silk Sonic). It’s not clear yet whether they’ll be a long-time or regularly performing collective. That’s 29 years and five months since the last soul/R&B band topped the all-genre Hot 100.įirst, Silk Sonic is actually a duo comprised of individual solo stars – both of whom are credited parenthetically and whose individual chart histories are also padded this week (“Door” is Mars’ eighth No. 1 in November 1991 with their hit “Cream.” 1 hit, “Leave The Door Open.”īefore we get into the history, it’s worth pointing out that bands of any kind – that is, groups consisting of two or more members who actually play instruments – are few and far between these days, especially when it comes to those fortunate enough to top the Hot 100, Billboard’s marquee singles chart.īut when it comes to those that play soul/R&B music, the last time such a band topped the Hot 100 before Silk Sonic this week was when Prince & the New Power Generation reached No.