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Remember When Wild Cherry Released Their Only No. 1 Hit in 1976?
After years of releasing singles with little radio success, Wild Cherry scored their first major hit in 1976 with “Play That Funky Music”. The song topped two Billboard charts and became the band’s only No. 1 hit, marking a decisive shift from their earlier rock sound towards dance music.
Written by band member Rob Parissi, the song drew on the group’s experience as a working cover band as disco grew and rock clubs closed. It spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and two weeks atop the Hot Soul Singles chart, and reached the top 15 on Billboard’s National Disco Action chart. Wild Cherry never had another Top 40 single, though Vanilla Ice recorded his own version in 1990.
In short
- Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” was their only No. 1 hit.
- The 1976 single topped the Hot 100 for three weeks.
- Its lyrics grew from the band’s move towards dance music.
Explained simply
Wild Cherry were an American band led by singer and guitarist Rob Parissi. Before finding a wide audience, they released singles that received little radio play and earned a living as a cover band, performing other artists’ songs in clubs.
In the mid-1970s, disco and dance music were growing in popularity, while some rock clubs were closing. The band’s experience performing for club audiences influenced Parissi’s songwriting and helped shape their move towards a more danceable sound.