(September 11, 2026) We are saddened to report the passing of singer Ray D. Rowe, an early member of The Gap Band, back in the group’s nascent days in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 90. His passing was first reported by KOTV Channel 6 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A longtime part of the Tulsa music scene, Rowe began with a group called Creative Sounds, eventually developing into an early version The Gap Band, which of course brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson later took the group to international fame with hits including “Outstanding,” “Burn Rubber on Me” and “You Dropped a Bomb on Me.”
Born in Haskell, Oklahoma, Rowe moved to Tulsa as a child and became part of the city’s active R&B and jazz community. His work with The Gap Band placed him at the beginning of a musical story that would eventually make the group one of the most successful funk and R&B acts of its era.
Rowe left The Gap Band in 1974 to pursue a solo career, signing, releasing the regional hit “Ooh, Baby, Baby.” He continued recording during the 1970s and remained connected to Tulsa’s music community for decades.
His contributions to the Tulsa music scene were recognized in 2008, when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
