(August 3, 2026) Cleveland honored one of its most successful musical exports on Saturday, August 1, with the official unveiling of “Dazz Band Way.”
The public street-naming ceremony was held on Lee Road near Lotus Drive, bringing together group members, city representatives and longtime fans. The honor came as part of the celebration of the Dazz Band’s 50th anniversary in the music industry. Several present and past members of the band were in attendance.
Formed in Cleveland in 1976, the group was originally known as Kinsman Dazz, a name that reflected both its East Side roots and its mixture of dance music and jazz. After signing with Motown Records, the group shortened its name to the Dazz Band and developed into one of the leading funk acts of the early 1980s.
The band’s breakthrough came in 1982 with “Let It Whip,” which reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and earned the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The Dazz Band followed with additional favorites including “Joystick,” “On the One for Fun,” “Keep It Live” and “Let It All Blow.”…