Early 1980s • T.T.E.D. / Good to Go era

Redds & the Boys

Archive note: sources vary between Redds and the Boys, Redds & the Boys and later “Boyz” spellings. The site uses Redds & the Boys while keeping variants searchable.

1982 all-star billMovin’ and Groovin’T.T.E.D.Good to GoRare Essence connection

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Artist overview

Redds & the Boys were already visible in major Washington Go-Go reporting by 1982. A Washington Post account of a packed Washington Coliseum show placed them on an all-star bill with Rare Essence, Soul Sonic Force, E.U. and the Peacemakers. By the mid-1980s, “Movin’ and Groovin’” was part of the T.T.E.D./Island push, and the band became one of the most visible Go-Go acts in the production and music of the film Good to Go.

1982 period pressThe Washington Post placed Redds & the Boys on a Washington Coliseum all-star Go-Go lineup in August 1982.

Participant-documented lineupDrummer Dwayne Lee later supplied a detailed circa-1982 Atlas Theatre lineup and described the band’s faster-tempo, original-music approach.

T.T.E.D. / Island periodBy May 1985, “Movin’ and Groovin’” was identified in Washington reporting as a current hit tied to the T.T.E.D./Island Go-Go push.

Good to Go visibilityThe band’s music and members were incorporated into the 1985–86 Good to Go film project, giving Redds & the Boys unusual visual documentation from the era.

Music

Movin’ and Groovin’A major mid-1980s Redds & the Boys title, documented in contemporary Washington coverage and later included on the Good to Go soundtrack.

PERIOD RELEASE

Live original-music traditionParticipant recollection from Dwayne Lee describes the early-1980s band as working with original grooves, vamps, chants, sing-alongs and call-and-response at a faster Go-Go tempo.

PARTICIPANT SOURCE

Live & PA archive

The I AM GO-GO working catalog preserves a concentrated 1981–84 Redds & the Boys trail across the Atlas Theatre, Howard Theatre, Atlantic Skate, Forestville Skating Rink, Cheriy’s, Evans Grill, Panorama Room, Washington Coliseum and other locations. Period newspaper evidence independently confirms the band was operating on major Go-Go bills by 1982.

Howard Theatre — 1981Working catalog includes multiple 1981 Redds & the Boys entries, including an August 13 Howard Theatre lead.

Washington Coliseum — 1982The Washington Post documents the band on a major all-star Go-Go bill drawing thousands.

Atlas / Atlantic Skate — 1982Participant recollection places the band at the Atlas around 1982; the working catalog also preserves Atlantic Skate and Atlas entries.

Cheriy’s / Panorama / Coliseum — 1983The working catalog becomes denser across major Go-Go rooms and citywide event spaces.

Anacostia Park — 1984Working catalog preserves a 1984 “Movin & Groovin” performance lead at Anacostia Park.

Timeline

1981

Working live trail
The private catalog preserves Atlas, Cramton Auditorium, Howard Theatre and Northwest leads.

Aug. 1982

Washington Coliseum all-star show
Washington Post coverage places Redds & the Boys on the same bill as Rare Essence, Soul Sonic Force, E.U. and the Peacemakers.

circa 1982

Atlas Theatre participant account
Dwayne Lee later documented a detailed lineup and described the band’s performance style.

1985

“Movin’ and Groovin’” / T.T.E.D. push
Contemporary Washington coverage identifies the song within the expanding Go-Go record-business moment.

1985–86

Good to Go film period
Redds & the Boys appear prominently in reporting on the film’s production and finished Go-Go soundtrack/performances.

Sept. 1986

Go-Go anti-drug project
Washington Post coverage lists Redds & the Boys among major bands joining a collective antidrug recording effort.

People

Anthony “Redds” WilliamsParticipant history identifies Redds as a former Rare Essence member before leading Redds & the Boys; the site treats this as a documented lineage connection.

Dwayne LeeDrummer whose later first-person account supplies a detailed circa-1982 personnel snapshot and performance recollections.

Reggie “Lil’ Beats” DaughtryContemporary Washington Post reporting identifies the Redds & the Boys percussionist as having a prominent role in Good to Go.

Circa-1982 lineup snapshotDwayne Lee’s account names Shack, Kevin “KO” Miller, Lonell Tabbs, CJ, Vincent Tabbs, Leon Thurston, Artie Campbell and Danny Peete alongside Redds and Lee. This is presented as one remembered-era lineup, not a permanent roster.

Connections

Redds & the Boys connect directly to Rare Essence lineage, the early-1980s major-show circuit, the T.T.E.D./Island expansion, the Good to Go film, and the history of younger Junkyard Band opening slots described by participant Dwayne Lee. That makes the band a bridge between neighborhood Go-Go, the established club/arena circuit and the mid-1980s attempt to export the sound beyond Washington.

Source trail

Washington Post — “A Teen-Ager’s D.C. Is Filled With Go-Go” (1982)Contemporary report documents Redds & the Boys on a packed Washington Coliseum all-star bill.Contemporary press

TMOTTGoGo — Dwayne Lee remembers Redds & the BoysParticipant account provides a circa-1982 Atlas Theatre lineup, Redds’ Rare Essence connection and detailed performance recollections.Participant history

Washington Post — GO-GO (1985)Contemporary overview identifies “Movin’ and Groovin’” as a current hit and places Redds & the Boys within Maxx Kidd’s T.T.E.D. orbit.Contemporary press

Washington Post — “Getting Go-Go on Film” (1985)Reports on E.U. and Redds & the Boys during production of Good to Go and identifies Lil’ Beats Daughtry in the cast.Contemporary film reporting

Washington Post — Go-Go’s Antidrug Push (1986)Lists Redds & the Boys among major Go-Go bands participating in a collective antidrug recording project.Contemporary press

I AM GO-GO working PA/live catalogPrivate working list preserves Redds & the Boys show/recording leads from 1981–84 across major D.C.-area venues.Internal archive lead

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