1968:

SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE release"Dance To The Music." Not one of their best songs, but one of the classic danceable funk hits of the late 60s that were the material in the first "disco" clubs. In this sense, the word "disco" meant dancing to recorded music, rather than live bands.

1969:

KOOL AND THE GANG formed (initially as "Kool and the Flames", and before that (since 1964) as the "Jazziacs"), later to become one of the most significant and best-loved disco groups.

1970:

JAMES BROWN releases the famous ten-minute "Sex Machine." The extended nature of Brown's work would have considerable effect on disco music, with records being extended specifically so that people could dance to it longer.

The JACKSON 5 shoot to the top of the charts in the US with "I Want You Back." The family would go on to be some of the most popular musical entertainers in the world, not just in the sphere of disco.

In late 1970, Barry and Robin Gibb meet up to try and patch up their differences that have split the BEE GEES since 1969. This is fortunate, for they are to become for many the epitome of disco (even though at this time they were mainly producing soulful ballads).

1971:

"Theme from Shaft" by ISAAC HAYES proves to be a great success, spurring on the rise of funk.

1972:

"Love's theme", from LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA and ELTON JOHN'S "Your Song", performed by BILLY PAUL, are considered by an incorrect minority to be some of the first "true" disco hits. However, the O'JAYS "Love Train" was a more significant indicator of things to come, combining a "message" song with a groove that was easy to dance to.

1973:

"Love's theme", by the LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA, an instrumental piece, went to the top of the charts.

THE ISLEY BROTHERS are joined by their three younger brothers for the album "3+3 featuring That Lady." The song "That Lady" becomes a funk classic. This group will remain as a sextet until 1984.

1974:

Disco by this time had not yet exploded into the mainstream. However, "disco" clubs had become firmly established on the west coast of the USA, and artists started to explore the possibilities of specific "disco" songs.

GLORIA GAYNOR becomes the first disco diva with the hit "Never can say goodbye." Donna Summer releases the album "Lady Of The Night."

ABBA achieved success with "Waterloo", although ABBA should be recognised as producing sub-standard Eurovision song contest-esque "music" rather than funk/disco.

Kool and the Gang release the funky "Jungle Boogie", later to become famous in "Pulp Fiction."

Several other disco hits are released; THE COMMODORES - "Machine Gun"; SHIRLEY & COMPANY- "Shame Shame Shame"; THE HUES CORPORATION; "Rock the boat", CARL CARLTON; "Everlasting love", CAROL DOUGLAS; "Doctor's orders", BARRY WHITE:;"You're the first, the last, my everything"; GEORGE MCRAE: "Rock Your Baby".

1975:

This year is considered by most commentators to be the first true disco year, when disco music started to become a mainstream genre in its own right.

VAN MC COY sells millions of copies all over the world with "The Hustle", the first big disco hit. More than any other, this hit established the hallmarks of disco; mostly non-ethnic music (the main distinction between "disco" and "funk"] and easy- to- learn dance steps.

Kool and the Gang release the "Spirit of the Boogie" LP, featuring the disco gem "Open Sesame", which appeared later on in "Saturday Night Fever." However, at this time K&TG were still concerned mostly with funk, not mainstream disco.

THE BEE GEES are back to the charts with "Jive Talkin'" from the album"Main Course", which proves to be a radical departure from their previous ballad-orientated work. From 1975 on, they steadily grew in importance in the disco scene.

KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND achieve success with "Get Down Tonight", which introduced the concept of the "disco mantra" (hooks that could be shouted out by the dancers).

Earth Wind & Fire, Hot Chocolate and The Trammps have their first disco hits.

The so-called "Euro-Disco" movement appears with Silver Convention's lunatic song "Fly, Robin Fly"

Some other important disco-hits of the year: MELBA MOORE - "This is it"; PEGGY MCLEAN - "Lady Bop"; RETTA YOUNG - "Sending out a S.O.S"; THE SYLVERS - "Boogie Fever"; ABBA - "Mamma Mia"; CARL DOUGLAS - "Kung Fu Fighting".

1976:

The BROTHERS JOHNSON release their first album, "Look Out for # 1" under the aegis of produced Quincy Jones, including the incredible "Get The Funk Out Ma Face." They would go on to become funk/disco heavyweights.

Motown has its first disco hit: "Love Hangover", performed by DIANA ROSS. She becomes a disco diva.

The Bee Gee's "You Should Be Dancing" marks a further evolution in the group's progress to disco fame.

KC & The Sunshine Band's "That's The Way (I Like It)" continues their hallmarks - use of crashing cymbals, catchy mantras etc. Their lightweight style provokes concern from orthodox funk artists - this could be considered as an early sign of the anti-disco movement that would grow up as disco became a dominant force in music in the late 70s/early 80s.

HEATWAVE produce "Boogie Nights." Although not particularly significant in themselves, the founder of the band, Rod Temperton, would go on to become very influential in disco music, writing songs for George Benson and Michael Jackson.

RICHIE FAMILY with "The best Disco in town" and FIRST CHOICE with "Doctor Love", are the first disco girl groups that achieve notable success.

DONNA SUMMER becomes a diva with her classic album "LoveTo Love You Baby", considered scandalous at the time by moralists such as Jesse Jackson because of the "marathon of orgasms" in the title track.

ABBA is #1 for the first and only time in USA with the horrific "Dancing Queen".

THE ISLEY BROTHERS produce the protest song classic "Harvest For The World."

Produced by GREGG DIAMOND, the ex- X rated movie actress ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION is #1 with "More More More".

TINA CHARLES leaves 5000 VOLTS and goes to a solo disco career with the hit "I love to love."

SILVER CONVENTION continue their rise to disco fame with the simple yet compelling "Get Up And Boogie."

Some other important disco-hits of the year: VICKI SUE ROBINSON - "Turn the beat around"; THELMA HOUSTON - "Don't leave me this way"; JESSE GREEN - "Nice and Slow"; BACCARA - "Yes sir, I can boogie"; CERRONE - "Love in C minor"; KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND - "Shake Shake Shake"; BONEY M - "Daddy Cool".

1977:

Disco arrives at the cinema, with "Saturday Night Fever", starring John Travolta. As disco reaches begins to reach epic proportions, the Bee Gees become the biggest group in the world with the hits "Stayin'Alive", "How deep is your love", "Night Fever" etc.

Tecnho music is born with "I feel love", performed by Donna Summer

Chic records their first album, with the hit "Everybody Dance" and the awful "Dance Dance Dance".

Salsoul Records has the first hit, the mediocre "Runaway", performed by Loleatta Holloway.

The first black model, Grace Jones, successfully goes to a singer career with her powerful voice. She has 3 hits in this year, including "La Vie en Rose".

Some other important disco-hits of the year: THE EMOTIONS - "Best of my love"; EARTH WIND & FIRE - "Fantasy", THE TRAMMPS - "Disco Inferno"; CARRIE LUCAS - "I gotta keep dancin'"; UNIVERSAL ROBOT BAND - "Dance and Shake your tambourine", ROBERTA KELLY - "Zodiacs"; JERMAINE JACKSON - "Let's be young tonight"; ODYSSEY - "Native New Yorker", ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION - "NY You got me dancing"; BONEY M - "Ma Baker"; THE COMMODORES - "Brick House"; DAVID SHIRE - "Night On Disco Mountain."

1978:

1978 and 1979 were the years in which funk and disco music arguably reached their peak in both quantity of music and development of the genres.

PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC, or P-FUNK, becomes a major force in hardcore funk music, becoming a massive ensemble of artists headed by GEORGE CLINTON.

THE JACKSONS release arguably their finest album, "Destiny." It includes the hits "Blame It On The Boogie" and "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground).

HERBIE HANCOCK's experiments with synthesizers reach appaling new "heights" with the painful " I Thought It Was You."

The influence of gay culture in disco becomes evident with SYLVESTER and the hit "You make me feel", and CELI BEE, "Macho (a real real one)".

Disco is also influenced by gipsy culture, with SANTA ESMERALDA: "Don't let me be misunderstood".

Produced by Jacques Morali, the VILLAGE PEOPLE produce the amusing party favourites "Macho Man" and "Y.M.C.A".

A Taste of Honey wins Grammy 1978 Best New Artist with "Boogie Oogie Oogie".

Euro Disco movement continues with Patrick Juvet: "I love America", Sheila & B. Devotion: "You light my fire", and USA-European Connection: "Come into my heart".

Gloria Gaynor is back with one of the biggest disco hits: "I will survive".

Chaka Khan goes to a solo career from Rufus and has the hit "I'm every woman".

In the movies, "Thank God It's Friday", makes Donna Summer the biggest disco star, with the hit "Last Dance".

thanks for the info - - Funk and Disco Inferno

K.C. And The Sunshine Band