Surface was an American pop/R&B group that formed in the mid-1980s, comprised of Bernard Jackson, David Townsend, and David Conley. Noted for their emotive, smooth style, they achieved significant success with their signature fusion of contemporary R&B and classic soul. Their most influential work is arguably the ballad "The First Time," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990. The group's distinctive sound and romantic lyrics distinguished them in the R&B genre, and they continue to influence modern R&B artists.