OJays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert (born June 16, 1942), Walter Williams (born August 25, 1943), William Powell (January 20, 1942 – May 26, 1977), Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. In spite of their success as a touring group and on the R&B charts, the group had been considering quitting the music industry in 1972; around that same time original members Bill Isles and Bobby Massey departed, leaving the group a trio. The remaining three members soldiered on and Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters with whom the OJays had been working for several years, signed them to their Philadelphia International label. Suddenly, The OJays fortunes changed and they finally scored with their first million-seller, Back Stabbers,[1] from the album of the same name. By this time, This album produced several more hit singles, including 992 Arguments, Sunshine, Time To Get Down, and the #1 pop smash, Love Train. During the remainder of the 1970s the OJays continued releasing hit singles, including Put Your Hands Together (Pop #10), For the Love of Money (Pop #9), Give the People What They Want, Let Me Make Love To You, I Love Music (Pop #5), Livin for the Weekend, Message in Our Music and Darlin Darlin Baby (Sweet Tender Love). Original member William Powell died of cancer in 1977 at age 35. After adding Sammy Strain (born December 9, 1939) (of Little Anthony and the Imperials), the OJays continued recording, though with limited success. 1978s Use ta Be My Girl was their final Top Five hit, though they continued placing songs on the R&B charts throughout the 1980s. The OJays success was not confined to the United States, as they also logged up nine hit singles in the United Kingdom between 1972 and 1983, including four tracks that reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] Their 1987 album, Let Me Touch You, was a breakthrough of sorts, and included the #1 R&B hit Lovin You. Though they continued charting on the R&B charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the OJays never again achieved pop success. In 1992, Sammy Strain left the group, and returned to the Imperials, to be replaced by Nathaniel Best, and later, by Eric Grant. Later in the 1990s, the group did little recording, though they remained a popular live draw.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 01:36:43 +0000
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