Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

O'JAYS, The

Black vocal group formed '59 in Canton OH as the Mascots, still popular in the '90s. Eddie Levert (b 16 June '42) and Walter Williams (b 25 Aug. '42) recruited William Powell (d 26 May '77), William Isles and Robert Massey; became locally popular and recorded for King in Cincinnati; championed by Cleveland disc jockey Eddie O'Jay they changed their name and a record for Dayco was leased to Apollo, but nothing happened. H. B. Barnum took them to LA and they ended up on Imperial, where the hits began: 'Lonely Drifter', 'Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)', 'Stand In For Love', 'Let It All Out' all made pop and/or R&B charts. For some reason the purchase of Imperial by Liberty broke their run of luck and they label-hopped, had more hits on Bell and Gamble and Huff's Neptune label '67--70; their biggest success came on moving to Gamble and Huff's new Philadelphia International '72 as a trio (Isles left '66 complaining that Barnum worked them too hard; Massey left '72 but remained as a consultant, later formed own Devaki label). Powell left '76, died of cancer; replaced by Sam Strain (b 9 Dec. '41, ex-Little Anthony and the Imperials). Twenty-seven Hot 100 hits '72--80 incl. four in top five: 'Back Stabbers' '72, no. 1 pop hit 'Love Train' '73, 'I Love Music' '75, 'Use Ta Be My Girl' '78. They sold albums, incl. compilation of Neptune hits The O'Jays In Philadelphia '73; 14 chart LPs '72--83 incl. top 20 LPs Back Stabbers '72 (incl. 'Love Train'), Ship Ahoy '73 (incl. top ten 'Put Your Hands Together', 'For The Love Of Money'); Live In London, Survival, Family Reunion, Message In The Music, So Full Of Love and Identify Yourself '74--9. The Year 2000 '80 charted on TSOP, When Will I See You Again on Epic; My Favorite Person '82 on Phil. Int. saw Williams and Levert doing more writing and production; Love And More '84 and Love Fever '85 on Phil. Int. made Billboard black album charts; switched to EMI for Let Me Touch You '87 (no. 3, made with Gamble/Huff/Thom Bell), Emotionally Yours '91 (no. 2) and Heartbreaker '93 (top ten).