In 1992, Sammy Strain left the group and returned to the Imperials. Though they continued charting on the R&B charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the O'Jays never again achieved pop success. Their 1987 album, Let Me Touch You, was a breakthrough of sorts, and included the number 1 R&B hit "Lovin' You". The O'Jays' success was not confined to the United States, as they also logged nine hit singles in the United Kingdom between 19, including four tracks that reached the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1978, the group released " Use ta Be My Girl", which was their final top-five hit, though they continued placing songs on the R&B charts throughout the 1980s. Īfter adding Sammy Strain (of Little Anthony and the Imperials), the O'Jays continued recording, though with limited success. Original member William Powell died of cancer in 1977 at age 35. ĭuring the remainder of the 1970s, the O'Jays continued releasing hit singles, including "Put Your Hands Together" (Pop number 10), " For the Love of Money" (Pop number 9), " Give the People What They Want", "Let Me Make Love to You", " I Love Music" (Pop number 5), " Livin' for the Weekend", " Message in Our Music", and " Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love)". This album produced several more hit singles, including "992 Arguments", "Sunshine", "Time to Get Down", and the number 1 pop smash, " Love Train". Suddenly, the O'Jays released their first million-seller, " Back Stabbers", from the album of the same name. The remaining three original members, Eddie Levert, William Powell, and Walter Williams continued recording together, and Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters with whom the O'Jays had been working for several years, signed them to their Philadelphia International label. Around that time, original members Bill Isles and Bobby Massey departed, leaving the group a trio. In spite of their success as a touring group and on the R&B chart, the group had been considering quitting the music industry in 1972. On the R&B chart, the O'Jays were somewhat more prominent, but their only top 10 R&B single prior to 19's "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow". However, while they issued dozens of singles throughout the decade, they never hit the US top 40 (although "Lipstick Traces" made it to number 19 in Canada). Throughout the 1960s, the group continued to chart with minor hits such as " Lipstick Traces" (which they performed nationally on the ABC television program Shivaree), "Stand In for Love", "Stand Tall", "Let It All Out", "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow", "Look Over Your Shoulder", "Deeper in Love with You", and " One Night Affair". He came with us when we first ventured out of Cleveland and traveled to Los Angeles, but he also was in love with a woman in Cleveland that he missed so much that he soon returned back to Cleveland after a short amount of time." In 2021, human remains discovered in 1982 at Twinsburg, Ohio, were identified as those of Frankie Little. According to Walter Williams, “Frankie was a guitarist and songwriter in the very early O’Jays. He is also credited with vocals on 1962's “Down at the Corner”. He worked with lead vocalist Eddie Levert, assisting with some of the writing for the group, including 1964's “Do the Jerk,” 1966's “Pretty Words,” and 1967's “Oh, How You Hurt Me”. joined the group as a guitarist and songwriter. In the early 1960s, member Frank "Frankie" Little, Jr. Their debut album, released shortly thereafter was Comin' Through. In 1963, the O'Jays released "Lonely Drifter", their first national chart hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 93. In 1963, they took the name 'The O'Jays', in tribute to Cleveland radio disc jockey Eddie O'Jay, who was part of the powerful management team of Frankie Crocker, Herb Hamlett and O'Jay. Originally known as The Mascots, and then The Triumphs, the friends began recording with "Miracles" in 1961, which was a moderate hit in the Cleveland area. The group was formed in Canton, Ohio, in 1958 while its members were attending Canton McKinley High School. Several other US R&B hits followed, and the O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with " Back Stabbers" (1972), and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 the following year with " Love Train". The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with the minor hit "Lonely Drifter" in 1963, but reached their greatest level of success once Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters, signed them to their Philadelphia International label in 1972. The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles.
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