Group formed in 1958 in Canton, Ohio Eddie LeVert (Canton, Ohio, June 16, 1942), Walter Williams (Canton, Ohio, August 25, 1942) William Powell (Canton, Ohio, 1941-1926 May 1977) - Powell replaced by Sammy Strain (9 December 1940) in 1976 - Strain replaced by Nathaniel Best in 1993, Bill Isles, Bobby Massey (Vocal Group) - Out of Isles in 1965 and in 1971 Massey
When his son Gerald and Sean wanted to get into music in the early 1980s, Eddie Levert advised them to write their own songs and take in producing their albums studio, a board that gives an idea of changes in the business of disk space than a quarter of a century. At the beginning of their journey, the O'Jays Eddie Levert suffered from being bounced from record labels in artistic director without the opportunity to express their opinion, which forced them to wait a decade before we see the success settle permanently, and even with the success of authoritarianism in the studio with producers Gamble & Huff were forced to focus their repertoire around the protest song, an area they would sometimes abandon allowed to record ballads and texts lighter. A term, the board of Levert and his son had the merit of opening the doors to the fortune of the trio LeVert, Gerald and Sean who are eager to invite the O'Jays to support themselves in the studio get their own bestsellers they no longer hoped. In four decades of continuous presence on the charts, the charts of the O'Jays is unique, with a total of fifty nine hits nearly half have accessed the Top 10 African-American, ten of them settling in the first place. But while the public was interested in them during the first half of their career, believe the Hot 100 (Love Train in 1973 was even Number One Pop), their hearing fell on the black community from the 1980s, indicating a certain radicalization of gaze focused on external soul. When they made the remark, the O'Jays merely shrug their shoulders saying that the artistic success does not only gauge to read the charts. In a series of concerts by the hundreds every year, even the most difficult periods in their history, they have given clear evidence.
In the fifties, with two hundred thousand inhabitants, Guangzhou is one of those who make steel city Ohio one of the main suppliers of the automotive industry in Detroit, an industrial status which explains the presence of many African American families, like that of Levert. Eddie Levert to seven years when he met with Walter Williams Elementary School, became best friends, they realized a few years later their fraternity by becoming green LeVert Brothers, a duo that performs spirituals Sunday on a local radio station. In 1958, the doo-woop takes precedence over the gospel with the arrival of William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Ilse, and the quintet became known as the Triumphs.
the instigation of a Canton promoter who has put on their fame for his songs, Triumphs get a first audition for Decca in New York and then at King Syd Nathan in Cincinnati where they made a studio recording a few songs he says he wants to publish the names of mascots, not keep his promise at first. Disappointed, the five singers moved to Cleveland where the disc jockey Eddie O'Jays takes them under his wing, introducing them to Don Davis to Detroit in 1960 which produced an initial 45-t published on Apollo, Miracles. This partnership will ultimately rise to their identity, that of the O'Jays. While Syd Nathan finally decides to leave some on King faces he had in reserve, O'Jays sends his proteges in Los Angeles from HB Barnum, a former member of the doo-woop Dootones, became patron of discs Little Star. While finding their commitments as vocalists sessions Nat King Cole and Lou Rawls, Barnum negotiates on behalf of a contract with Imperial for whom an O'Jays record their first four hits: Lonely Drifter in 1963, a Replay Lipstick Traces (on a cigarette) of the Neo-orléannais Benny Spellman and Let It All Out in 1965, and especially Stand In for Love that touches the top 100 in fall 1966.
Just when success occurs, the redemption Imperial of Liberty grows from the O'Jays Minit but their careers stalled and they return to Cleveland where Bill Isles announces their intention to leave. For several months, the four remaining singers are considering a move to give up but the Apollo in Harlem brings together the producer Richard King who gets them a commitment to Bell, the company of Larry Uttall. Edited by George Kerr, a former member of the Imperials, the O'Jays get to the end of 1967 their first bestseller with a ballad called I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today) followed by Look Over Your Shoulder but it so happens that Bell be redeemed in turn and make a second O'Jays Once the costs of the situation. Their arrived at Neptune in 1969 carried through the Intruders who recommend the O'Jays Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. In the space of a little over a year, the sponsors of its Philadelphia, assisted by Thom Bell and Bobby Martin, starting with shaping a more contemporary image for the O'Jays, with titles like One Night Affair Looky Looky and (Look at Me Girl) who move easily in the Top 20. Third time luck changes before the quartet has had time to assert themselves when Neptune, whose distribution is ensured by Chess Records in Chicago, must close its doors a few months after the death of Leonard Chess. HB Barnum offers its services but the singles released at the time on Saru and Little Star does the O'Jays lead nowhere.
The wheel turns at last in 1971 when three proposals occur simultaneously; addition Motown and Invictus trio Holland-Dozier-Holland who are interested, the new company formed by Gamble and Huff with funding from CBS, Philadelphia International, is Offer Eddie Levert insists that involve his classmates. Only Bobby Massey, convinced that Gamble and Huff does not grant any autonomy to creatively O'Jays, throw in the towel at this crucial moment in the history of the group, became a producer, he will before the end of the year Success Ponderosa Twins + One.
The time will give reason for Massey since Gamble & Huff closely guide the O'Jays record production of three for fifteen years, while at the same time ensuring their success. The influence of these producers is even greater for the trio in 1972 it became the flagship of the fleet at Philadelphia International, which he gave his first Number One, Back Stabbers. Until the end of the decade, nothing seems to stop the machine of O'Jays who publish under their name nine albums, all gold records and platinum. With two number one whose second Soul, Love Train, also installed at the top of the Hot 100, Back Stabbers inaugurates a series that continues with Ship Ahoy, dedicated by platinum in 1973, followed next year by The O'Jays Live in London and Survival Family Reunion (new platinum ) in 1975, Message in the Music in 1976, Travelin 'at the Speed of on thought in 1977, ending with two new collections of platinum in 1978 and 1979, So Full of Love and Identify Yourself. In this period of U.S. history, marked by the end of the Vietnam War and the resignation of President Nixon, one of the constants of the O'Jays directory is the recurrent use of texts that combative denounce slavery (Ship Ahoy) hypocrisy (Back Stabbers and Do not Call Me Brother in 1972 and 1973) and the power of money (For the Love of Money in 1974 and Rich Get Richer next season), advocate social awareness and political (Give the People What They Want and Message in Our Music, Number One in both 1975 and 1976), and defend environmental values (This Air I Breathe 1973). Probably because they know their Gamble and Huff need to overcome this image bound gradually appear among the top bestsellers O'Jays less loaded as I Love Music (Part 1), Livin 'for and the Weekend Darlin 'Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love), respectively number one in all 1975, 1976 and 1977 and is also a composition with unpretentious, Use Ta Be My Girl, the trio will get the most solid hit, five weeks at the top of the charts Soul in 1978.
Even at the height of their fame in the 1970s, the O'Jays are not exempt from the pitfalls of life. The cancer afflicting Williams Powell is a constant concern for them, since January 1976, Powell continues to participate in the recordings of the group but is being replaced on stage by Sammy Strain, long associated with Little Anthony & the Imperials, member complete the trio of Powell's death May 26, 1977. But it was with the next decade as the top 10 occur permanently in the wake of the success of Girl, Dont Let It Get You Down, third position in no way blacks during the summer of 1980. Upon publication of The Year 200 in 1980 and My Favorite Person Two years later, their sales decreased significantly to reach the bottom in 1984 with Love and More. On the front of the singles, none of the ten titles they drive on the charts exceeds the thirteenth place, a record which many artists would have been satisfied but is clearly behind the habits of O'Jays. Several factors help explain this in the wilderness. If they have succeeded to escape competition disco, Gamble & Huff who had the intelligence to adapt their repertoire to the ambient atmosphere with compositions well in tune with the times as I Love Music, the sudden evolution of modes in early Air Reagan did not play for them, but above all, Eddie Levert attributed the disaffection of the black community in the tour they are doing in South Africa at the beginning of the decade. Accused of having betrayed the cause of opponents of apartheid, stigmatized by the United Nations has included in the list of artists refractory cultural boycott officially placed against Pretoria, the O'Jays are faint some of the credibility they had in the ghettos of America and their ranking suffers lasting, even if the tour continued to be related.
Rebounding they no longer expected to occur in 1987, when Eddie Levert was preparing to abandon the scene. The song Lovin 'You, it's a ballad Gamble and Huff signed ten years old who surprised everyone when she moved from Philadelphia International at the first place no way Black November 7, 1987. "That day, I told myself that we were not finished yet," admits Green. In the wake of Lovin ' You, the song that gave its title to the album Let Me Touch You in turn takes the path of the Top 10 and the O'Jays resume their duties on the world of R & B. Clearly, the time is ripe for change O'Jays separating of Gamble & Huff, relations were often conflicts between the two producers, but never to this point and the trio returned to his freedom by signing with EMI, which assured for some years now the distribution of Philadelphia International. Within four years, in addition to a collection of Christmas as the Anglo-Saxon love them (Home for Christmas in 1991), the band releases two albums that entered the list Top Seller: Serious Emotionally Yours in 1989, gold album two years later. For the first time in their career, the O'Jays are able to produce their own recordings and they take the opportunity to adapt their image to the evolution of the soul. By appealing to the son of Eddie Levert, Gerald and her accomplice of the group LeVert, Marc Gordon, in tune with the contemporary R & B market, the O'Jays significantly rejuvenate their production and obtain a new series of bestsellers. Have You Had Your Love Today, Black Number One in 1989, offers an interlude of jazz rap while Yours Emotionally transforms a composition of Bob Dylan in gospel hymn two years later, with the complicity of Will Downing of LeVert, Evelyn "Champagne" King and Phyllis Hyman in the chorus. One could also cite Serious Hold on Me in 1989, Do not Let Me Down and Keep On Lovin 'Me in 1991, contributing to boost the image of the trio.
O'Jays For this return to the front of the stage is like a last challenge, a bet that allows them to continue their careers with confidence today. Since 1993, Best Nathaniel came over from Sammy Strain, party regain its place among the Imperials. If the following publications in 1993 Heartbreaker and Love You to Tears, published by Global Soul in 1997, have not been a success comparable to that of previous albums, retirement is far from the concerns of the trio that continues to multiply stage appearances throughout the year and that might be expected to rebound again in the future, as did Eddie Levert in 1995 by co-signing with his father's best-selling Father and Son. Discography
1968 / Back On Top
01. I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow
02. I'm So Glad I Found You
03. Going Going Gone
04. That's All Right
05. I Dig Your Act
06. Look Over Your Shoulder
07. You're Too Sweet
08. Just Another Guy
09. Four For The Price Of One
10. Love Is Everywhere
11. Now That I've Found You
12. I'll Be Seeing You
13. The Choice
14. I Miss You
( l'album Back On Top )
1969 / The O'Jays In Philadelphia
01. One Night Affair
02. You're The Best Thing Since Candy
03. Branded Bad
04. I Should Be Your Lover
05. Looky Looky (Look At Me Girl)
06. Deeper In Love With You
07. Let Me In Your World
08. Just Can't Get Enough
09. I've Got The Groove
10. Medley (Little Green Apples-Something)
11. It's Too Strong
( l'album The O'Jays In Philadelphia )
1971 / Super Bad
01. Now He's Home
02. Little Brother
03. Crossroads Of Life
04. La De La
05. Peace
06. Shattered Man
07. Your Turn This Time
08. Just To Be With You
09. Gotta Get My Broom Out
10. Never Can Say Good Bye
( l'labum Super Bad )
1972 / Back Stabbers
01. When the World's at Peace
02. Back Stabbers
03. Who Am I
04. (They Call Me) Mr. Lucky
05. Time to Get Down
06. 992 Arguments
07. Listen to the Clock on the Wall
08. Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People
09. Sunshine
10. Love Train
( l'album Back Stabbers )
1972 / Greatest Hits
01. Lonely Drifter
02. Oh, How You Hurt Me
03. Whip It On Me Baby
04. How Does It Feel
05. Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)
06. Stand Tall
07. I Cried My Last Tear
08. Working On Your Case
09. Crack Up Laughing
10. Stand In For Love
( l'album Greatest Hits )
1973 / Ship Ahoy
01. Put Your Hands Together
02. Ship Ahoy
03. This Air I Breath
04. You Got Your Hooks In Me
05. For The Love Of Money
06. Now That We Found Love
07. Don't Call Me Brother
08. People Keep Tellin' Me
( l'album Ship Ahoy )
1974 / Live In London
01. Instrumental Introduction Put You
02. When The World Is at Piece
03. Wildflower
04. Backstabbers
05. Sunshine
06. Love Train
1975 / Survival
01. Give the People What They Want
02. Let Me Make Love to You
03. Survival
04. Where Did We Go Wrong
05. Rich Get Richer
06. How Time Flies
07. What Am I Waiting For
08. Never Break Us Up
1975 / Family Reunion
01. Unity
02. Family Reunion
03. You and Me
04. She's Only a Woman
05. Livin' for the Weekend
06. Stairway to Heaven
07. I Love Music
( l'album Family Reunion )
1976 : Message in the Music
01. Message in Our Music
02. A Prayer
03. Paradise
04. Make a Joyful Noise
05. Desire Me
06. Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love)
07. I Swear, I Love No One But You
08. Let Life Flow
( l'album Message in the Music )
1977 : Travelin' at the Speed of Thought
01. Travelin' at the Speed of Thought
02. We're All in This Thing Together
03. So Glad I Got You, Girl
04. Stand Up
05. Those Lies
06. Feelings
07. Work On Me
08. Let's Spend Some Time Together
1977 / Collectors' Items
01. Family Reunion
02. Survival
03. Give The People What They Want
04. Let Me Make Love To You
05. I Love Music
06. Stairway To Heaven
07. Backstabbers
08. For the Love of Money
09. Sunshine
10. You Got Your Hooks In Meme
11. Love Train
12. Livin' For The Weekend
13. Wildflower (Live)
14. Darlin' Darlin' Baby
15. Brand (I Really Miss You)
( l'album Collectors' Items )
1978 : So Full of Love
01. Sing My Heart Out
02. Use Ta Be My Girl
03. Cry Together
04. This Time Baby
05. Brandy (I Really Miss You)
06. Take Me to the Stars
07. Help (Somebody Please)
08. Strokety Stroke
( l'album So Full of Love )
1979 : Identify Yourself
01. Sing a Happy Song
02. Get on Out and Party
03. Identify
04. So Nice I Tried It Twice
05. Hurry up and Come Back
06. Forever Mine
07. I Want You Here With Me
08. One in a Million
( )
1980 / The Year 2000
01. The Year 2000
02. To Prove I Love You
03. You'll Never Know (All There Is to Know 'Bout My Love)
04. You're the Girl of My Dreams (Sho Nuff Real)
05. You Won't Fail
06. Girl, Don't Let It Get You Down
07. The Answer's in You
08. Once Is Not Enough
( l'album The Year 2000 )
1982 / My Favorite Person
01. I Just Want to Satisfy You
02. Your Body's Here With Me (But Your Mind's on the Other Side of Town)
03. My Favorite Person
04. One on One
05. I Like to See Us Get Down
06. Your True Heart (And Shining Star)
07. Out in the Real World
08. Don't Walk Away Mad
( l'album My Favorite Person )
1983 / When Will I See You Again
01. I Can't Stand The Pain
02. Betcha Don't Know (What Comes After That)
03. When Will I See You Again
04. House Of Fire
05. A Letter To My Friends
06. Put Our Heads Together
07. Ain'T Nothin' Wrong With Good Lovin'
08. Nice And Easy
( l'album When Will I See You Again )
1984 / Love And More
01. I've Got To Fall In Love
02. Extraordinary Girl
03. I'm The Kind Of Man
04. Everybody's Dance Krazy
05. Summer Fling
06. I Really Need You Now
07. Love You Direct
08. Let Me Show You
09. Give My Love To The Ladies
( l'album Love And More )
1985 / Love Fever
01. Can't Slow Down
02. Dollar Bill
03. All Eyes On America
04. Just Another Lonely Night
05. I Wanna Be With You Tonite
06. Love Fever
07. I Love America
08. What A Woman
09. We're Still Together
10. What Good Are These Arms Of Mine
( l'album Love Fever )
1987 / Let Me Touch You
01. Don't Take Your Love Away
02. Lovin' You
03. True Love Never Dies
04. Still Missing
05. I Just Want Somebody To Love Me
06. Let Me Touch You
07. Undercover Lover
08. No Lies To Cloud My Eyes
09. Don't Let The Dream Get Away
10. Cause I Want You Back Again
( l'album Let Me Touch You )
1989 / Serious
01. Out Of My Mind
02. Leave It Alone
03. Have You Had Your Love Today
04. Serious Hold On Me
05. Friend Of A Friend
06. Never Been Better
07. Rainbow
08. Fading
09. Pot Can't Cal The Kettle Black
1991 / Emotionally Yours
01. Don't Let Me Down
02. Something For Nothing
03. Emotionally Yours (R&B Version)
04. Respect
05. Keep On Loving Me
06. Love & Trust
07. Don't You Know True Love
08. Emotionally Yours (Gospel Version)
09. That's How Love Is
10. Closer To You
11. If I Find Love Again
12. Keep On Pleasin' Me
13. Lies
14. Make It Feel Good
( l'album Emotionally Yours )
1993 / Heartbreaker
01. Cryin' The Blues
02. One Wonderful Girl
03. Somebody Else Will
04. Show Me The Right Way
05. Trouble
06. Can't Let You Go
07. Decisions
08. No Can Do
09. Heartbreaker
10. He Loves You
( l'album Heartbreaker )
2001 / For the Love
01. Long Distance Lover
02. Let's Ride
03. Don't Break My Heart
04. Put Out The Fire
05. Come Over To My House
06. I'm Ready Now
07. Searching For The Love I Lost
08. I Don't Know
09. Latin Lover
10. Baby Making Love
11. Sounds Like Me
12. [Untitled]
( l'album For The Love )
2004 / Imagination
01. Made It Back
02. Repair Man
03. Make Up
04. Imagination
05. Chauvinistic
05. Separate Ways
07. Why You Wanna Settle For Less
08. Busy Tonight
09. One Good Woman
10. I Would Rather Cry
11. The Christmas Song
( l'album Imagination )
2004 : Together We Are One
01. All Eyes On Africa
02. Together We Are One
03. Your Place Or Mine
04. I Know What You're Doing (But I'm Too Scared To Do Something About It)
05. Ruler Of The Universe
06. Pretty Is As Pretty Does (Just Too Pretty For Words)
07. Promises
08. When Sunny Gets Blue
09. Just Don't Seem To Be My Day
10. Packin' My Bags (Movin' On)
11. Hurry Home
12. This Could Be The Last Time
The O'Jays
The O'Jays (myspace 1)
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Musique
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Biography taken from the book Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Soul by Sebastian Danchin, Fayard (2002).
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