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The O'Jays

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio. They formed in the summer of 1958 at Canton McKinley High School, with Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. At first they were called The Mascots and then The Triumphs. In 1963 they took the name The O'Jays, in honour of the Cleveland radio DJ Eddie O'Jay. Their first chart entry was Lonely Drifter in 1963, and shortly afterwards their debut album Comin' Through came out. In the 1960s they made dozens of singles, but they did not reach the American top forty.

Music and breakthrough

The turning point came in 1971, when the producers Gamble and Huff signed them to their label Philadelphia International. By then they were a trio, after Isles and Massey had left. In 1972, with Back Stabbers, they were at the forefront of Philadelphia soul. The following year Love Train reached number one on the American Hot 100. They 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.

Influence

Philadelphia soul sounds rich and warm, with strings, brass and a tight rhythm section over which the voices sing. The O'Jays gave that sound a message, with calls for unity as in Love Train. In this way they belong to the groups that prepared the way for soul and disco.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Love Train and notice the chorus, in which the whole group sings along. Can you hear how rhythm and strings together build a feeling of moving forward?

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsPhilly soul