Ohio Players - An Ohio is Music Legend

Honoring Legendary Band, The Ohio Players!

The Ohio Players is an American Funk Band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their songs “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster”, and for their provocative album covers which featured models that were at the time shown in the pages of Playboy Magazine.

The band formed in 1959 in Dayton, Ohio as the Ohio Untouchables and initially included the members Robert Ward, Marshall “Rock” Jones, Clarence “Satch” Satchell, Cornelius Johnson, and Ralph “PeeWee” Middlebrooks.

Dayton Ohio served as the backdrop for the band’s formative years. With its rich musical heritage and vibrant cultural scene, Dayton provided the band with ample opportunities to develop their skills and refine their sound. The City’s diverse music landscape and supportive community became integral to the band’s success. The band emerged during a time when Ohio’s music scene was flourishing, particularly in cities like Dayton and Cincinnati. The region became a hub for talented musicians, fostering a creative and collaborative environment. The band drew inspiration from this energetic atmosphere and incorporated elements of funk, soul and R&B into their music.

After the group got into a fist fight in 1964, Robert Ward was replaced with 21 year old Leroy “sugarfoot” Bonner who became the band’s new frontman, and later they officially named the group The Ohio Players, reflecting its members' self-perceptions as musicians and as ladies' men.

The group added three more singers, Bobby Lee Fears, Dutch Robinson and Helena Ferguson Kilpatrick, and became the new house band for the New York based Compass Records.

Once again, the group disbanded in 1970. After reforming the band with a new line-up, the Ohio Players released a hit record in 1971 on the Detroit based record label “westbound” titled “Pain”, which reached the top 40 on the billboard R&B chart.

It was at Westbound Records where the group met George Clinton, who admired their music and contributed his knowledge to their work.

The Band’s first hit single named Funky Worm sold over one million copies and reached number one on the billboard R&B chart and number 15 on the hot 100 in May 1973. In 1974, the band signed with Mercury Records and once again had changed their line-up when their keyboardist joined Funkadelic as the force behind their hit “One Nation Under a Groove”.

Between 1973 and 1976, the band had seven top 40 hits which included “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” which both landed at number one on both the R&B and pop charts.

The band’s Albums “Skin Tight”, “Fire” and “Honey” were also awarded Gold Certification during this time which helped propel them to national and international stardom.

They released multiple records after that with band members continually changing.

On August 17, 2013, The Ohio Players were inducted into the inaugural class of the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Ohio Players, with their exceptional talent and groundbreaking music, achieved numerous awards and accolades throughout their illustrious career. Their contributions to the funk and soul genre gained recognition and solidified their status as influential musicians. Here are some of the notable awards and achievements received by the Ohio Players:
American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Fire”.
Grammy Award Nominations for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "Jive Turkey”.
Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus for "Fire”.
Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single, Group, Band or Duo for "Fire"
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album for "Fire"

The Ohio Players were inducted into the Ohio Hall of Fame in recognition of their significant contributions to the music industry and the state of Ohio.
The Ohio Players' album "Skin Tight" was included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

These awards and achievements reflect the Ohio Players' immense talent, musical innovation, and enduring popularity. They continue to be recognized as pioneers in the funk and soul genre and have left an undeniable mark on the music industry.

The Ohio Players' music has had a lasting impact on subsequent generations of musicians and continues to be celebrated as a significant part of funk and soul history.

We are proud to call The Ohio Players, an Ohio is Music Legend.

Cleveland
Dayton
Sugarfoot
Fire
Love Rollercoaster
Musician
Ohio
Live performance
Legends
Funk
Soul
R&B

#funk #ohio #band