![]() ![]() Their first chartmaking song, "Lonely Drifter," was released in 1963. They soon signed with Imperial Records, working with producer H. As an homage to the DJ, the group renamed themselves the O'Jays. O'Jay offered them career advice, notably suggesting a name change, and considered becoming their manager for a time. Levert and his group had an early fan-and mentor-in Eddie O'Jay, a popular Cleveland disc jockey who featured them at sock hops that he hosted. The song enjoyed moderate success in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Before long, Cincinnati, Ohio, producer Syd Nathan had signed them to his King label now calling themselves the Mascots, the group released their first single, "Miracles," in 1961. The group began performing locally, attracting enthusiastic crowds. Launched in 1958, the quintet initially called themselves the Triumphs. At McKinley High School in Canton, Levert and Williams, together with pals William Powell, Bill Isles, and Bobby Massey, were inspired to form their own vocal group after attending a show by Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers. He began singing at an early age, first teaming up with an elementary school friend, Walter Williams, to perform as a gospel duo on local radio. When he was eight years old, his family relocated to Canton, Ohio, where he spent his youth. ![]() For Levert, musical collaboration has been a family affair as well-with son Gerald Levert he recorded two popular albums and wrote a book before Gerald's untimely death in 2006.Įdward Levert was born on June 16, 1942, in Bessemer, Alabama. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, the O'Jays have stood the test of time, continuing to record and perform live. As the lead singer of the legendary O'Jays, the vocal group best remembered for their "Philly soul" sound, Eddie Levert lent his voice to such chart-topping tunes as "Back Stabbers," "Love Train," and "For the Love of Money." Throughout the 1970s Levert and the O'Jays racked up more than thirty hit singles, becoming a crossover success in both pop and R&B. ![]()
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