Friday, August 12, 2011 | AT&T Main Stage | 8:30pm
With their slinky, horn-powered grooves, impeccable musicianship, and eye-popping album covers, the Ohio Players came into musical prominence in the 1970’s as pioneers of street funk and underground R&B. The band formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1959 as the "Ohio Untouchables" and initially included members Robert Ward, Marshall "Rock" Jones, Clarence "Satch" Satchell, Cornelius Johnson, and Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks. They were best known, at the time, as a backing group for Detroit’s The Falcons.
After signing with Mercury Records in 1974, they landed three consecutive platinum albums (Skin Tight, Fire, and Honey), two number one singles on the Billboard pop charts (“Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster”), and five number one R&B singles. The Ohio Players traveled the world, produced more than a dozen albums and have received 14 gold and platinum awards—so far. They also made countless television appearances, with everyone from Dick Clark to David Letterman. In recent years, a long list of artists have sampled or re-recorded their material, including Snoop Dogg, Puff Daddy, Salt-n-Pepa, Too Short, Soundgarden, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Currently the band consists of ten members, four of whom have been with the band from the beginning.
The Ohio Players still perform all of their music using no computers or samplers to enhance musical production. The new single “This is your Night” is their first release in 13 years; it is being released on the Internet through Tune Core.
