The mighty O'JAYS to mesmerise Mzansi

America’s oldest and surviving R&B music group, the mighty O’Jays is to mesmerize their fans at an extravanganza show to be held at the Coca ColaDome in Johannesburg in October 14th 2009.

The polished trio-Eddie Levert(lead singer), Walter Williams and Eric Grant were last seen in South Africa in the 80s when they packed the Orlando Stadium with fans screaming for more.

Prince Thumbumuzi, Princess Zenani Dlamini-Mandela and Welile Dlamini drove all the way to Jozi to attend the show.

After that show, the group had a disagreement with their promoter and left for the United States of America without appearing in other venues where they were due to perfom.

Upon return to the US, the trio’s popularity declined tremendously and their music was boycotted for having perfomed in South Africa at a time of the Apartheid Regime.

Howver, Eddie Levert and his son Gerald perfomed at Carnival City in Johannesburg in 2006, a show that was attended by yours truly, SIBS’ Phesheya Dube and Sabelo Dlamini but unfortunately, a few days after that show, Gerald passed on after a heart attack soon after his arrival in the US.

Some of Eddie’s most memorable works were his collaborations with the departed son. In 1992, they recorded the number one RnB single ‘Baby hold on to me’ and later in 1995 recorded the album ‘Father and Son’ which topped the RnB charts.

Gerald and Eddie allowed the old school generation and the Hip Hop generation to have a meeting of the minds that ultimately produced a beautiful music for all to enjoy.

The O’Jays have not been honoured much in the early years, but their introduction in 2004 into the vocal group hall of fame paved in 2005 for another into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy in 2006.

After over five decades of ballades and dance, the old timers of Canton Ohio are still an important feature ibn the landscape of music, their silky voices always a reminder of times past and an assurance of the present.

The group havecontributed immensely to soul, pop and RnB since the 1950’s to date. Songs that made them famous include ‘She used to be my girl’, ‘Forever Mine’, ‘You got your hooks in me’, ‘A Prayer’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to name but a fews.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: