The O’Jays

An American R&B and Soul group, the O’jays are from Canton, Ohio. The band was formed in 1958 by two longtime friends, Eddie Levert and Walter Williams. Both these mates studied at the same Canton McKinley High School. Later, they brought on three other old-time schoolmates to join the retinue.

The group’s original members were Eddie Levert (born in 1942), Walter Williams (born in 1943), William Powell (born in 1942), Bobby Massey (born in 1942), and Bill Isles (born in 1941).

Initially, it was called The Triumphs. Later on, it was changed to The Mascots. Then in 1963, they adopted the name The O’Jays as a way of using their craft to honor a popular Cleveland DJ named Eddie O'Jay. Be as it may, more often than not, they are called ‘The Sound of Philadelphia’.

In their early years, The O'Jays recorded average success. However, it was not until the early 1970s that they started to see some traction. These better signs came when they signed to  Philadelphia International Records, a label that was co-founded by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.

 Having these names as their producers, the band went on to become one of the most important figures in the soul sound scene of Philadelphia. 

Their 1972 album "Back Stabbers" was a notable turning point. It came with hits like "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train". The latter put their sound on the US Billboard Hot 100. At this time, The O'Jays had shrunk to three members following the departure of Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. 

Their 1973 album "Ship Ahoy" gave some strength to their success. Particularly, the hit "For the Love of Money" became widely known not just for its unique bassline but also for rebuking greed.

Throughout the 1970s, The O'Jays put out a series of successful albums. These include "Family Reunion" (1975), which featured the track "I Love Music," and "Travelin' at the Speed of Thought" (1977). The best-selling track from the body of work was "Use Ta Be My Girl."

Along the line, the band became the first ever black vocal group to perform in American arenas in the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to their resounding success. To date, fans are still in awe of the performances of Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, and Eric Nolan Grant, both of whom joined the group in 1995. 

Rich vocal harmonies, intense live performances, and socially sensitive themes have since time formed the highlights of the group's music.

Their fame came as a result of their ability to engage their audience through songs that often looked into themes of love and relationships but these songs also dealt with broader issues such as racism and social justice.

Decorating their career, the O’Jays have taken home several awards. They have also been recognized on a multiplicity of occasions outside of award presentations. They have so far gotten 10 gold albums, 9 platinum albums, and 10 number-one hits.

In 2005, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Four years later, they were on the receiving end of BET's Lifetime Achievement Award. And then, in 2013, they finally became a part of The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame.

The O’jays Tours and Concerts 2024

The O’Jays are set to begin their tour for the year, which will most likely be the final. Their concerts are always powerful and intense, and tickets will be in high demand. Getting tickets early is necessary to avoid being sold out.

However, keep in mind that the cheapest tickets would be available on TicketX at the lowest payment charge. Fees stay constant at a 20% discount irrespective of the venue, ticket price, or type.

This is an offer that is not available on other ticket-selling sites like TicketMaster or SeatGeek; also, keep checking TicketX to get information on the best and cheapest tickets.

The O’Jays Tour Dates and Locations 2024

The O’Jays tour for 2024 is Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour. It starts on the 25th of May at Smoothie Center, New Orleans, Los Angeles.

They will be on tour with Frankie Beverly on the 22nd of June at Enterprise Center, St Louis, Missouri. The next stop is at MGM National Habor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, on the 28th of June.

On the 29th of June, the group will be on tour at the Syracuse Jazz Festival, Syracuse, New York, and then they will be at Mark G Etess Arena, Atlantic City-Complex, Atlantic, New Jersey.

Their last stop will be at Fool in Love Festival, Inglewood, California, on the 31st of August. Diana Ross and Lionel Richie are the main performers at the festival, while The Jacksons, George Clinton, and Smokey Robinson, among others, will be in the lineup.

The O’Jay Tour Setlist

The O’Jays setlist differs according to venue. However, they sometimes perform their most popular top-ranked songs. Some of these include:

• Give The People What They Want

• Family Reunion

• Love You

• Back Stabbers

• Brandy

• I Want You Here with Me

• Lovin’ You

• For the Love of Money

• Forever Mine

• Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby

• Used Ta Be My Girl

• I Love Music

How Much Are O’ Jays Tickets

Prices of tickets differ based on locations and dates. However, the cheapest tickets for O’Jaysevents start from $121.87 at Mark G Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City - Complex on Jul 13 on TicketX.

How to Find the Cheapest O’Jays Tickets

The cheapest tickets O’Jays tickets are available on TicketX, a platform that sells tickets at the most affordable price. Prices of tickets to O’Jays shows may get more expensive or sold out, so it is important to get tickets fast.

You would not want to miss the show at the Fool in Love Festival that will feature other singers like Diana Ross and  Lionel Richie.

Secure your tickets now in just one click; you get to enjoy diverse payment options, and a fixed 20% discount rate, an offer you won't get from other ticket-selling sites like SeatGeek.

To stay updated and get information about upcoming events and shows, and how to get the cheapest prices of tickets, keep tabs on the TicketX Magazine.