The O'Jays

The O'Jays (Canton, Ohio)
aka  The Mascots (2)


(The Doo wop years)

Personnel :

Eddie Levert (Lead)

Walter Williams

William Powell

Bill Isles

Bobby Massey

Discography (1961/1964) :

The O'Jays
1961 - Miracles / Can't Take It (Apollo 759/Daco)
1963 - How Does It Feel / Crack Up Laughing (Little Star 124)
1963 - Dream Girl / Joey St. Vincent (Little Star 125)
1963 - How Does It Feel / Crack Up Laughing (Imperial 5942)
1963 - Lonely Drifter / That's Enough (Imperial 5976)
1963 - Stand Tall / The Storm Is Over (Imperial 66007)
1964 - I'll Never Stop Loving You / My Dearest Beloved (Imperial 66025)
1964 - You're On Top / Lovely Dee (Imperial 66037)
1964 - Girl Machine / Oh How You Hurt Me (Imperial 66076)

Jimmy Norman & The O'Jays
1963 - Love Is Wonderful / What's The Word Do The Bird (Little Star 126)

Biography :

The O'Jays were formed in 1958 in Canton, OH, where all five original members -- Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bill Isles, and Bobby Massey -- attended McKinley High School. Inspired to start a singing group after seeing a performance by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, they first called themselves the Triumphs, then switched to the Mascots in 1960.

The Mascots

The Mascots made their recording debut in 1961 with the single "Miracles," issued on the Cincinnati-based King label. It earned them a fan in the influential Cleveland DJ Eddie O'Jay, who gave them some airplay and career advice; in turn, the group renamed itself the O'Jays in 1963, after having recorded for Apollo Records with producer Don Davis.

Under their new name, the O'Jays signed with Imperial and hooked up with producer H.B. Barnum, who would helm their first charting single, 1963's "Lonely Drifter," plus several more singles that followed.
Steve Huey, Rovi
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/ojays.htm

Songs :

   
You're On Top                        Crack Up Laughing

    
Lonely Drifter                        Stand Tall


...