The O'Jays are an American
R&B group from
Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of
Eddie Levert (born June 16, 1942), Walter Williams (born August 25, 1943), William Powell (January 20, 1942 – May 26, 1977), Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with "Lonely Drifter" in 1963, but reached their greatest level of success once
Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters, signed them to their
Philadelphia International label in 1972. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) emerged at the forefront of
Philadelphia soul with "
Back Stabbers" (1972), and topped the
Billboard Hot 100 the following year with "
Love Train". Numerous other hits followed through the 1970s and into the 80s and 90s, and The O'Jays were inducted into the
Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.