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| The O’Jays Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and Eric Nolan Grant Photo/The O’Jays/R&C |
The GRAMMY® Museum will host a special evening with The O’Jays at the museum’s Clive Davis Theater, on Thursday, August 29. The event will be hosted by Scott Goldman, Executive Director of the GRAMMY® Museum, and will include an intimate discussion covering The O’Jays extraordinary career which has spanned more than 60 illustrious years. The group which includes Eddie Levert Sr, Walter Williams Sr. and Eric Nolan Grant will also discuss the making of their current album, “The Last Word” in which they take on social injustice with a message of love. “The Last Word” is the group’s final studio album and their first in almost 20 years.
“The Last Word” a 9-track album released via S-CURVE RECORDS/BMG, was produced by GRAMMY® nominated producers Steve Greenberg, Mike Mangini and R&B legend Betty Wright, along with the songwriter and rock/pop mastermind Sam Hollander. The album includes standout tracks such as “Above the Law”, “Stand Up (Show Love”) and the Bruno Mars and Patrick Monahan penned “Enjoy Yourself.”
“The Last Word’ provides a critical look at the state of social and criminal justice in America. As elder statesmen, the group has experienced much throughout their lives, from the civil rights movement, to rising economic inequality and the erosion of democratic norms. On this album, they are sharing their perspective on the state of the country, as well as the world; offering up some words of wisdom for the next generation before exiting the stage.
The group’s new PBS Special titled The O’Jays Live in New York, is airing nationwide on August 17 – September (check local listings); and they will be inducted into the Philadelphia Walk of Fame on October 22.
With a remarkable career that has spanned six decades, and includes worldwide hits such as “Love Train,” “For the Love of Money,” “Use ta Be My Girl,” “Back Stabbers,” and many more, The O’Jays are an indelible part of pop culture, and remain one of today’s seminal music acts. Original and founding members Eddie Levert Sr. and Walter Williams Sr., who met as lifelong friends from their youth, as well as Eric Nolan Grant, who joined the group in 1995, continue to thrill fans today. Throughout their career, The O’Jays have achieved 10 Gold albums, 9 Platinum albums and 10 #1 hits; and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. They were also inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005, and were honored with BET’s Life Time Achievement Award in 2009. In 2013, they were inducted into The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame.
