The Ohio Players

With their slinky, horn-powered grooves, impeccable musicianship, and eye-popping album covers, The Ohio Players were among the top funk bands of the mid-'70s. Emerging from the musical hotbed of Dayton in 1959, the group was originally dubbed The Ohio Untouchables, and initially comprised singer/guitarist Robert Ward, bassist Marshall "rock" Jones, saxophonist/guitarist Clarence "satch" Satchell, drummer Cornelius Johnson, and trumpeter/trombonist Ralph "pee Wee" Middlebrooks. In late 1961, a relative of Ward's founded the Detroit-based Lupine Records, and the group traveled north to the Motor City to back The Falcons on their hit "I Found a Love"; The Ohio Untouchables soon made their headlining debut with "Love Is Amazing," but when Ward subsequently exited for a solo career, the group essentially disbanded.



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