The O'Jays are a popular Philadelphia soul group, originally consisting of Walter Williams (born August 25, 1942), Bill Isles, Bobby Massey, William Powell (January 20, 1942 - May 26, 1977) and Eddie Levert (born June 16, 1942). The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles) had their first hit with "Lonely Drifter" in 1963. In spite of its success, the group was considering quitting the music business until Gamble & Huff, a legendary team of producers and songwriters, took an interest in the group. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with Back Stabbers (1972), a huge pop hit.

The O’Jays were one of Philadelphia soul’s most popular and long-lived outfits, rivaled only by the Spinners as soul’s greatest vocal group of the ’70s. In their prime, the O’Jays’ recordings epitomized the Philly soul sound: smooth, rich harmonies backed by elaborate arrangements, lush strings, and a touch of contemporary funk. They worked extensively with the legendary production/songwriting team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, becoming the flagship artist of the duo’s Philadelphi