Walter “Junie” Morrison, the man that struck the keys for the super soul band the ‘Ohio Players,’ died at the age of 62 a few weeks ago. There aren’t many bands from Dayton, Ohio that made it big; the Ohio Players’ were one of the most successful to do so.
Bands typically struggle with egos, lineup changes, and substance abuse. The Ohio Players endured more than its fair share of troubles in the early 70s. It got so bad, that the lead singer and other members of the band would have fistfights on stage during live performances. They had regional success as the ‘Ohio Untouchables,’ but it was their persistence that paid off, hitting the charts with smash tunes like “Love Rollercoaster,” “Fire” and “Sweet Sticky Thing.”
Sadly, none of the original members are alive, but let’s give them the props they deserve. The ‘Ohio Untouchables’ that became the ‘Ohio Players’ were Robert Ward, Clarence Satchell, Cornelius Johnson, and Ralph Middlebrooks. Robert Ward left early, so the hits were led by Leroy ‘Sugarfoot’ Bonner.