O'Jays give hometown crowd soulful, passionate performance with timeless hits

CANTON − As The O'Jays closed out Saturday night's concert with the crowd-pleasing and enduring hit, ”Love Train,” the song represented everything wonderful about the legacy act.

In a roughly five-minute celebratory stretch, the trio of singers sang smoothly and soulfully while grooving with dance moves.

Audience members sang along word for word and stood while clapping or dancing themselves. And although Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium wasn’t full, The O’Jays performed as if it were during their roughly hour and 20-minute show.

Walter Williams Sr., a co-founding member of the vocal group, had taken multiple moments during the performance to remember fellow original O’Jays singer Eddie Levert, who was absent from the concert due to having fallen seriously ill with COVID pneumonia this past summer.

Williams, 79, asked fans to pray for the 80-year-old Levert, who has been recovering at home with the help of a vocal coach and physical therapist. Williams and fellow O'Jays singer Eric Nolan Grant expressed the sentiment again at the end of the concert.

As the melody of "Love Train" was played by the band, Williams also thanked the crowd for supporting The O'Jays for around 60 years before the group finished up an extended version of the timeless song. Williams also told the fans goodbye ― for now.

"I am proud to be one of YOU," he said to applause while laughing. "I still love Canton; Canton is the very best. Thank you so much.

"If you love what we saw and did tonight, we'll be back!" he said with more laughter.

Gladys Knight opened for The O'Jays with a powerhouse vocal performance belying her six decades on stage. Knight also moved with ease and style to the delight of fans.

Knight's setlist included the classics "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Love Overboard," "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)," ”On and On” and "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Knight grinned incessantly and moved from side to side while occasionally twisting her hips, shuffling her feet and gesturing toward the audience. Fans frequently told the entertainer they loved her, and she returned the thought. Between songs, she spoke of her faith in God and the need for love in the world, drawing applause.

More:Singing on a porch to the Rock Hall: O'Jays story started in Canton

Two legacy acts during a special O'Jays homecoming

Spectators were still trickling into the stadium as Knight started singing with the support of backup vocalists and instrumentalists. Holding around 23,000 people for a football game, but at least a few thousand less for a concert, attendance was noticeably lighter than organizers had hoped for when The O'Jays concert was announced in July.

Seats were filled on the floor while other sections of the stadium were sprinkled with empty spots.

Enthusiasm, however, was not lacking for those on hand. Fans near the stage happily took in Knight's infectious performance, where the positive vibe never waned as she continuously flashed a wide and sunny grin.

Performing for well more than an hour, Knight was relaxed and casual but peppy on stage as she performed songs harkening an era of doo-wop, Motown and '70s soul, along with ballads that she confidently belted out. The legendary entertainer was a worthy lead-in for The O'Jays, an R&B group known for helping to popularize a sound known as Philly Soul.

Recording and performing since the 1960s, The O'Jays boast seven Billboard top 20 songs, including the hits "Love Train," "For the Love of Money" and "Backstabbers." The group earned 10 gold albums and nine platinum albums, as well as three Grammy nominations for Best R&B Vocal.

Honors also include induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 before receiving BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. In 2013, The O'Jays were inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.

Popular songs also include “Livin’ For The Weekend," "I Love Music," “Use Ta Be My Girl," and "Time to Get Down."

During a recent interview, Williams said the Canton concert would be undeniably special.

Attending McKinley High School in the 1950s, Williams, Eddie Levert Sr., Bobby Massey and William Powell all lived and sang in Canton as teenagers, performing on porches and on street corners and then on stage.

Walter Williams recovered from COVID himself

Williams said he's looking forward to Levert singing again with the group once he's ready. Citing the cancellation of some previous tour dates, Williams said The O'Jays plan to continue touring next year and possibly beyond.

Williams has recovered from COVID. Around two years ago, during the onset of the pandemic, he had fallen severely ill with the coronavirus and was hospitalized for more than a month in Las Vegas.

But any lingering effects were not evident as Williams contributed his trademark vocals with an impressive range. He also was quick with his steps when performing choreographed moves.

Capably filling in for Levert was Nicholas Davis, who easily reached notes both high and low. His velvety delivery was appreciated by the crowd and complemented Williams and longtime O'Jays member Nolan Grant.

The trio was joined by backup singers and instrumentalists, rounding out a wealth of sound that engulfed the venue.

Longtime O'Jays fans show up to hear their jukebox favorites

O'Jays fans showed up on Saturday night eager to hear the retro soul of Canton's own.

Leona Austin, 74, and her husband, James Austin, 74, of Canton, were joined by their daughter Katrice Bigsbee, 51, of Canton.

"We wanted to see them since they said this is their last tour," Bigsbee said.

Leona and James Austin have seen the singing group many times in the past because Leona's sister used to be married to Levert.

James loves vintage R&B and soul acts like The O'Jays so much that he has an antique jukebox at his home filled with their songs, as well as The Temptations, Four Tops, The Dells, The Dramatics, The Spinners, Gladys Knight and The Pips and others.

"It's ancient," Bigsbee said of the jukebox with a smile. "I grew up on that music."

Asked why he likes to spin the old tunes, James said: "Old memories."

'I sing 'em, I rock 'em, I love 'em, and I'm just happy to be here.'

Danette Kovach, 54, of Akron, said she grew up listening to The O'Jays and called Knight an inspirational musical artist.

"I have another person who unfortunately passed away who was just in love with Gladys Knight and The O'Jays," Kovach said. "Many, many hours and days of listening to them on the radio."

Kovach was attending The O'Jays show with her friend Linda Shahan, 71, of Tallmadge.

"I grew up with this music," Shahan said emphatically. "Let me tell you, I'm as old as these people are. And I love them. I've danced to 'em. I sing 'em, I rock 'em, I love 'em, and I'm just happy to be here."

Of Walter Williams, she said: "The man can rock; he'll rock until he's gone up to heaven for sure. I love it!"

"Kids younger, right down to my 33-year-old son still rocks to this music," Shahan said. "It is the music - absolutely."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: The O'Jays and Gladys Knight make 'Love Train' stop with Canton show