A founding member of the Ohio Players.∼Musician. He was an original member of the popular musical group "The Ohio Players" from Dayton, Ohio (vocals/guitar). The band formed in 1959 as the "Ohio Untouchables". Hits include: "Skin Tight", "Honey", "Love Roller Coaster", "Fire" and many others. He grew up in Georgia, then moved to Dayton, Ohio then to Detroit. Everyone inside the 18th Hole bar on Bolander Avenue listening to him perform knew when he was about to sing Wilson Pickett's song "I Found a Love," when he bent his head back, you couldn't hardly hear anything for cheering. He played his guitar in the now defunct bar for about $600 a night, that was an upgrade from the pay he apparently made when he performed at the Blue Tango bar on Springfield Street. He played there for $10 a night and all the drinks he wanted, The Blue Tango is where the Ohio Untouchables blues band in 1959 was founded. He left the group after it split and became The Ohio Players — a funk band that topped the charts in the 1970s. He knew how to play the guitar and sing the blues like nobody's business. He was described as a "wild guy," but also a man that could be seen reading his Bible during a party or in his dressing room during a performance break. He didn't get to enjoy the million dollars that he created, his wife, Roberta Ward, told the Macon Telegraph that her husband suffered a stroke in 2001 and never fully recovered. He also played on Pickett's "Midnight Hour" album, which featured the "I Found a Love" song, according to Tower Records. In 1991, he released his first full-length album, "Fear No Evil." Other albums included "Rhythm of the People," "Hot Stuff" and "Black Bottom." His last album was "New Role Soul," released in 2000. He was one of several Georgia-based artists to perform during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Besides his wife, he is survived by seven children, eight stepchildren, 87 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. He was 70 years old.