JazzFest 2026 - Ohio Players
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Over the course of their career, the Ohio Players released more than a dozen albums and earned 14 gold and platinum certifications.
The band’s catalog has been widely sampled and reinterpreted by artists across genres, including Snoop Dogg, Puff Daddy, Salt-N-Pepa, Too Short, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul Jackson Jr. and Alex Bugnon. Their grooves helped shape hip-hop, rock and modern R&B, proving that true funk never fades — it evolves.
The Ohio Players rose to prominence as trailblazers of street funk and underground R&B. After signing with Mercury Records in 1974, the band launched a remarkable run between 1974 and 1977, releasing three consecutive platinum albums.
They’ve had two No. 1 singles on the Billboard Pop charts — “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” — along with five No. 1 R&B hits: “Fire,” “Sweet Sticky Thing,” “Love Rollercoaster,” “Who’d She Coo” and “Funky Worm,” which charted in 1973 when they were with Westbound Records.
Their fusion of deep grooves, bold horn lines and undeniable funk energy propelled them to international stages and solidified their place in music history.
Today, the Ohio Players continue to perform with a 10-piece band that includes original members James “Diamond” Williams (drums) and Billy Beck (keyboards). They are among the few bands of their era who still perform without computers or samplers — just musicianship, precision and raw energy.
Their live shows continue to draw enthusiastic crowds around the world.
Their legacy is not just one of platinum records and chart-topping singles — it’s one of endurance, authenticity and a sound that continues to move generations to their feet.
The band’s catalog has been widely sampled and reinterpreted by artists across genres, including Snoop Dogg, Puff Daddy, Salt-N-Pepa, Too Short, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul Jackson Jr. and Alex Bugnon. Their grooves helped shape hip-hop, rock and modern R&B, proving that true funk never fades — it evolves.
The Ohio Players rose to prominence as trailblazers of street funk and underground R&B. After signing with Mercury Records in 1974, the band launched a remarkable run between 1974 and 1977, releasing three consecutive platinum albums.
They’ve had two No. 1 singles on the Billboard Pop charts — “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” — along with five No. 1 R&B hits: “Fire,” “Sweet Sticky Thing,” “Love Rollercoaster,” “Who’d She Coo” and “Funky Worm,” which charted in 1973 when they were with Westbound Records.
Their fusion of deep grooves, bold horn lines and undeniable funk energy propelled them to international stages and solidified their place in music history.
Today, the Ohio Players continue to perform with a 10-piece band that includes original members James “Diamond” Williams (drums) and Billy Beck (keyboards). They are among the few bands of their era who still perform without computers or samplers — just musicianship, precision and raw energy.
Their live shows continue to draw enthusiastic crowds around the world.
Their legacy is not just one of platinum records and chart-topping singles — it’s one of endurance, authenticity and a sound that continues to move generations to their feet.
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Where is it happening?
State Theatre, 1501 Euclid Ave,Cleveland,OH,United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherTri-C JazzFest Cleveland
