Ohio Players › Similar Artists

Con Funk Shun - 100% match to Ohio Players

Formed initially in 1968 as Project Soul by Mike Cooper (guitar, sitar, timbales, percussion, vocals) and Louis McCall (drums, vocals), the group’s rise began when they accepted an offer to back the Soul Children, necessitating a move from California to Memphis. Upon arrival in 1972, Project Soul became Con Funk Shun, having been augmented by group members Karl Fuller (tru Read more

Cameo - 98% match to Ohio Players

This US soul/funk act, originally called the New York City Players, was formed in 1974 by Larry ‘Mr. B’ Blackmon (New York City, New York, USA; drums, vocals) and vocalists Tomi Jenkins and Nathan Leftenant. Building up a strong following by undergoing rigorous touring schedules, with their backing group at times numbering almost a dozen members, they signed with t Read more

The Bar-Kays - 98% match to Ohio Players

Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, USA by Jimmy King (1949, d. 10 December 1967; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948, d. 10 December 1967; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949, d. 10 December 1967; saxophone), Ben Cauley (trumpet), James Alexander (bass) and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949, d. 10 December 1967; drums) were originally known as the River Arrows. Signed to Stax Records, the Bar-Kay Read more

The Blackbyrds - 91% match to Ohio Players

The original Blackbyrds were formed in 1973 by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd. A doctor of ethnomusicology, Byrd lectured at Washington, DC’s Howard University and the group, named after Black Byrd, the artist’s million-seller, was drawn from his students. The Blackbyrds’ debut album charted in the soul, jazz and pop listings, while the follow-up, Flying Start, featu Read more

Slave - 90% match to Ohio Players

The Gap Band - 86% match to Ohio Players

This influential US funk/soul outfit was formed in 1967 by three brothers, Charlie Wilson (Charles Wilson, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; vocals/keyboards), Ronnie Wilson (trumpet/keyboards) and Robert Wilson (bass/vocals). They took their name from the initials of three streets, Greenwood, Archer and Pine, in their home town of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Initially known as the Greenwood, Arch Read more

Mandrill - 82% match to Ohio Players

Rufus - 76% match to Ohio Players

This Chicago-based group evolved from the American Breed when three original members, Al Ciner (guitar), Charles Colbert (bass) and Lee Graziano (drums), were joined by Kevin Murphy (keyboards), Paulette McWilliams (vocals), Ron Stockard and Dennis Belfield. Initially known as Smoke, then Ask Rufus, it was several months before a stable unit evolved. Graziano made way for Andre Read more

Brick - 71% match to Ohio Players

Parliament - 69% match to Ohio Players

This exceptional US vocal quintet was formed in 1955 by George Clinton (22 July 1940, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA), Raymond Davis (b. 29 March 1940, Sumter, South Carolina, USA, d. 5 July 2005, New Brunswick, USA), Calvin Simon (b. 22 May 1942, Beckley, West Virginia, USA), Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins (b. 8 June 1941, Elkhorn, West Virginia, USA) and Grady Thomas Read more

The O'Jays - 69% match to Ohio Players

The core of this long-standing soul group, Eddie LeVert (16 June 1942, Birmingham, Alabama, USA) and Walter Williams (b. 25 August 1942, USA), sang together as a gospel duo prior to forming the Triumphs in 1958. This doo-wop-influenced quintet was completed by William Powell (b. 20 January 1942, USA, d. 26 May 1977), Bill Isles and Bobby Massey and quickly grew popular aroun Read more

Graham Central Station - 65% match to Ohio Players

Formed in San Francisco in late 1972 by Larry Graham (14 August 1946, Beaumont, Texas, USA), erstwhile bass player in Sly And The Family Stone. The core of the group - David Vega (lead guitar), Hershall Kennedy (keyboards), Willie Sparks and Patrice Banks (both drums) - comprised former members of Hot Chocolate (USA), a local band Graham was producing, while a second keyboa Read more

Funkadelic - 64% match to Ohio Players

George Clinton (22 July 1940, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA), established this inventive, experimental group out of the 1969 line-up of his doo-wop vocal outfit the Parliaments - Raymond Davis (b. 29 March 1940, Sumter, South Carolina, USA, d. 5 July 2005, New Brunswick, USA), Grady Thomas (b. 5 January 1941, Newark, New Jersey, USA), Calvin Simon (b. 22 May 1942, Beckley Read more

Lakeside - 63% match to Ohio Players

Formed in 1969, US vocalists Tiemeyer McCain, Thomas Oliver Shelby, Otis Stokes and Mark Woods were augmented by an instrumental unit comprising Steve Shockley (guitar), Norman Beavers (keyboards), Marvin Craig (bass), Fred Alexander (drums) and Fred Lewis (percussion). Originally based in Dayton, Ohio, USA, this funk group secured its first hit in 1978 with ‘It’s All Read more

Heatwave - 62% match to Ohio Players

Although based in Britain, Heatwave was formed by the Wilder brothers, Johnnie (3 July 1949, Dayton, Ohio, USA, d. 13 May 2006, Clayton, Ohio, USA) and Keith, on their discharge from the US Army. An advertisement in a music paper yielded Hull, England-born songwriter and keyboardist Rod Temperton, while further members recruited were the American guitarists Eric Johns (b. Er Read more