The O'Jays

In 2005, the O'Jays will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Poison's most recent record, Hollyweird, was released on May 21 2002. In the new millenium, rap groups such as The Diplomats have been constantly speeding-up their records to provide a background for their songs. The remainder of the album featured live performances from tours in 1999 and 2000. Their latest album is For the Love... in 2001 (see 2001 in music). The record contained five new studio songs: "Power to the People", "Can't Bring Me Down", "Last Song", "Strange", and "I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine". Later in the 90s, the band did little recording, though they remained a popular live draw. Later in the same year Poison also released Power to the People marking the return of DeVille to the band.

Though they continued charting on the R&B charts in the late 80s and early 1990s, the O'Jays never again achieved pop success. The album, a bright and raunchy series of party anthems, contained few traces of the seriousness of Native Tongue. 1978's (see 1978 in music) "Use Ta Be My Girl" was their final Top Five hit, though they continued scraping the bottom of the R&B charts throughout the 1980s. Let Me Touch You (1987; see 1987 in music) was a breakthrough of sorts, and included the #1 R&B hit "Lovin' You". Crack a Smile was finally released in on March 14, 2000. After adding Sammy Strain (of Little Anthony & the Imperials), the O'Jays continued recording, though with limited success. The band's supporting tour was equally successful, with its show at Pine Knob Amphitheater in Detroit drawing a sell-out crowd of 18,000. During the remainder of the 1970s, the O'Jays continued releasing chart-topping singles, including "For the Love of Money", "Let Me Make Love to You", "Give the People What They Want" and "I Love Music". Powell died of cancer in 1977 (see 1977 in music). The record was released in 1996, and went platinum, despite Poison having been out of the spotlight for a number of years.

The O'Jay's (now a quartet after the departure of Isles) had their first hit with "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today)"; in spite of its success, the group was considering quitting the music business until Gamble & Huff, a legendary team of producers and songwriters, took an interest in the group. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with Back Stabbers (1972; see 1972 in music), a pop hit. However, Capitol Records had by this time decided to put the album on the back burner and instead decided to release a Greatest Hits record. Their debut LP was Comin' Through. After his recovery in 1995, the band continued recording. They took the name "the O'Jays", in tribute to radio disc jockey Eddie O'Jay (Toop, 1991), in 1963 (see 1963 in music) and released "Lonely Drifter", which charted nationally. Michaels suffered a broken nose, ribs, jaw, and fingers and lost four teeth. Originally known as The Triumphs, followed by The Mascots, the friends began recording with "Miracles" in 1961 (see 1961 in music), which was a moderate hit in the Cleveland area. Recording was brought to an abrupt halt in May 1994, when Michaels was involved in an accident in which he lost control of his Ferrari.

They formed the group in Canton, Ohio in 1958 (see 1958 in music) while attending high school. Poison began recording its sixth album, Crack a Smile, in 1994. The O'Jays were a 1970s Philadelphia soul group, originally consisting of Walter Williams, Bill Isles, Bobby Massey, William Powell and Eddie Levert. Kotzen's future in the band was sealed when it was discovered that he was romantically involved with Rockett's fiance. Kotzen was promptly fired, and replaced by Blues Saraceno. ISBN 1852422432. The record received generally positive reviews, but sales were sluggish. New York: Serpent's Tail. It was a fiery, bluesy rock record, strongly influenced by Kotzen's fresh songwriting contributions and guitar performances.

New York. Poison's fifth album, Native Tongue was released on August 14, 1993. Rap Attack 2: African Rap To Global Hip Hop. Conflict between Michaels and DeVille cluminated in a fistfight at the MTV Music Awards in 1991, provoked by Deville's inept live performance. Deville was fired and replaced by Pennsylvanian guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen. Toop, David (1991). Despite Poison's success, DeVille's cocaine and alcohol addictions had begun to cause strife in the band. Poison recorded a number of performances during its 1990/1991 "Flesh & Blood" tour which were released in November 1991 as their fourth album, Swallow This Live.

Flesh & Blood reached #2 on the American charts, providing the impetus for a further World Tour. The record went multi-platinum, spawning three gold singles: "Unskinny Bop", "Ride the Wind" and the ballad "Something To Believe In". Poison's third album, Flesh & Blood (1990), was also highly successful. Ahh! would ultimately place the band alongside Metallica as one of the largest-grossing touring acts of the late 1980s.

Subsequent headlining shows in support of Open Up and Say.. By the time the band toured with David Lee Roth (in 1988 on the Skyscraper Tour,) it was apparent that they had become a major live act. The record included the band's biggest hit, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", along with other top 10 hits, "Nothin' But A Good Time" and the Loggins and Messina cover "Your Mama Don't Dance". Poison's second album, Open Up And Say...Ahh!, which was released on May 21, 1988 (see 1988 in music) would ultimately go on to sell 8 million copies worldwide.