The O’Jays and Morris Day and The Time will perform at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m.
The O’Jays are one of the world’s truly legendary singing groups and an American treasure. The term legendary is often overused, but that is an apt description for The O’Jays, a musical act that holds a unique place in the history of music.
Even after establishing a recording history that includes an international body of work that generated 10 No. 1 hits, 24 Top 10 smash records and 59 total songs on the charts, nine Platinum albums and 10 gold albums, incredibly energetic and dynamic live shows, mad respect for their Olympian vocals and a social and political impact that spans many generations and multiple nations, The O’Jays (Eddie Levert, Sr., Walter Williams, Sr. and Eric Nolan Grant) are still not slowing down.
After 50-plus years making such international hits as “Back Stabbers,” “For The Love Of Money,” “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby,” “Love Train,” “I Love Music,” “Use Ta Be My Girl” and “Have You Had Your Love Today,” The O’Jays just get better with age. In 2005, The O’Jays were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, and in 2009, The O’Jays were awarded BET’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Fashionista funkmaster Morris Day was born in Minneapolis, went to school with Prince Rogers Nelson and sang in Prince’s first band Grand Central.
Day was hand-picked by Prince to lead The Time, originally created as Prince’s alter-ego to be seen as the cool, street-wise funk band contrasting Prince’s more soulful R&B sound.
Soon after, Morris Day and The Time were cast in the iconic movie, “Purple Rain,” which captured the exploding Minneapolis music scene at its peak. Day first burst onto the scene with the group’s self-titled album, The Time, which included “Get It Up,” “Cool,” and “Girl.” The group recorded three more albums, including What Time Is It? (featuring the hits “777-9311,” “Wild and Loose,” “Walk,” and “Gigolos Get Lonely Too”), Ice Cream Castle (which included the hit “Jungle Love”) and Pandemonium (including the hit “Jerk Out.”)
Day then launched his solo career, releasing three albums: “The Color of Success,” “Daydreaming,” and “Guaranteed.” Combined sales of Day’s solo work and The Time is in excess of 10 million units.
Tickets are $39.50 – $59.50 plus applicable service charges and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the Westbury box office. Event, date and time are subject to change. For more information, visit: www.thetheatreatwestbury.com.
