Ohio Players return home, play free show at Levitt Pavilion

DAYTON — The Ohio Players, one of the most famous musical groups to come out of Dayton, came home Saturday to play a free concert at Levitt Pavilion as part of the 2021 Eichelberger Concert Season.

Band members James “Diamond” Williams and Clarence “Chet” Willis told News Center 7′s Michael Gordon that the crowd in the Dayton area have grown up with them over the years.

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Sylvia Moseley-Robinson is an example of that. She said she has been following the Ohio Players since 1970 and has passed her love of the group onto her family. She brought her 18-month-old grandson to the free show on Saturday.

“This is his first concert, his first concert ever, and so his first concert is a the Ohio Players,” Moseley-Robinson said.

People in the Dayton area, like Moseley-Robinson, were excited to see the band, especially after the the coronavirus pandemic. Willis told News Center 7 that the past 18 months of the pandemic were like a roller coaster for the band.

“We had little to no practice as a cohesive unit, but individually our music director would send information out to us and say ‘work on so and so and when we get together, we can do it,’” Willis said.

While it was not ideal, Willis said they had to make it work for their fans.

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One of those fans, Ken Battle, of Trotwood, said the band put Dayton on the map and laid the groundwork for the funk scene in the area.

“They were the originators of that Dayton funk sound and that Dayton funk scene,” Battle said.

That funk sound was on display Saturday night in Dayton. The show also marked the first time the band has played in Dayton since a part of Hillcrest Avenue was renamed Ohio Players Way in honor of the band’s legendary career. Williams said after over 50 years of being in the business, the band still enjoys playing music together.

“We still have a great time, so that is what it’s all about,” Williams said.

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