The funk band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 1959 and later recorded “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” was Ohio Players.
The group began as the Ohio Untouchables, initially featuring Robert Ward, Marshall “Rock” Jones, Clarence “Satch” Satchell, Cornelius Johnson, and Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks. Early on, they worked as a backing band for the Falcons before developing their own career.
After personnel changes and a period of rebuilding, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner became a central figure in the band. Ohio Players found early-1970s success with “Funky Worm,” then reached the pop mainstream with the albums Skin Tight, Fire, and Honey. “Fire” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, while “Love Rollercoaster” reached number one later that year.
A common mix-up is confusing Ohio Players with other funk groups such as Tower of Power or the Bar-Kays. Those acts also had prominent horn-driven sounds, but Dayton’s Ohio Players recorded both of these signature hits.