Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, the lead singer of 70s Funk and Soul band The Ohio Players, died of heart failure Sunday at his home, according to a statement from his family.
In the 1970s, real musicians such as The Ohio Players, The Commodores, and Earth, Wind & Fire dominated the charts with music that infused funk, jazz and soul. The Ohio Players were known for their chart topping hits such as “Heaven Must Be Like This”, “Love Rollercoaster,” “Fire,” “Skin Tight” and “Funky Worm.” This is the music your parents used to boogie to at basements parties on hot, steamy nights.
From The Miami Herald:
A spokeswoman for a Newcomer Funeral Home in the Dayton suburb of Kettering said Monday morning that the family hadn’t scheduled any public services. There was also a posting about his death on his current band’s Facebook page. No other information was released immediately about his death Saturday.
Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Bonner teamed up in the 1960s with core members of a group called the Ohio Untouchables to form the Ohio Players. The band had a string of Top 40 hits in the mid-1970s and continued to perform for years after that. He had remained active in recent years with a spinoff band called Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players.
The Ohio Players “Fire”
Ohio Players “Heaven Must be Like This”
Ohio Players “Skin Tight” LIVE
Ohio Players “Love Rollercoaster”
