Trendsetter is excited to welcome multi-platinum selling Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, The O’Jays (Eddie Levert Sr., Walter Williams Sr. and Eric Nolan Grant) to the 2019 roster. The trio has officially released their new song, “Stand Up (Show Love)” across all streaming platforms. The group also released a new music video for the track on Billboard.com. “Stand Up (Show Love)” is an instant grat off the group’s forthcoming final studio album, The Last Word, their first album in almost 20 years set for release April 19, 2019 via S-CURVE RECORDS/BMG. The album is currently available for preorder here. “Stand Up (Show Love)” can be listened to here.
In the music video, The O’Jays invite viewers into the studio with them as they perform the undeniably catchy “Stand Up (Show Love).” The video and song showcases The O‘Jays doing what they do best, performing socially conscious message music that makes you think while you dance. Together the group reflects on what’s happening in the world singing, “Somebody told me dark days would come. I know that I can’t be the only one that wants to know if there’s a heart out there (stand up, stand up, stand up). If there’s a heart somewhere (show love, show love, show love).”
“This song is a call to action,” said Eddie Levert Sr. “With everything that’s happening in the world, things can feel very dark but there is a solution and it’s a solution The O’Jays have always stood for. We need to put more love out into the world.”
“It is an important reminder for everyone,” said Walter Williams Sr. “The lyrics are, ‘I know it starts with us’ which is important. We have the power to make things better. We need to stand up and combat hatred with love.”
“Stand Up (Show Love)” was produced by soul music legend Betty Wright as well as Steve Greenberg, Mike Mangini, and Sam Hollander.“Stand Up (Show Love)” is the third track that has been released from the group’s upcoming album The Last Word. The album provides a critical look at the precarious state of social and criminal justice in America. As elder statesmen, the group has experienced much throughout their lives, from the civil rights movement to rising economic inequality and erosion of democratic norms. On this new single and upcoming album they are sharing their perspective on the state of the country as well as the world; offering up some words of wisdom for the next generation before exiting the stage.
In celebration of the new album, the group will be performing a special show at the Apollo Theater on April 26th. Tickets can be purchased here.
With over 50 years of touring and some of music’s most beloved hits under their belt, The O’Jays remain one of today’s seminal music acts. The group scored their first number 1 in 1972 with “Backstabbers.” Subsequently, they had other various chart-topping pop and R&B singles including “Love Train”, “Put Your Hands Together”, “For The Love of Money”, “I Love Music”, “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)”, “Livin’ For The Weekend” and “Use Ta Be My Girl.” This success propelled The O’Jays to be the first black vocal group to perform in arenas throughout America during the 70s and 80s.
Eddie Levert Sr. and Walter Williams Sr. as well as Eric Nolan Grant, who joined the group in 1995, continue to thrill fans today. Throughout their career The O’Jays have achieved 10 Gold albums, 9 Platinum albums and 10 #1 hits.
The O’Jays were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005 and honored with BET’s Life Time Achievement Award in 2009. In 2013, they were inducted into The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame.