William Powell (January 20, 1942 – May 26, 1977) – Crossroads Of Life (1971)
The original member of the O'Jays who tragically died from cancer at age 35 co-wrote this heartfelt love song off their Super Bad LP, co-produced by H.B. Barnum.
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William Powell was one of the founding members of the O’Jays and sang with the group from 1958 until 1976, shortly before his premature death from cancer in 1977.
See our exclusive 2023 interview with O’Jays founding member Walter Williams and our earlier posts on lead singer Eddie Levert and producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff for more on the group’s legendary musical history.
William “Will” Powell Jr. was born in Canton, Ohio. While attending McKinley High School in 1958, he and his classmates Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles formed a vocal group called the Triumphs. When they signed with King Records in the early sixties, owner Sid Nathan changed their name to the Mascots. In 1963, they changed it one final time to the O’Jays after Cleveland radio DJ Eddie O’Jay became their mentor and de facto manager.
Before being signed to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's new label Philadelphia International Records in 1972, the O'Jays had spent six months or so during 1970-71 working as songwriters/producers for Saru Records, a Cleveland-based label owned by Chuck Brown.
They wrote and produced songs for Saru artists including the upbeat jam "Got To Get My Broom Out" by David Peoples, with a funky instrumental version on the flip. Released in April, 1971 and a $200 record on Discogs today, it was co-written by Powell, Williams, Levert and Massey and co-produced by Massey and Williams.
For the Elements, they co-wrote the slow jam “Got To Make It Right,” issued as the B-side to “Hey Lady” in May, 1971 and produced by Massey. Original copies today sell for nearly $400 on Discogs.
The songs the O’Jays wrote for themselves during this period wound up on their 1971 LP Super Bad, released on H.B. Barnum’s Little Star Records. It was the first full-length album ever released on that label, and co-produced by Barnum and Bobby Massey.
Super Bad contained their early message song “Peace,” co-written by Barnum with Levert and Powell trading leads. Powell, Levert, Williams, and Massey co-wrote the stellar slow jam “Your Turn This Time.” Another of its highlights that Powell co-wrote with Levert and songwriter Fred Butler was the heartfelt love song “Crossroads Of Life.”
One of the rare times Powell sang co-lead vocals during their years on Philadelphia International Records was on the beautiful, poetic slow jam “How Time Flies.” Recorded for their 1975 Survival LP, they memorably performed it during one of their many appearances on Soul Train. Don Cornelius introduced them as “the most serious contender there is for the title of #1 singing group in the world.”
When we spoke with Walter Williams in 2023 for a career retrospective interview to mark his 80th birthday, he reflected on Powell’s death at the young age of 35.
What was it like when (William Powell) passed? What was it like losing him?
Oh, wow. It was devastating. Because we grew up together as kids. I met him when I was probably 14, 15 years old. When you really miss them is when you’re traveling, and they’re not in the car, or they’re not on the plane, and you look around, and it’s like, “Damn! Will is gone!” And he’s not coming back. At his funeral, it was difficult. It was in Canton, where everybody knew us, because we grew up there. And I don’t believe they were trying to be (disrespectful), but some came up asking for autographs. And that wasn’t the time.
No.
So things happened that weren’t timely, but we fought through it, and we got through it.
It’s a shame, he died at such a young age. At least he was with you when you made it to the top. And he got to have that experience.
Yes he was.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to the great William Powell.
Further info:
“Backstabbers: The O'Jays' William Powell never enjoyed his success. His family hasn't either,” by Denise Grollmus, Cleveland Scene, May 17, 2006.
“Thread: Remembering William Powell Of The O'Jays,” SoulfulDetroit Forum, July 3, 2016.
#soul #funk #TSOP #PIR #OJays #WilliamPowell