Eddie Levert_April 2023The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023. Walter Williams OJays April 2023The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023.

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

People all over the world (Sisters and brothers), Join hands, Start a Love train, Love train. This may be the final Love Train by the O’Jays. The O’Jay’s brought the “Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour” to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April 2023.

Walter Williams jokingly said in a statement, “The reason that this is our last tour is because, between Eddie and I, our ages will be over 160 years old by the end of the tour. I will be 60, and Eddie… you can do the rest of the math. But really, we wanted one last tour to say goodbye to our friends, family, and fans, and ride The Love Train together, one last time.”

Eddie Levert added, “I was thinking that I would quietly retire, but our fans and my body weren’t having it…The love and physical benefits of performing keep us on the younger side of our age. This tour is a celebration of all of our lives and the struggles and joys that got us to today. It is time for us to say goodbye and we would like to do it in person. Please come join us as we play the music, we have shared together over the past 60 years, one last time.”
CQ1I5165-2The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023. CQ1I5261-2The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023.

The crowd was happy to see the O’Jays during their last tour and was especially happy to see Eddie Levert on stage with Walter Williams and Eric Grant. Levert said he had not been on stage in four years He also missed some tour dates due to health issues. Levert was able to sing but he mostly sat in a comfortable chair during the concert. The O’Jays started the set with “Give The People What They Want.” Before the performance of one of my favorites “A Family Reunion” Levert stated, “I’m not going to be dancing and moving all around tonight. If you want to see that, go to Las Vegas!” he said to the applause of the crowd. “Go see Bruno Mars or Silk Sonic! They stole all our shit! ALL our shit!” The O’Jays performed their classics and hits and ended the set with the crowd favorite “Love Train.”
Levert left the crowd with some heartfelt words about his hope and plan to “get better” if it’s in God’s will.
Eric Grant_ OJays_April 2023The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023. CQ1I5330-2The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023.
I have seen a few O’Jays concerts over the years but this was a treat to see the O’Jays and their awesome 14-member band live for maybe one last time on the Love Train. I will always love the O’Jays.

© 2023 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

Opening the “Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour” were The Spinners.

The Spinners include Tenors Marvin Taylor and Ronnie Moss, bass man Jessie Peck, and lead and newest member C.J. Jefferson. None of the current Spinners are original members but they did a good job of performing the hits and classic songs from decades of albums. The Spinners paid tribute to the last surviving original member, 85-year-old Henry Fambrough (May 10, 1938) who recently retired from performing with the group.

CQ1I5114-2The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023. CQ1I5103-2The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023.

The Spinners_Rock and Roll Inductee_April 2023The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023. The Spinner_Rock and Roll Inductee-April 2023The OJays brought the Last Stop on the Love Train: The Final Tour to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land in April, 2023.
© 2023 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

Ojays_1800x600

Welcome the O’Jay’s for the "Last Stop on The Love Train Tour" with the Spinners as special guests on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at the Smart Financial Centre at Sugarland.

The O'Jays have been electrifying people all over the world, the mighty, legendary, R&B/Soul kings for more than 60 years. The O’Jays are set to embark on their final tour! Featuring original members Eddie Levert Sr and Walter Williams Sr, who have been singing together since they were kids! The O’Jays are touring history, a connection to an era, and a sound that formed the soundtrack for the lives of several generations.

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 Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. In 2013, they were inducted into The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame.