Groove Productions and Urban Mortgage presented The O'Jays and Grammy Award winner Deniece Williams at the Benedum Center April 6th, 2007. The concert took everyone back to a time where music was music and singing was singing. Both The O'Jays and Deniece Williams sound just as good now as they did years ago. After the show, "The O'Jays" sat down for a one on one to let us know how they feel about their fans, supporting shows and the love they have for music. The O'Jays originally consisted of Walter Williams, Bill Isles, Bobby Massey, William Powell, and Eddie Levert. The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The O'Jays now consist of Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and the newest member Eric Nolan Grant.

WHAT KEEPS "THE O'JAYS TOGETHER AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS?
Walter: MONEY, MONEY, MONEY - MONEY - He shouts out jokingly.
Levert: We still have a passion for what we do. We still want to please the people. We still want to do a great show. We want to be considered as one of the premier groups in the history of R&B (Rhythm & Blues). We still feel like we have the tools and wear-with-all to make it happen.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A PART OF THIS LEGENDARY GROUP?
Eric Nolan Grant: It's truly a blessing. You don't even understand. I am so blessed to be with two of the greatest entertainers period. You know what I'm saying. You've got the original voices. We don't have replacement voices and so that's a blessing in itself. We can do all the original songs and not miss a beat. All I have to do is just do my job and I can stay in the group a little longer. (He jokes)

WHAT'S THE NAME OF YOUR LATEST CD?
Walter: That's the one we did on Matthew Knowles label, Sanctuary Urban Records Group called "Imagination". Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis did a couple of songs on there. Currently we are not in a recording situation or a deal. We are looking and if something comes along that is for "The O'Jays" we will do something with it.

HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR PEOPLE TO GROW UP LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC?
Levert: Going from generation to generation is the most amazing part about apart of this. We've been able to sing to the parents, children and grandchildren. We've almost spanned three decades. I think that's truly a blessing. I think that it's God's Act. God put it into the equation and where he puts a period, you cannot put a question mark. You just go through and we pray that he will take us through the night and make it so that we can be as good as we possibly can be without flubbing a lot. We do flub sometimes, Levert laughs. I stay in Las Vegas and we don't get a lot of white faces in the audience. We get like 90% black and 10% white or 75% black and 25% white. If we are doing an all white show, that would be the exception. I was in a shopping mall in Las Vegas and there was a bunch of white kids there. They didn't know who I was and they told the storeowner that they would like to buy something, but it's going to cost a lot of money. One of the white kids in the group shouted, "Money, Money, Money" and I just freaked out. It just knocked me out that I happened to be walking past and they didn't have a clue who I was. Whether they come to the show or not, they know our songs.

HOW DO FEEL ABOUT COMING TO THE STEEL CITY?
Levert: People like Groove Productions will not be in business long if you do not support. You must support them by coming to their events. You have to start by saying to yourself that Groove Productions is a part of our city and livelihood and keep them in business. The deeper they get in business, the more acts they will bring to Pittsburgh. When Groove Productions prospers, that means the city of Pittsburgh will prosper.
Walter: It also means that our Black people will prosper as well.
Levert: I hate to sound like I'm on a soap box for Groove Productions, but how do you think that black organizations who promote shows are going to survive if we don't support them. You hear people complain that nobody ever comes to the city. When Groove Productions does bring acts to the city and you don't support them, they are going to lose. You have to keep on supporting so it can be a "win-win" situation for the people and for Groove Productions.