Ohio Players frontman Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner died over the weekend, according to friends and bandmates. He was 69.
The funk singer passed away on Saturday in Trotwood, OH after his battle with cancer. A confirmation of Bonner’s death was posted on the group’s official Facebook page.
“Humble yet charismatic, soft-spoken and of few words, the weight of his thoughts, lyrics and music has influenced countless other artists, songs and trends,” the post stated. “He will be missed but not forgotten as his legacy and music lives on.”
Keith Harrison of the bands FAZE-O and the Dazz Band also offered his condolences, saying, “He was a great person with a lot of wisdom not just in music, but in life.”
The Hamilton, OH native got his start with the band in the 1960′s with members of a group called the Ohio Untouchables to form the Ohio Players. Together, they cranked out chart-topping funk hits such as “Love Rollercoaster,” ”Fire,” ”Skin Tight” and “Funky Worm.” In recent years, Bonner stayed on the music scene with a spinoff band called Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players.
On Monday, a spokesperson for a Newcomer Funeral Home in the Dayton suburb of Kettering said that the family hadn’t scheduled any public services.
