According to a post on his Facebook Page, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – founder and frontman of the funk group The Ohio Players passed away at the age of 69.
The post said that Bonner died on Saturday in his in his hometown of Trotwood-Dayton, Ohio.
A posting in the Dayton Daily News said the musician died following a “battle with cancer.”
The Official family announcement read as follows:
Yesterday, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner passed away quietly in his hometown of Trotwood-Dayton, OH. While his family, friends, colleagues, and fans mourn his passing they celebrate fondly his memory, music, and legacy.
Sugarfoot, or Foot, or Sugar, was the founding and cornerstone artistic talent of OHIO PLAYERS and the face and sound of the OHIO PLAYERS brand, which he knit together and launched in 1964 with former members of The Ohio Untouchables. With a career spanning 56 years, he passed barely short of his 70th birthday.
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. He will be missed but not forgotten as his legacy and music lives on. More details and an official historical perspective of his career will soon be forthcoming.
His Facebook page is available to all to post comments, reflections, and testimonials of this wonderful and gifted man:
https://www.facebook.com/sugarfootsohioplaye
Information from Eurweb.com and Facebook.com contributed to this report.
