# Leroy Bonner’s Final Revelation: The True Fall of the Ohio Players

When Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner died in January 2013, he carried decades of untold truths about one of funk’s greatest bands. In his final interviews, the Ohio Players frontman exposed the hidden forces that destroyed their musical legacy—internal fractures, industry greed, and his own personal demons.

Born in 1943 in Hamilton, Ohio, Bonner was the eldest of 14 in a impoverished family. By 14, he fled home, surviving on street performances.

He joined the Ohio Untouchables in 1964, transforming them into the Ohio Players, infusing their sound with raw funk, jazz, and R&B. His leadership kept the band united through lean years, but success in the 1970s brought turmoil.

Their 1973 hit “Funky Worm” skyrocketed them to fame, but label pressures demanded commercial compromises. Bonner fought to preserve their artistic edge, clashing with executives pushing novelty tunes.

He suffered panic attacks and turned to alcohol, hiding his anxiety from bandmates. The controversial nude album covers boosted sales but overshadowed their music, reducing them to a gimmick. Bonner later admitted he embraced the imagery to regain control, but it backfired, trapping them in a “golden prison” of fame.

By the late 1970s, disco’s rise and internal rifts tore them apart. Money disputes, ego clashes, and departures like Walter Juny Morrison’s to Parliament-Funkadelic strained bonds. Bonner, the glue, became overprotective, fearing loss of his “musical family.” In a 1979 confrontation, grievances exploded—accusations of unequal credit, creative control, and favoritism. The band dissolved in 1980.

In his last days, battling cancer, Bonner confessed his deepest regrets. He blamed himself for the breakup, admitting insecurity from his youth fueled his controlling style. Success felt fragile; he never savored triumphs, always guarding against collapse. The covers were a desperate bid for autonomy, but they commodified their art. He mourned Morrison’s exit and his inability to address tensions, sacrificing personal peace for the band’s unity.

Bonner’s legacy endures: hits like “Love Rollercoaster” and “Fire” influenced generations. Yet, his story reveals funk’s cost—industry exploitation, personal sacrifice. The Ohio Players’ fall wasn’t external; it was human fragility. Bonner’s final words: “We created something beautiful, but I couldn’t appreciate it.” His truth, shared too late, immortalizes their bittersweet tale.