Remains of Former O’Jays Member Identified After Being Discovered in 1982
Remains first discovered in 1982 have finally been identified as Frank “Frankie” Little Jr., a former songwriter and guitarist for the O’Jays.
According to multiple outlets — including NBC News and Rolling Stone — Little’s remains were found behind a business in Twinsburg, Ohio in February 1982. The remains were identified with help from the non-profit DNA Doe Project, which works with law enforcement agencies and medical examiners to help identify John and Jane Does, thanks to a DNA sample provided by a relative.
The O’Jays released the following statement to Rolling Stone in response to this new development:
“Frankie was a guitarist and songwriter in the very early O’Jays. He came with us when we first ventured out of Cleveland and traveled to Los Angeles, but he also was in love with a woman in Cleveland that he missed so much that he soon returned back to Cleveland after a short amount of time. That was in the mid-1960s and we had not heard from him after then. Although this sounds like a tragic ending, we wish his family and friends closure to what appears to be a very sad story.”
Rolling Stone noted, “Little’s time with the O’Jays was brief, joining the group as a guitarist and songwriter in the mid-Sixties. He worked with lead vocalist and co-founder Eddie Levert on a handful of songs, including 1964’s ‘Do the Jerk,’ 1966’s ‘Pretty Words,’ and 1967’s ‘Oh, How You Hurt Me’ (he’s also credited with vocals on 1962’s ‘Down at the Corner.’)”
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