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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZOLYMPICS, TheUS doo-wop group formed '57 by lead singer Walter Ward (b '40, Jackson MS), tenors Eddie Lewis (b '37, Houston TX) and Charles Fizer and bass Melvin King (both b '40, Shreveport LA). All were in LA high school except Lewis; they signed with Demon and were assigned songwriters Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith: first and biggest hit was classic novelty 'Western Movies' '58 (top ten USA, top 20 UK), complete with gunshots and ricochet effect. '(I Wanna) Dance With The Teacher' '59 was a minor hit; they went to the Arvee label and had minor hits, only 'Shimmy Like Kate' reaching the UK chart; they went to Chess subsidiary Argo, but their first Argo record 'Peanut Butter' (top 20 USA '61) had to come out on Arvee for legal reasons. 'The Bounce' on Tri-Disc '63 went top 40; minor hit 'Good Lovin' ' on Loma was later covered by the Young Rascals for a million-seller. More minor hits on Mirwood were the last '66; they also recorded for All-American and California Gold, and were still together on the revival circuit years later. Rhino compiled hits on The Official Record Album Of The Olympics '84 as the Olympic Games were taking place in LA; whether or not the joke helped sales, the album was good nostalgia. |