THE SOUL GUY

The Olympics were formed in 1957 by lead singer Walter Ward. The group included Eddie Lewis (tenor), Charles Fizer (tenor), Walter Hammond (baritone) and Melvin King (bass) .Their first record was credited to Walter Ward and the Challengers - "I Can Tell". After the name change, they recorded "Western Movies" in the summer of 1958. Co-written by Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith, "Western Movies" made it to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song reflected the nation's preoccupation with western themed movies and television programs.

In 1960 the group recorded "(Baby) Hully Gully," which initiated the Hully Gully dance craze. "Big Boy Pete," which the group also released in 1960, served as inspiration for The Kingsmen's "Jolly Green Giant."The Rascals later covered their song Good Lovin'" and took it all the way to #1. Over the next 10 years The Olympics recorded upbeat R&B songs, often about dances popular at the time. UK and European fans are probably more familiar with their recordings for Fred Smith’s Mirwood label. Songs such as “Baby Do The Philly Dog”, “Mine Exclusively” and “The Same Old Thing” having filled dancefloors across the soul scene since the late 60’s. The Olympics continue to perform on the "oldies group" circuit in the United States and other countries.

Walter Ward, passed way on December 11, 2006, after a lengthy illness. The current group consists of original member, Eddie Lewis, William DeVase, who has been with the group since 1980 and Vel Omarr, who had been an opening act for Brenton Wood, joined the group in 2003. Vel also continues to record and perform with his P’zazz Band. His current cd “How Can I Make You Mine” includes some great soul tracks, including the title track and an amazing cover of Sam Cooke’s “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”.

The Olympics have released the group's first ever Christmas CD "Big City Christmas", which is available in record stores and on the internet, worldwide, as well as two new singles, "Lover's Deja Vu" and a remake of their earlier classic, "Stay Where You Are". They continue to dazzle audiences across the United States with their high-energy act, which is not to be missed.

I think it's true to say that the Olympics were one of the few 50's bands to make the transition from Doo wop & R&B to Soul/R&B. What do you think it is about your music and the band that enabled you to do this?

Well, we've never done what was considered just Doo Wop. So, we really didn't need to make a transition, because the songs we sang and the music we created were mainly R&B and Rock & Roll - with soul! In addition to that, we created a few classic styled Doo Wop ballads. It seems the record companies wanted us to mainly do uptempo rhythm and blues type songs.

What was it like recording back in the late 50's and early to mid-sixties?

We always recorded with a live band, and we only had to do between one to three takes. We enjoyed the way it was done then, more than how they do it today, because when we recorded it came from our feelings. Like a live show!! Now, on the other hand, they can make it perfect or just like they want it to sound.

In other words - do you think it had more “soul” than the much of the newer material that’s been recorded and that’s why people are still excited and moved by it?

Yes, because many times we sang as if we were doing a live show. We put all of our feeling into it…knowing that we had to get it in a few takes, and we usually came up with some very soulful recordings.

How much did a 45 sell for in the early 60's in the USA and how much did the singer and writer of a song receive in the way of royalties per single

45's sold for a dollar. Usually, the singer received 2 or 3 cents. Many times the writer would get about 1 cent, but it really depended on who the artist was and what kind of an agreement they could work out.

One of the major differences between UK soul fans and American soul fans seems to be that some Doo wop/R&B acts of the late 50's and early 60's still have a big following in the States whereas a lot of other early to mid 60's Soul and R&B artists didn't seem to receive the attention or recognition it deserved at the time or subsequently in the USA. Why do you think there is this difference between the States and the UK, where the reverse seems to be true?

We think it’s because the public’s musical taste here in the States started to change. One reason being that young British groups, like the Beatles and others were doing a lot cover tunes of our songs, and the DJs focused more on them especially in mid sixties. The early Doo Wop acts receive more attention. Because it’s been our experience that the Northern Soul scene and others like them lean more toward the early Soul acts. At least that’s what we see.

How did you feel when the Young Rascals had a number one hit with a cover of one of your songs – “Good Lovin'” This as we all know wasn't the first or last case of a pop cover faring better on the charts than the original and in most cases better R&B version of a song.

We felt cheated. We didn’t like it! We felt like they stole it, and you're right; Our original version was many times better (this is not just our opinion), but the record companies pushed the white cover version and took ours, which was soulfully, vocally and musically the better version, off the air.

I didn’t realize that your version had been dropped from record station’s playlists. Was this common practice when cover versions of songs came out?

Yes, if you were black, because, they would push the white artists more. The code words were R&B for Black artists, and Rock N’ Roll usually for white artists. If you were a black artist that did chart on the Rock N’ Roll and Pop charts, you were known as a crossover artist.

The band have recorded lots of dance material and songs linked to Movies and TV. How did this come about?

Well, it was Fred Smith's idea. He knew that just about everybody was watching westerns in the late fifties. So, what he did was, to tune in to what the current craze was. He produced songs that reflected the interests of the music fans. Which was the reason for our first big hit, “My Baby Loves Western Movies”. When detective shows were in, we wrote songs about that. Another example would be our song, “I Wanna Be A Private Eye”.

Many UK & European soul fans are more familiar with the material the Olympics recorded on Loma, Mirwood and Parkway records. These have been played on the Northern Soul scene over the past 35 years. Have you heard of the Northern Soul scene in the UK?

Yes, we did a show for the Northern soul crowd here in L.A. in 2004. We also went to Europe (London) to do a Northern Soul concert in the late nineties.

Soul music released on Mirwood is highly regarded amongst soul collectors in the UK but doesn't seem to have received the same recognition in the States. Do you think that's the case? What do you remember of the time you spent with Mirwood Records and how was the label regarded at the time in the States?

I think they have disc Jockeys and some producers who are the cause of some of our tunes not making it in America, because they told us, “No that won't sell”. They'd tell you that quick! A disc jockey would tell you that the song doesn't sound so good to him, but he was trying to be the judge for fifty thousand folks! I think the test should be to let the public be the judge of that. A perfect example was they told me (Eddie Lewis) that The Bounce wasn’t going to be a hit, but it overwhelmed the song on the flip side, which was Chicken. The disc jockey had made a mistake and played The Bounce but he later said that he couldn’t turn it over and Play Chicken because the public was demanding to hear The Bounce. As far as what we thought about Mirwood records, we felt they didn’t treat us fairly, because we didn’t ever get any royalties. I really don’t know how they were thought of here in the States.

Did you know that instrumentals of some of the band's Mirwood material was released and extremely popular back in the mid 70's on the Northern Soul scene?

We weren’t aware of it.

Were you aware of the following the band has in the UK?

Not until later years when were were booked and toured there. Then we discovered that we had a few hits and realized our following.

What have been the highlights of the band's career?

Highlights were when we appeared on American Bandstand, Shindig. Also when we opened for legends like Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and entertainers who were well known. Then we were either starring with or co-starring along side them.

Which of your many great recordings are you most proud of?

Western Movies and Hully Gully, Then, Big Boy Pete, because they were more successful, and they were instant hits.

Which contemporary or past artists do the band rate/listen to or have been influenced by?

Jesse Belvin, Sam Cooke, The Coasters and many more! The contemporary artists that we listen to are artists like Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Luther Van Dross, Beyonce, Elton John, Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton, Rod Stewart and James Brown for sure!

Vel Omarr & The P'zazz Band : How Can I Make You Mine

Do you write your own material these days?

Oh yes! William DeVase wrote all nine songs on our first ever Christmas CD. William also wrote “Christmas Déjà Vu”, which I (Vel Omarr) later pinned, “Lover’s Déjà Vu”, to give us a song that could be listened to year round.

The fact that the Olympics are still alive and kickin' and still performing today with some of the original band members is remarkable. What do you put this longevity down to and what keeps you motivated to keep on performing?

We want to be able to finally make some money! (laughter). We also love what we’re doing and find that our fans are very excited to know we are still performing!

What are the band up to these days and what is the connection with yourself and the P’zazz Band?

We continue to perform, interview, and we’re in the studio hoping to produce hits for our fans. In fact, we just recorded two new songs, “Stay Where You Are” which is a remake of one of our earlier tunes, and a completely new Single, “Lover’s Déjà Vu”. We also have a new Christmas cd available “Big City Christmas”. Our connection, with The Olympics is that I met The Olympics while both of us were opening acts for Brenton Wood (The Oogum Boogum man) in a show we did in Montebello, California. That was the first of many shows. My Keyboard player, Danny Torres was playing in Brenton Wood’s Band at the time, also. That’s how we met. When I wanted to put my own band together, I called Danny. Since I was still a member of The Olympics, I figured we should form one big happy family and work together. And feel blessed to still be working together.

The Olympics : Angel For A Christmas Hollydate

Could you tell us a little bit more about the songs on your albums and the singles?

William DeVase: The Big City Christmas cd is geared more toward glorifying our women, giving them their proper recognition, and especially the single moms at Xmas time, who many times have to struggle by themselves.

Vel Omarr: On the “How Can I Make You Mine” cd, which includes the two singles, Lover’s Déjà vu and “Stay Where You Are” we wanted to continue the classic DooWop/R&B sound. All the other songs on the cd also reflect the classic soul/R&B feel we want to preserve.

What can fans expect to hear and see when they see the Olympics perform today?

The fans can expect to hear and see a spirited act, tight harmonies and a lot of energy on stage!

Are most of your gigs - the band performing on their own or do you combine the two acts and do you perform in any Revue style shows with other R&B acts?

Most our gigs are when perform with other Doo Wop/R&B Acts. And yes, we combine The Olympics and Vel Omarr and P’zazz whenever we can be booked together.

When and where are the band gigging in January 2009?

We’ll be playing Carmel California, San Luis Obisbo California, and San Rafael, California.

THE OLYMPICS SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 2009
Jan. 23 2009 Carmel, CA
Jan. 24 2009 San Rafael, CA
Jan. 25 2009 San Luis Obisbo, CA

"We'd like our fans to know that they can keep up with what we're doing by visiting our website,
which also has links to Vel Omarr & The P'zazz Band.
It'll let you know where to purchase the new songs as well as Vel's CD's:"

More Soul Than You Can Shake A Stick At!