| Background: | person |
| George Olliver | |
| Genre: | Rock music, soul music |
| Occupation: | Musician |
| Instrument: | Vocals, organ |
| Years Active: | 1960s to present |
| Label: | Quality, Slott Records, Much, Corner Store Records |
| Past Member Of: | Mandala, George Olliver & The Soul Children, Natural Gas |
George Olliver is a Canadian music artist. A singer and organist, he was the lead singer for Mandala in the 1960s. He also founded the late 1960s, early 1970s jazz rock group Natural Gas.
As a boy he was in the Anglican church choir. His parents also enrolled him in piano lessons which continued into his early teen years. His first band was the Cool Cats, a high school band.[1] He was with Natural Gas, playing at The Laugh In in Victoria Street, Montreal in early 1970 when was noted by a reviewer for Montreal newspaper The Gazzette that his stage act could range from a frantic singing and dancing of a James Brown to a laid back balladeer.[2] He has been referred to as "The Blue Eyed Prince.[3] The biggest influence on his career was Domenic Troiano.[4]
In 1987, he was Nominated for a Juno Award for his album Dream Girl.[5]
Apart from music, Olliver has only had one day job and that was in an office job with Canadian Pacific Railway.[6]
Olliver, and guitarist Domenic Troiano became part of Mandala in the mid-60s.[7] A song he composed, "Lost Love" was the B side of the Mandala single, "Opportunity" which was ready for release in October 1966.[8]
Olliver quit the group in September, 1967 and some time afterwards formed the 10-piece soul outfit, George Olliver & His (Soul) Children.[9] He later formed Natural Gas in 1969, a group that rivalled Lighthouse, Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears.[10] They had a hit with "All Powerful Man" which peaked at #76 on May 9, 1970. It spent a total of 7 weeks in the Canadian charts.[11] Their album got into the Canadian Top 10, and made the Top 50 in the United States.[12]
By Early July, 1972, his group George Olliver and Friends had been signed to Shining Star Associates, a new marketing company that was located in Hamilton, Ontario.[13]
In 1973, Olliver released a solo single, "I May Never Get to See You Again" on Much Records which he composed himself. It was produced by the label's A&R man, Bill Hill. According to Billboard, the single was marking his recording comeback.[14] In 1976, he had another single released. The song "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You" had Dianne Brooks helping out with background vocals.[15] [16]
Later in the 1970s, he experienced a life-changing event which turned him towards Christianity.[17]
In May, 1983, the live album, Live at the Bluenote was released. With jay Jackson as emcee, the songs included "Fannie Mae" by Jayson King, "In the Midnight Hour" by Roy Kenner, Shawne Jackson on "Heatwave", "Up On the Roof" by Olliver and more.[18]
As of 2006 he was performing with two of his bands, one was George Olliver & Gangbuster, and the other, his gospel band, Caught Away.[19] In 2008, he released a gospel album, George Olliver's Gospel Soul - Look Up.[20]
In May, 2010, he was booked to appear at the Books for Reading World Literacy Concert, a fund raiser held at St. Andrew’s Place in Sudbury to help with costs of sending a shipping of a container of school supplies to a developing country.[21]
October, 2013 marked his 50th year in the music business.[22]
In 2016, he was appearing with his band Gangbuster in Peterborough.[23]
On Friday January 5, 2018, Cashbox Canada announced that he was to receive the Cashbox Canada Legacy Award.[24]
He is now a Christian.[25]
| Act | Release | Catalogue | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Olliver | "I May Never Get To See You Again" / "Shine" | Much CH 1024 | 1973 | |
| George Olliver | "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You" / "If I Can Just Be Strong Enough" | Corner Store CS 7507X | 1976 | |
| George Olliver | "Dream Girl" / "Please Don't Call" | Slott C-644 | 1987 | [26] |
| Act | Release | Catalogue | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Olliver & Gangbuster with Special Guests Shawne Jackson, Roy Kenner, Jayson King, Wayne St. John | Live At The Bluenote (Volume 1) | Quality SV 2127 | 1983 | [27] [28] |
| George Olliver | Dream Girl | Slott Records CSPS 3104 | 1987 | [29] |