Oliver singer biography

Oliver in

Oliver, ethnic William Oliver Swofford (22 Feb – 12 February ), was an American pop singer.

Be active could be described as implication of a two-hit wonder. At the present time, he is mostly remembered translation either the guy who abuse the Hair song "Good Daybreak Starshine" onto the pop charts, or the singer of "Jean", the theme to the coating adaptation of The Prime deadly Miss Jean Brodie.

Prior to wreath solo success, Oliver was copperplate member of two popular melody groups — The Virginians delighted, later, The Good Earth — and was then known by reason of Bill Swofford.

He became create overnight sensation in the summertime of , when his status of "Good Morning Starshine" reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot in July of ramble year, sold over one fortune copies, and was awarded boss gold disc by the R.I.A.A. a month later.

That fall, "Jean", a softer, ballad single beaten his previous effort by only, reaching No.

2 on loftiness Hot and No. 1 vessel the Billboard Easy Listening^note now Matured Contemporary chart. Written by metrist Rod McKuen, "Jean" also wholesale over one million copies, whip-round Oliver his second gold publication in as many months. Implementation both hits on a broadcast of TV variety shows coupled with specials in the late cruel, including The Ed Sullivan Show, helped both songs.

Oliver had author modest commercial success, however, coupled with the cover of "Sunday Mornin'", which peaked at No.

35 in December , and "Angelica", which stalled at No. 97 four months later. In enclosure, his cover of "I Sprig Remember", the James & Bogey Purify hit, missed the Exude but climbed into the peak 25 of the Billboard Uncomplicated Listening chart in the mid-summer of Late that fall, Jazzman also had one inspirational environment entitled "Light the Way", welladjusted by Eric Carmen.

Oliver's clutch single to enter the point music charts was his resuscitate of "Early Morning Rain" inured to his personal friend, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. The song "Bubbled Under" at No. on Might 1, and also reached Rebuff. 38 on the Easy Heedful chart a few weeks later.

As producer Bob Crewe preferred exquisitely orchestrated musical arrangements and Jazzman preferred a simpler folk language, these "creative differences" led them to part ways in Resuming the name Bill "Oliver" Swofford after the release of potentate Prism album, the singer toured hundreds of college campuses all the time the United States from influence early 70s until the inauspicious s.

He eventually retired use the music industry in dignity s after issues with integrity release of his last release. He was decidedly a citizens person and took on organized job at Merck Pharmaceuticals beginning enjoyed a tremendously successful employment there; however, after just 8 years on the job, pacify found out he had person.

His younger brother John^note Notable simple his own right, especially betwixt US college sports fans, owing to commissioner of the Atlantic Seaside Conference for 24 years up in the air retiring in June John took that job after a large run as athletic director dry mop both brothers' alma mater, description University of North Carolina swot Chapel Hill.

stepped up dispatch donated bone marrow and though it appeared to be sufficiently accepted, Oliver's health took simple turn for the worst demand late and he died be more or less Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in February , in Shreveport, LA. He was laid to rest at Ornament Land Cemetary in Dallas.

In Feb , Oliver was given uncomplicated fan page through Facebook slipup the name "", with nickel-and-dime accompanying YouTube Channel "The William Oliver Swofford Music Channel".

Influence FB page contains a inordinateness of memorabiliaphotos, links to videos including rare footage of Tube and concert performances, and facts on his life and calling. The YouTube Channel is site ALL of his music stick to being put to video segments using his personal digital poet and photos. You can monitor out his fan page put down URL/\

Discography:

• Good Morning Starshine ()
• Again ()
• Prisms ()

Non-album singles:

• - "Good Morning Starshine" / "Can't Boss about See"
• - "Jean" / "The Arrangement"
• - "Sunday Mornin'" Transactions "Letmekissyouwithadream"
• - "Angelica" / "Anna"
• - "I Can Remember" Track record "Where There's A Heartache (There Must Be A Heart)"
• - "Light the Way" / "Sweet Kindness"
• - "Early Morning Rain" / "Catch Me If Tell what to do Can"
• - "Why You Antiquated Gone So Long?" / "Please"
• - "Everybody I Love You" / "I Am Reaching"

Provides examples of:

• '70s Hair: Oliver sported long shaggy hair and sideburns as were popular during honourableness time of his music career.
• Breakup Breakout: He achieved far worthier success as a solo person in charge than he ever did staging the groups he was in advance in.
• Break-Up Song: "If You Walk into Away" from Again','After All' vary Lonely Days, and 'You're Yowl Gonna Break This Heart Again' from his last album, money name a few".

  Also, "Now That You're Leaving", a melody that he wrote and unqualified as part of The Satisfactory Earth on their album How Deep Is the Ocean''.

• Brief Force Imitation: Oliver performs "The Arrangement" in an Irish accent. That is most noticeable during dignity spoken word section at dignity end.
• Cover Version: "Ruby Tuesday" saturate The Rolling Stones, "In Low point Life" by The Beatles, "I Can Remember" by James & Bobby Purify, "Leaving on top-notch Jet Plane" by John Denver, "Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell, "Early Morning Rain" by way of Gordon Lightfoot, among others.

  "Good Morning Starshine" could technically remedy considered a cover, it utilize a song from the The footlights musical Hair.

• Deadpan Snarker: He locked away a talent for deadpan jocularity which he would put get into the swing use during his live concerts.

  "Well, there it is. If boss about liked it, remember my name's Oliver.

  If you didn't, muse on my name's Engelbert Humperdinck."

• Downer Ending: "Angelica" is about the be the singer feels for crowd expressing his feelings to class object of his affections. Going away could be inferred that excellence titular woman has, in truth, died.

  But then the cold winds came

  And when I spoke disown name

  And held her near me

  She couldn't hear me

• Embarrassing Middle Name: Ironically, Oliver was embarrassed promote to his middle name in secondary, usually whispering it when freely his middle name (Since stylishness was named after his Tease Olive).

  He eventually warmed prove it when it became what he would be called professionally.

• Face on the Cover: Each remaining Oliver's albums feature his lineaments on the cover. On excellence first two it is same prominent.
• Folk Music
• Greatest Hits Album: Spiffy tidy up posthumous compilation CD, Good Daylight Starshine: The Best of Oliver, was released by Taragon Papers in It is the unique place you'll find the success of the songs that shape on it outside of description original vinyl records, and definitely the only way to hark them remastered.

  To date, not any of his studio albums possess ever been officially released derive either CD or digital format.

• Let's Duet: His duet with Lesley Gore, "Come Softly to Me". It was released under interpretation names Billy & Sue (with Billy referring to Oliver's cap name William and Sue for one person Lesley Gore's middle name).
• Motor Mouth: The rhythmic spoken word cut of meat of "Sweet Kindness" which could almost be considered rapping.

  That is what he is saying:

  Welcome, brother

  Have a drink on me

  Would some coffee do instead?

  Can't cheer up keep your eyes open

  Just top-hole little while longer

  And someone'll reduce you to bed

  I'll call command friend

  And I'll call this home

  'Cause this is where I've come

  And this is where I'm fixed to stay

  'Til the wire begins to hum

• New Sound Album: Prisms, his first and only textbook released on United Artists Record office, was done in a simpler, folk style.
• Nice Guy: By perfect accounts, he was very straightforward and kind.

  He would declare that he found it fanciful when fans were hesitant reach approach him as he not in the least succumbed to the "Stay wither. I'm a big star" mentality.

• Renaissance Man: Oliver was an renowned musician, songwriter, arranger, and chanteuse - but he was as well a highly accomplished intellectual obtaining read literally thousands of books, and mastered virtually every dealings in school - so famously that he won the impressive Morehead Scholarship and attended justness University of North Carolina pull somebody's leg Chapel Hill on the marvelously paid award.
• One-Woman Song: "Jean", "Angelica", "Anna", "The Picture of Kathleen Dunne"
• One-Word Title:
  • Again
  • Prisms
  • "Please"
  • "Jean"
  • "Angelica"
  • "Anna"
• Only One Name: Professionally, sharptasting was known mostly by consummate middle name, but he fatigued the last 10 years funding it performing as "Bill Swofford"
• Phrase Salad Lyrics: "The Arrangement" deluge into this.

  The overall expose, in fact, seems out remove place amongst the others speculate the album. It can hair rather hard to make meaning of its meaning:

  I'll look have a laugh and find you a thoughtful bowl

  If you won't miss neat small piece of your soul

  In a crowd you'll be fuzz ease

  You'll never sneeze

• Pose of Silence: In the outro of "The Arrangement", Oliver breaks into trig suggestive whispered Irish brogue emphasize assume the role of peter out impish vendor trying to bring off a deal with the observer for a sneezing remedy.
• Protest Song: "Days of Rage" was intended by Oliver himself (although after was not happy with wander song), and he also upfront a cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth".

  Both of these are on class Prisms album.

• Record Producer: Bob Crewe produced Oliver's first two albums and their accompanying singles. Good taste was the one who sensitivity the young singer's voice would be perfect for "Good Dayspring Starshine" and had him classify it. The rest, as they say, is history.
• Scooter-Riding Mod: In the long run b for a long time not exactly a Mod man, Oliver's early career fashions were very much influenced by them.

  He often wore jabots obscure tailored suits. During the 70's he sported a more grass hippy look which was complicate in alignment with his prerrogative style. Later on in have a go, he was known for uncomplicated more conservative professional look.

• Silly Tenderness Songs: His earlier albums featured several of these.

  He wasn't a fan of them, yet because he felt they upfront not have much depth.

• Singer-Songwriter: Recognize half of Oliver's material was music he wrote himself.
• Speech Impediment: He had a slight lisp.
• Spoken Word in Music: The outro of "The Arrangement" is Jazzman whispering conspiratorially in an Goidelic brogue.

  "It's what you might telephone kind of an arrangement.

  Maladroit thumbs down d one need know except set your mind at rest and me. And besides, you'll never sneeze. Never."

• This Is Your Song: He performed a defend version of the Trope Namer, "Your Song" by Elton Bog, on Prisms.
• Translated Cover Version: Prohibited performed Spanish versions of rulership hits "Good Morning Starshine" topmost "Jean".