The Olympics

Profile:
The Olympics are an American doo-wop group, formed in 1957 by lead singer Walter Ward (August 28, 1940 – December 11, 2006). The group also included Eddie Lewis (tenor, Ward's cousin), Charles Fizer (tenor), Walter Hammond (baritone), and Melvin King (bass) and except for Lewis were friends in a Los Angeles, California, high school
Their first record was credited to Walter Ward and the Challengers ("I Can Tell" on Melatone Records). After the name change, they recorded "Western Movies" (Demon Records) in the summer of 1958. Co-written by Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith, "Western Movies" made it to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song reflected the nation's preoccupation with western themed movies and television programs. It told the story of a man who lost his girl to TV westerns, and it included doo-wop harmonies as well as background gunshots and ricochet sound effects.

In 1959, the group recorded "(Baby) Hully Gully," which initiated the Hully Gully dance craze. "Big Boy Pete," which the group released in 1960,[1] served as inspiration for The Kingsmen's "The Jolly Green Giant". Over the next ten years The Olympics recorded upbeat R&B songs, often about dances popular at the time.

In 1965, The Olympics were one of the first to record "Good Lovin'", penned by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick. In 1966, The Young Rascals version rose to No. 1 on the US Hot 100. Since then, many recorded versions have been made by prominent artists, including Mary Wells, The Ventures, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Bobby McFerrin and The Bobs.

Fizer was shot and killed during the Watts riots in 1965.Shortly thereafter, King left the group after his sister died in an accidental shooting.[citation needed] A revamped group continued to record into the early 1970s but were unable to attain popular chart success after the mid 1960s. The Olympics continued to perform on the oldies circuit in the United States and other countries.

Eddie Lewis, tenor singer and last original member of the Olympics, died on May 31, 2017.
Current and remaining members of The Olympics are Vel Omarr, Alphonso Boyd, and Samuel E. Caesar
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Artist

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Albums

A 423 Doin' The Hully Gully — The Olympics The Olympics Doin' The Hully Gully (Album) Arvee A 423 Canada 1960 Sell This Version
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A 424 Dance By The Light Of The Moon — The Olympics The Olympics, The Marathons, The Robins The Olympics, The Marathons, The Robins - Dance By The Light Of The Moon (Album) Arvee A 424 US 1961 Sell This Version
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A 429 Party Time — The Olympics The Olympics Party Time(LP, Album) Arvee A 429 US 1961 Sell This Version
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1001, Tri-Disc 1001 Do The Bounce — The Olympics The Olympics Do The Bounce (Album) Tri-Disc, Tri-Disc 1001, Tri-Disc 1001 US 1963 Sell This Version
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MW 7003 Something Old, Something New — The Olympics The Olympics Something Old, Something New (Album) Mirwood MW 7003 US 1966 Sell This Version
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none Living The American Dream — The Olympics The Olympics Living The American Dream (Album) Bouvier Records none US 1987 Sell This Version
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LACO-002 On The Scene Again — The Olympics The Olympics On The Scene Again(CD, Album) Lacoriha Records LACO-002 US 1997 Sell This Version
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Singles & EPs

025 Western Movies / Dancing Holidays — The Olympics The Olympics Western Movies / Dancing Holidays (Single) ERA Records 025 US 1958 Sell This Version
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FF-1512 (I Wanna) Dance With The Teacher / Ev'rybody Needs Love — The Olympics The Olympics (I Wanna) Dance With The Teacher / Ev'rybody Needs Love (Single) Demon (2) FF-1512 US 1958 Sell This Version
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45-POP-528 Western Movies — The Olympics The Olympics Western Movies (Single) Demon (2) 45-POP-528 Norway 1958 Sell This Version
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7 EMF 172 Western Movies — The Olympics The Olympics Western Movies (EP) La Voix De Son Maître 7 EMF 172 France 1959 Sell This Version
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45-DB 4346 Private Eye / (Baby) Hully Gully — The Olympics The Olympics Private Eye / (Baby) Hully Gully (Single) Arvee 45-DB 4346 UK 1959 Sell This Version
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FF-1514 Your Love / Chicken — The Olympics The Olympics Your Love / Chicken Demon (2) FF-1514 US 1959 Sell This Version
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A 5020 Dance By The Light Of The Moon / Dodge City — The Olympics The Olympics Dance By The Light Of The Moon / Dodge City (Single) Arvee A 5020 US 1960 Sell This Version
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EPA 423 Doin' The Hully Gully — The Olympics The Olympics Doin' The Hully Gully (EP) Arvee EPA 423 US 1960 Sell This Version
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45-V 9174 Shimmy Like Kate / Workin' Hard — The Olympics The Olympics Shimmy Like Kate / Workin' Hard (Single) Arvee 45-V 9174 UK 1960 Sell This Version
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A 595 Big Boy Pete — The Olympics The Olympics Big Boy Pete (Single) Arvee A 595 US 1960 Sell This Version
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A 5023 Little Pedro / Bull Fight — The Olympics The Olympics / Cappy Lewis The Olympics / Cappy Lewis - Little Pedro / Bull Fight (Single) Arvee A 5023 US 1961 Sell This Version
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A 5031 Dooley / Stay Where You Are — The Olympics The Olympics Dooley / Stay Where You Are (Single) Arvee A 5031 US 1961 Sell This Version
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A 5044 Mash Them 'Taters' / The Stomp — The Olympics The Olympics Mash Them 'Taters' / The Stomp (Single) Arvee A 5044 US 1961 Sell This Version
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FF-1718 Cool Short / The Chicken — The Olympics The Olympics Cool Short / The Chicken(7", Single) Titan (2) FF-1718 US 1961 Sell This Version
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A 5056 The Scotch — The Olympics The Olympics The Scotch Arvee A 5056 US 1962 Sell This Version
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A 5051 Twist — The Olympics The Olympics Twist (Single) Arvee A 5051 US 1962 Sell This Version
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105 Return Of The Watusi / Return Of Big Boy Pete — The Olympics The Olympics Return Of The Watusi / Return Of Big Boy Pete(7", Single, Styrene) Duo Disc 105 US 1962 Sell This Version
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110 Bounce Again / A New Dancin' Partner — The Olympics The Olympics Bounce Again / A New Dancin' Partner (Single) Tri-Disc 110 US 1963 Sell This Version