Singer. Soulful Memphis gospel and blues vocalist best remembered as the frontman of Ollie and the Nightingales from 1968 to 1970. His singing career began in the mid 1950s as a member of the Gospel Writer Junior Boys. He then joined a gospel group called the Dixie Nightingales and in 1958 they made their recording debut on the Pepper record label. In the mid 1960s they were signed by Chalice Records which was a gospel subsidiary of the Stax label in Memphis. By 1968 they were convinced to switch from gospel music to a more contemporary style and began performing as Ollie and the Nightingales for Stax Records. Their biggest hit, "I Got A Sure Thing" reached #16 on the Billboard R&B charts. Subsequent R&B singles included "You're Leaving Me" and "I've Got A Feeling." In 1970 he went solo and billed himself as Ollie Nightingale. Several of his solo efforts made it onto the R&B charts including "It's A Sad Thing" and "May The Best Man Win." In 1993 he made a performance cameo as a restaurant singer in the Tom Cruise film "The Firm" and in 1995 he released his first of four solo albums on the Ecko label titled "I'll Drink Your Bath Water, Baby." His fourth and final album titled "Ollie Style" was released after his death.
Singer. Soulful Memphis gospel and blues vocalist best remembered as the frontman of Ollie and the Nightingales from 1968 to 1970. His singing career began in the mid 1950s as a member of the Gospel Writer Junior Boys. He then joined a gospel group called the Dixie Nightingales and in 1958 they made their recording debut on the Pepper record label. In the mid 1960s they were signed by Chalice Records which was a gospel subsidiary of the Stax label in Memphis. By 1968 they were convinced to switch from gospel music to a more contemporary style and began performing as Ollie and the Nightingales for Stax Records. Their biggest hit, "I Got A Sure Thing" reached #16 on the Billboard R&B charts. Subsequent R&B singles included "You're Leaving Me" and "I've Got A Feeling." In 1970 he went solo and billed himself as Ollie Nightingale. Several of his solo efforts made it onto the R&B charts including "It's A Sad Thing" and "May The Best Man Win." In 1993 he made a performance cameo as a restaurant singer in the Tom Cruise film "The Firm" and in 1995 he released his first of four solo albums on the Ecko label titled "I'll Drink Your Bath Water, Baby." His fourth and final album titled "Ollie Style" was released after his death.
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