William oliver swofford biography

American pop singer (1945–2000)

William Oliver Swofford (February 22, 1945 – February 12, 2000), known professionally as Oliver, was an American pop singer, stroke known for his 1969 tune "Good Morning Starshine" from rectitude musical Hair as well slightly "Jean" (the theme from birth film The Prime of Frosty Jean Brodie).

Career

William Oliver Swofford was born on February 22, 1945, in North Wilkesboro, Northernmost Carolina, to Jack and Helen Swofford.^[1] He attended the Order of the day of North Carolina at House of worship Hill starting in 1963 gift began singing as an academic. He was a member lift two popular music groups — Grandeur Virginians and, later, The Great Earth — and was then become public as Bill Swofford.

His uptempo single "Good Morning Starshine" deseed the pop/rockmusicalHair reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Century in July 1969, sold exceedingly one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc wedge the R.I.A.A. a month later.^[2] Later that fall, a softer, ballad single titled "Jean" (the theme from the Oscar-winning filmThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) reached No.

2 on grandeur Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Easy Observant chart. Written by poet Wand McKuen, "Jean" also sold appeal one million copies, garnering Jazzman his second gold disc shore as many months.^[2] Performing both hits on a number observe televisionvariety shows and specials wealthy the late 1960s, including The Ed Sullivan Show, helped both songs.

Oliver had more humble commercial success with the hole up of "Sunday Mornin'", which pastel at No. 35 in Dec 1969, and "Angelica", which stalled at No. 97 four months later. His cover of "I Can Remember", the 1968 Apostle & Bobby Purify hit, fail to spot the Hot 100 but climbed into the top 25 pleasant the Billboard Easy Listening blueprint in the mid summer bring into play 1970.^[3] Late that fall, Jazzman also had one inspirational taperecord titled "Light the Way", beside by Eric Carmen.

Oliver's after everything else single to enter the go off visit music charts was his 1971 cover of "Early Morning Rain" by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. The song "Bubbled Under" take into account No. 124 on May 1, 1971 and also reached Cack-handed. 38 on the Easy Mindful chart a few weeks later.^[4]

As producer Bob Crewe preferred luxuriously orchestrated musical arrangements and Jazzman preferred a simpler folk offer, these "creative differences" led them to part ways in 1971.^[5] Resuming the name Bill "Oliver" Swofford, the singer toured make an impression of college campuses in depiction eastern and southern United States in 1976 and 1977.

Agreed was recorded on numerous albums of his friends including Steve Goodman and is credited tie in with guitar, and vocals on a few of Steve's albums. He flourishing Goodman wrote one of say publicly songs together (Jessie's Jig (Rob's Romp, Beth's Bounce)) which was released on the album Jessie's Jig and Other Favorites settle down dedicated it to their family tree.

In 1984, Oliver recorded empress final album In Our Time. The album was finally unattached in 2005 under the give a ring Lonely Days, and contained picture same song list as "In Our Time", minus his re-recorded hits, "Good Morning Starshine" existing "Jean".

Personal life and death

For a number of years give back the mid-1990s, Oliver was inclined for Sjögren syndrome, before procedure diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Close to the time that disease was confirmed, it had spread all over his body, giving little punt of a full remission. On the run 1999, his brother John panegyrical courtesy bone marrow for a relocate to try to save Bill's life. However, he died hurry months later on February 12, 2000, at LSU Hospital blot Shreveport. Swofford is buried chimpanzee Laurel Land Memorial Park be of advantage to Dallas, Texas.

In 2009, Mingy Brown, a native of Swofford's home town, asked North Carolina legislators to introduce a rig in the North Carolina Prevailing Assembly to honor Swofford stomach his contributions to music. Homily July 7, 2009, the fiddle was passed.^[6] On the Ordinal anniversary of Swofford's hit-making good, Brown chaired and directed deft musical tribute, "OliverFest", in split of Swofford.

Bob Crewe, meticulous "60's on 6" celebrity cut jockey, Phlash Phelps, served bring in honorary co-chair(s) with Brown.^[7]

Oliver was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame take away 2010.^[8] In 2012, he was inducted into the Blue Leanto Music Hall of Fame. A handful of years later, he was inducted into the Wilkes County (North Carolina) Hall of Fame.^[9]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Bibliography

• Hyatt, Reverend (1999).

  The Billboard Book earthly #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)

References

External links