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Originally Posted by CityBoyDoug
LA Doo Wopers
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http://history-of-rock.com
One of the great novelty acts of the 1960s. Recording for ARVEE at 7803 Sunset Blvd.Hollywood , CA. I believe there's a new building at that address.
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The Olympics were one of the great L.A.-based acts who managed to score regional hits on the West Coast by balancing upbeat and often humorous novelty R&B tunes with those about popular dances of the day (some of the other West Coast groups who fit this description were the Jay Hawks, the Cadets/Jacks, the Marathons, and the DooTones). They are perhaps best remembered for their Coasters-derived "Western Movies," but their other L.A.-area hits include the popular dance number "Baby Hully Gully," "Big Boy Pete" (which stalled out at number 50 pop, but went to number ten R&B), and "Mine Exclusively."
Mostly, the Olympics attempted to duplicate their hit status with novelty songs along the lines of their smash hit... "Western Movies."
from:.... http://history-of-rock.com/doosix.htm
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CBD you caught my attention. My dad was a part of the Robins during the start of his career. He joined them when he was around 15 years old (supposedly he was found singing on the corner of western and adams while selling eggs, which might be a myth..)and was quickly trained by the group as a replacement lead, and a la Frankie Lymon as bringing a younger sound to the group.
(L-R Bill Richards ,Roy Richards, Grady Chapman, and Dad Bobby Sheen)
The Robins stayed on Arvee for about two years, then they kinda disbanded, some of them went to their parent group (The Coasters), the Richard's went to the family business of running Spaulding Mortuary off of LaBrea, but from time to time rejoin the surviving Robins for speacial occasions such as the Rhythm and Blues Foundation or R and R Hall of Fame ceremonies.
Back to the Olympics... I knew of two of them. One of them was named Charles, he lived close by and would always tour with dad. I want to say he passed away in the mid 90's but i really don't remember.
(L-R Unidentified Olympic, Dad, Charles wearing a Paris shirt, Donnie Brooks with the shades, J J Jackson wearing blue, Unidentified Olympic photo bomb, Bobby Nunn wearing black hat, Billy Richards Jr ,and Dee Clark)
This photo was taken prior to 1986, which was the year that Bobby Nunn passed away. L.A. was filled with great musicians who all worked together and knew each other, which I've always been fascinated with. Its crazy to think that most of the men in the photo above, could go to Arvee Records, record a tune, then walk down the street to Imperial and do the same, then go across the hall to Sar and do the same and so on and on...