Tuesday, 5 November 2019

UK Number 40s: The Olympics - I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (1961)


Long before NWA came about, there was another group who hailed from Compton, The Olympics.

They first hit the UK Charts in 1958 with "Western Movies", but wouldn't return until 1961 with this their follow up. It would also be their final UK hit.

The song itself was written in 1922 by jazz violinist Armand J.Piron. It's been covered by many acts, including The Beatles in 1962. This was the only version to reach the UK Top 40, but the songwriter never lived to witness this as he died in 1943.

The Olympics are still going today, but without any original members left. Group member Charles Fizer was killed during the Watts Riots in 1965 and fellow member Melvin King left the group the same year. The other 2 members remained in the group until their deaths, Walter Ward in 2006 and Eddie Lewis in 2017.

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