Right Here All Along



@@ Back in the early 80s I began DJ'ing and started to get tapes from a friend of mine in USA. Every now and again he would send me sound bites of R&B radio stations to help me improve my poor radio skills !
On one such occasion I heard "Treat Her Like A Lady" by The Temptations and for the first time became acquainted with the awesome soul voice of their then lead singer Ali 'Ollie" Woodson. I remember thinking that he had the most powerful voice I had ever heard. Shortly I bought "Truly For You" which still today remains a favorite album of all time.

"Ollie" had his work cut out him as he had replaced two of most dynamic soul singers of all time, David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards, and proved that he was more than capable of doing the job of these legends.
In fact he ever wrote "Treat Her Like A Lady" which placed The Temps back on both the R&B and pop charts.




Born in Detroit Michigan, 'Ollie' comes from where Motown was founded, and as a Virgo has an astrological birth mate in another creative genius Michael Jackson. He first joined The Temptations in 0983 and sang lead on "Stop The World Right Here (I Wanna Get Off)" which appeared on the "Back To Basics" album. In total, he appeared on seven albums with the group.



He had started singing at the age of four in the local church choir. As a youth of seven he entered and won first prize in a talent show that would cultivate with him winning numerous show throughout his high school years, and during his tour of duty in the U.S. Army.
His first professional performances began at the age of eleven when he sang with "The Seven Sounds", a group owed by Harvey Scales (who later composed the hit "Disco Lady" !! )
Later, he formed the group "Gravey Train Express" with Jerry Weaver ( who eventually produced Janet Jackson and a host of other stars ). Together they opened shows for such recording artists as Frederick Knight, Roscoe Robinson, and The Commodores.



In 1972 'Ollie' performed with "The Drifters" and broke up with them in 1977. He then auditioned for "The Temptations" and "Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes", but decided to replace Teddy Pendergrass as lead singer of The Blue Notes, He performed with "The Blue Notes" till 1979



In 1987, he decided to bid adieu to the Temps, one very difficult decision to make. He had always wanted to return to his audience as the soloist he is.
'Ollie' says "If you do a thing well, whether it's soul, blues or rock, you can reach people of different tastes and please them all", and this is one thing he does !



Want some current hits, funk-pop, a medley of standards or ballads ? You get it all - plus many of his great hits with The Temptations, And no one is left seated when he performs with abandon and working the crowd into a frenzy befitting and finale.



He performs regularly through to this day in venues across the United States, Japan and Europe to sold out audience everywhere. Having seen the man in action myself, I can confirm he is the entertainer he says he is - and then some !
However if his career had not been so successful, then he would probably be a well known basketball or baseball player by now. This is one of his many hidden talents !



With this album "Right Here All Along", 'Ollie' proves that he is the soloist he always wanted to be, despite it taking him about five years to realize.
A lot of love has gone into these songs, and for soul fans this is one of the most authentic album. you are likely to hear this side of millennium.


Andreas Hellingh
Freerance A&R Consultant / Lbum Co-ordinator
The Soul of Amsterdam

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