Oliver

by Ed HoganBorn William Oliver Swofford on February 22, 1945, in North Wilkesboro, NC, Oliver's first big hit was a song from the Broadway musical Hair, also a source for a hit ("Age of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In") for the 5th Dimension. Released on Jubilee, "Good Morning Starshine" b/w "Can't You See" went to number three pop in spring 1969. A song written by Rod McKuen from the movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, "Jean," issued on Crewe, went gold, holding the number two pop spot for two weeks and going to number one adult contemporary on Billboard's charts in fall 1969. Both were included on the Good Morning Starshine LP that peaked at number 19 pop in fall 1969. He toured throughout the '70s, retired from the music business in the '80s, and worked in the construction and pharmaceutical fields. At the age of 54, Oliver died of cancer on February 12, 2000, in Shreveport, LA.