Forever Saturday Night

Oliver Cheatham: Forever Saturday Night.

Native Detroiter Oliver Cheatham was born February 24th 1948 into a family of eight other children. It was his gospel trained mother, Maddie that encouraged her son to sing. Oliver was a shy child who would only sing to other people from behind the sofa. He was a keen sportsman who harboured thoughts of becoming a professional Baseball player with the Detroit Tigers. This changed one night when his sister Jackie recommended him to her then boyfriend Allen Cocker a member of the group known as The Young Sirs who just happened to be a man short for a forthcoming show. On his sister’s recommendation Oliver deputised and thus became a permanent member of the Young Sirs. The Young Sirs big break eventually came while they were performing at a local cabaret show. Unbeknown to the group Barbara Burt was in the audience. Barbara Burt together with her husband Ernest operated the Magic City label located at 8912 Grand River, the former home of Correc-Tone Records which they had purchased from its former owner Wilbert Golden in 1965.Upon Barbara’s recommendation The Young Sirs signed to Magic City where they recorded the mellifluous, “There’s Something The Matter (With Your Heart)/African Love” (MC 010).With Oliver by now assuming the role of lead singer. The groups others members were Oliver’s by now brother in law Allen Coker, Van Johnson and his nephew Mike Johnson and the group’s bass vocalist Ronald Noel. While at Magic City Oliver was asked by Ernest Burt to chaperone a group of guys some five years younger than himself who recorded under the name Mad Dog And The Pups, Although never strictly regarded as a member of the group Oliver did provide some of the backing vocals and occasional the lead vocals when his young protégés’ were found wanting."¨

Photo:- from left to right are: Mike Johnson, Allen Cocker, Oliver Cheatham, Ronald Noel & Van Johnson.

As the 1970’s dawned Oliver signed up with Marvin Higgins who placed him under the guidance of the highly respected record producer George McGregor. Oliver’s first McGregor, production “I’m Only A Man/Out Off My Hands” was released on the Black Rock Label (2002) under the pseudonym of Butch & The Newports. With” Butch “being Oliver’s nickname and The Newports being Allen Coker, Curtis “Kippy” Henderson."¨

A name change followed with Butch & The Newports now becoming The Gaslight with the addition of a fourth member Michael Eatmon. With three further 45 single releases appearing on Higgin’s Grand Junction logo. Firstly “I Can’t Tell A Lie/Here’s Missing You (1001), then” If You See Her/Drifting Away” (1002) followed by a second issue of “I’m Only A Man” but with a different flip side to the Black Rock release “I’m Gonna Get You” (GJ-1100)"¨"¨The Gaslight’s next release “Just Because Of You/It’s Just Like Magic” first gained a release on the tiny independent T.E.A.I. label which was owned by Chuck Armstrong, a former road manager of the Dramatics. This release was later picked up for national distribution by the major Polydor label. It would appear that a second Gaslight release on T.E.A.I. may quite possibly exist. A track entitled “Hard Times” with “It’’s Just Like Magic” on the flip (See below)."¨

At this juncture the all too common drug culture then prevalent throughout the recording industry began to lead to problems amongst the Gaslight which eventually saw the clean living Oliver leave. It was at this particular juncture that Oliver who by now was considering a solo career, began to do some production work of his own with his cousin Bill Miller. Together they bought some studio time at the United Sounds Studio and it was from these sessions that they wrote produced and recorded the recently discovered tracks “Don’t Pop The Question (If You Can’t Take The Answer)” and “Good Guys Don’t Make Good Lovers” amongst others."¨"¨Oliver was then invited by an old acquaintance Jerome Barnes to join his group, Oliver initially refused as he was still considering pursuing a solo career. But eventually Jerome persuaded Oliver to change his mind thus Oliver became a member of The Sins Of Satin."¨

Following three album releases the Sins Of Satin went through a change of both personal and direction at the suggestion of their producer the influential Detroit radio DJ Al “The Perculator” Perkins. Now renamed “Roundtrip “ the group grew to eight members, Jerome Barnes, Oliver Cheatham, Jimmy Johnson, Kenny Jackson, Angelo Loric, Ila Coates, Kim Warren and Sharlo. Perkins plan was to build the group around the lead vocals of Oliver. A further name change followed with the group becoming known as just “Oliver”. During his time with Perkins Oliver’s lesser known trait as a roofer was called upon to repair the studio roof. A skill he had learnt while working with his Uncle in Cleveland during the summer holidays. "¨

Al Perkins in conjunction with his wife Irene ran a stable of several artists under their Perk’s Music Production Company. One such act was the group, One Way who included a multi-talented musician and later producer in his own right Kevin McCord. In collaboration with Kevin McCord Oliver co-wrote what is regarded as his all time signature tune the much covered 1983 dance floor hit “Get Down Saturday Night” which eventually reaching number 37on billboards R&B charts, and remains a popular radio play to this day. In 1985/86 two further Oliver Cheatham releases appeared on the UK based Move label “Mama Said/Look Of Love” (MSS3) and” Turning Point/Play Me Trade Me “ on the Move subsidiary label Champion (MSS6). The “Turning point” release also featured the vocals of Oliver’s daughter Tania. Both Move releases were owned by Vee Allen (aka Velma Perkins sister of Al Perkins) and produced through her Leland production company. Leland is the name of the Town in Mississippi where Vee was born."¨

Oliver continued to score chart success throughout the remainder of the 1980’s and into the 90’s with such songs of note as “SOS”, “Celebrate Our Love” followed by two duets with Jocelyn Brown “Turn Out The Lights” and “Mind Buster”. Further chart success came in 2003 when Oliver featured as the guest vocalist on Room 5’s UK No1 hit “Make Luv “ which incidentally sampled Oliver’s “Get Down Saturday Night”. Oliver at this juncture was residing in England and had previously recorded a Garage version of the old standard “Our Day Will Come” with the London based band, Native Soul. Oliver’s popularity on the European dance scene means that he’s a frequent visitor to the continent with a huge following in both France and Germany."¨

The elusive “Hard Times” track is proving to something of a conundrum as it has appeared in several Oliver Cheatham articles but nobody has ever seemed to have seen it. What we do know is the track was recorded thanks to Andy Rix’s acetate. Both Oliver and the records producer George McGregor claim it was released? With George also stating that it featured “ It’s Just Like Magic” on the flip?"¨"¨So could a previous interviewer have made a typing error writing down Tier instead of T.E.A.I.?"¨"¨Or were there two T.E.A.I. releases of “It’s Just Like Magic” with different flipsides?"¨"¨Unfortunately George McGregor is hospitalized at this moment and unable to check his paperwork so the jury will have to remain out on this one for now."¨

Words by David Welding"¨"¨

Acknowledgements to: Oliver Cheatham, Bill Miller, Anthony Jones (aka A.J.Sparks), Cynthia Girty, Irene Perkins, Vee Allen, Janet Wright and George McGregor."¨

Photographs: Bob Abrahamian, John Smith, Andrew Whitmore, Craig Lane and Oliver Cheatham."¨

Label Scans: Bob Abrahamian, Andrew Whitmore, Andrew Rix, Trevor Polnyj and David Welding.

Checkout the Story and details of the new Soul Junction release of Oliver's unreleased 70's Gem "Don't Pop The Question" b/w "Good Guy's Don't Make Good Lovers" at: Soul Junction Finally Pop The Question