ABBA

Arranger, percussionist, producer and singer-songwriter from Detroit, Michigan, whose early credits included a London concert with Stevie Wonder and the Popcorn Wylie LP, Extrasensory Perception, in 1974.

In 1975, he drummed on Angelo Bond’s album, Bondage.

He was busy in 1977, playing drums and/or percussion on the following recordings: My Own Way to Rock by Burton Cummings; Goin’ Places by Michael Henderson; A Period of Transition by Van Morrison; It’s My Pleasure and A Whole New Thing by Billy Preston; Love You Live by The Rolling Stones; Baby it’s Me by Diana Ross; and, Choosing You by Lenny Williams.

In 1978, he released an album under his own band’s name, Ollie Baba, and performed percussion on Leo Sayer’s eponymous LP.

He did the same on Bonnie Pointer’s self-titled effort, as well as Raydio’s Rock On and Sly & the Family Stone’s On the Right Track in 1979.

In 1980, he appeared on Wide Receiver by Michael Henderson, Jermaine by Jermaine Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Two Places at the Same Time by Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio, Special Things by The Pointer Sisters, and Universal Love by Billy Preston.

He produced La Toya’s follow-up, My Special Love, played percussion Live at Budokan with Quincy Jones, drums and percussion on A Woman Needs Love by Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio, collaborated with Billy Preston & Syreeta, made the cut on Sucking in the Seventies by The Rolling Stones, and multi-tasked on Set My Love in Motion by Syreeta, as arranger, drummer, percussionist, and producer, in 1981.

In 1984, he and Jerry Wright cracked the top ten with “Breakin’… There’s No Stopping Us” from the soundtrack of Breakin’, and peaked at #45 with the lead track from its sequel, Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.

He played drums and percussion on Michael Jackson’s Bad and The Winans’ Decisions in 1987.

In 1988, he composed music for, contributed drums, percussion and special effects to, and produced Tracie Spencer’s self-titled album.

He also performed percussion on Back on the Block by Quincy Jones and produced Tyren Perry’s “You Are My Everything” in 1989.

In 1990, he arranged and played drums and percussion on Out of the Shadows by Paul Jackson, Jr.

He performed similar duties and produced “Love in the Making” for Mona Lisa’s 1992 LP, Partners in Pleasure.

In 1993, he reunited with Paul Jackson, Jr. on A River in the Desert and easily made the cut on Ray Parker, Jr.’s Greatest Hits.

Similarly, his work was included on The Burton Cummings Collection in 1994.

In 1995, he sang backing vocals and played drums and percussion for and produced In the House by The 5^th Dimension and appeared on Michael Jackson’s History: Past, Present and Future—Book I.

He worked in a variety of capacities on Never Alone: Duets by Paul Jackson, Jr. and Motown Comes Home in 1996.

In 1998, you could hear him drumming on The Best Remixes by The Jacksons.

He was a percussionist on Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are by Sly & the Family Stone in 2001.

In 2006, he toured with Mariah Carey and much of his work was captured on the 2007 CD, The Adventures of Mimi.

Other CDs on which he has appeared in the new millennium include I’m Free! by Ray Parker, Jr., The Hits by Gloria Gaynor, and The Collection by Michael Jackson.

Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams recordings

Emotion (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)

S CBS 6164B (UK 45)

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