biography

OLA returned to Britain, to pursue an education that ultimately should have lead to a degree in Law, However it was not the Bar that had the strongest hold on OLA's attention but the Jazz bars and music venues of London. He dropped out of Law School, enrolled at Art college where he knew there would be music-a-plenty and joined every on campus band he could find!

Soon he was collaborating with other musicians on the london gig circuit and signed to an Elektra US albums deal which ended a year later. OLA spent the next few years surviving in the session wilderness, supplying backing vocals for the likes of George Michael, KD Lang, Simply Red and Michael Ball, amongst others, doing jingle and voice over work for TV and Radio... until he had the bright idea of setting up his own label, Rugged Ram Records. to develop and release his projects.

OLA released his first single "You'd Better Believe" in the summer of '94 to critical acclaim and strong radio support. playlisted on BBC radio 1&2, Jazz FM, Kiss FM, choice FM and many other specialist radio stations across the UK . The track was licensed to several compilations and synchronised to the feature length films (Tres Pas Catholique, Spin) and many UK TV programs including The Bill and East Enders. OLA released his first album "More Soul Than Sense" to equally positive response in 1995. His recording career has since spawned a further five well received albums. "From Meaning Beyond Definition" (1997), "Precious Libations for Silent Gods" (1999), "Ambitions For Deeper Breadth" (2002) and "In Emergency Brake Silence" (2004). In the autmn of 2007 , OLA will release his sixth studio album, THE DEVOURED MAN.

OLA has opened for and guested with artistes such as Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Diane Reeves, Al Jareau, Patti LaBelle, Tower of Power, Joe Zawinul and Roy Hargrove. He has collaborated with others such as Courtney Pine, NITRO and world event organisers Serious. OLA has composed commissioned Arias for the Royal Opera House. Receives professional music equipment sponsorship from Shure Microphones, Scarbee & Mackie.

OLA's 100 or more live performances a year are second to none. They take in prestigious venues and festivals far and wide such as The Royal Festival Hall & Ronnie Scotts - UK, The Blue Note - New York , The Kenedy Center for the Arts - Wasington DC, The New Morning - Paris, The Arlene Jazz Festival -Germany, as well as many more Theatres, Art Centres and Music venues in Europe & America.

His voice is described by The Voice magazine as "achingly beautiful and passionate in it's every expression" and "a lived in, soul drenched, well mastered instrument". by Blues and Soul Magazine. Versatile enough to be turned into a fully fledged funk tool that can have an audience up on it's feet and grooving in no time at all... Echoes Magazine Of his live performances the BBC say "This guy is amazing, never before have I seen someone so totally connect with their audience, if you only see one soul singer this year, make sure it's OLA".

OLA's songwriting is rich in melody, set to complex yet infectious rhythms. They tinged with the influence of his African roots. His lyrics are incisive and true without contrivance or self-consciousness, yet they tackle subject matter as diverse as socio-political commentary to lovelorn heartbreak as skilfully as the best in the genre. His stage craft replete with effortless charisma and sex appeal.

It is no wonder then that many in the music press and his many loyal fans around the UK and beyond feel that with OLA they are in on what is possibly the best kept secret in British Music!

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