OLA BEGAN HIS CAREER
...in music on the ELEKTRA LABEL (WARNER BROS) by the mid 90's he had set up his label: Rugged Ram Records and has since released six self penned and produced albums with the latest, THE DEVOURED MAN taking him on tour dates to theatres and Jazz festivals across the UK, Europe Canada and The US. OLA has written, arranged and produced all of his albums.
The press say "As a vocalist, he possesses a stunning voice of enormous range and emotional clout". His voice is "beautifully clear and appealingly textured, almost classical ...with a range and elasticity to match his rich tonal qualities". "The influences of Soul, Jazz and the West African music of his childhood come together in subtle and sophisticated melodies and time signatures."
and "OLA's songs feature lyrics that are layered with metaphor and allegory. OLA seemlessly documents the issues of the day with the universal subjects of love and loss."
OLA has guested and/or shared stages with some of America's finest soul and jazz artists including Diane Reeves, Maceo Parker, Gladys Knight, Al Jarreau, Patti Labelle, Roberta Flack, Joe Zawinul, Natalie Cole, Raul Midon, David Sanborn, Incognito, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Randy Newman. and Roy Hargrove. OLA's music has appeared in films such as N'est Tres Pas Catholique and Second Hand Lions featuring Robert Duvall and Michael Caine.
OLA was the featured vocalist performing with the WDR Big Band of Cologne in a concert celeberating the life of legendary guitarist Hiram Bullock. The shows featured Randy Brecker, Dean Brown, and Frank Gravis at the Cologne Philharmonic Concert Hall and the Zeche Zollverein venue in Essen, Germany.
OLA has performed at many UK and international festivals including The Edinburgh, Leverkusen, Ingolstadt and Aalener Jazz Festivals. OLA has performed at many of the world's famous jazz venues including several sell out runs at Ronnie Scotts London, Kennedy Center Washington, shows at Blue Note in New York, Joe's Public Theater, The Jazz Club In Minden and Quasimodo's in Berlin.
OLA has been a regular guest on BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends, As well as performances on BBC London BBC World Service programmes. In March 2007, PBS WCNY filmed A concert by OLA in Syracuse, in the state of New York. .
A song from OLA's fifth album, (IN EMERGENCY BRAKE SILENCE) entitled NEED TO KNOW has just been covered by Paul Jones The Legendary singer with Sixties BandMannfred Mann on his new album which features Eric Clapton and Ernie Watts released March 2009.
OLA has been sponsored by SHURE MICROPHONES since his fourth album AMBITIONS FOR DEEPER BREADTH and OLA was featured in the "On Tour With Shure" magazine published quarterly and distributed worldwide to Europe, Asia and the US distributors and wholesalers.
SHURE MICROPHONES, along with PRS are sponsors of OLA'S tour to the Canadian International Jazz concerts in MONTREAL and VANCOUVER.
OLA Continues to work with other artistes in the role of Songwriter and Producer . Album projects that he has co-written and produced include Polly Gibbon's 'What's The Real Reason'2006 Album and Guitarist Tony Smith's Backlands album of 2004, Writing projects include songs co-written with Turkish Funk/Fusion Guitarist Okan Ersan as well as an album of African inspired chants and songs.
OLA is much in demand as a voice-over artiste and has voiced projects for CNN, BBC DISNEY CHANNEL 4 and SONY PLAYSTATION among others.
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