Bruce Wheaton Recollections: George Olliver and The Mandala
By: Bruce Wheaton
Email to Erick Nelson
Last Updated:
Monday May 24, 2004
When
I first went to Toronto in the late sixties I started checking out the what I
thought were the best bands in the city at the time. George Olliver and
The Five Rogues were definitely one of my favorites. How I met them was
kind of neat. I had a band at the time called the Rogues. We were
playing in a club in Toronto one night and George and Domenic showed up I guess
to see who this band was that had the same name as them. We started
talking and became friends. I then went to see their band and became a
great fan. We changed our name out of respect for them.
I've been watching George throughout his career and I feel he is a classic performer. He has style, great showmanship and always a professional in his approach to whatever he has done. I feel that he has never received the fame that he really deserves. But that's Canada for you, I feel there have been so many great performers in this country that received some recognition but never really got the acclaim they deserved. Possibly because we are in the shadow of the powerful USA Star Making machinery. I still think George has many more gifts to bring us in his music, and I wish him all the best.
I've been a professional
musician throughout my adult life so I will include my website address for you
to check out, and this picture of me and George that was taken last summer.
Bruce Wheaton's Musical History Website:
http://chebucto.ca/~bwheaton/