Above: Olsson in the Elton John band; May 2007 in Alabama
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Description: Drummer, UK
Known For: Member of band “Warpipes” 1991
Instruments: Drums
Music Styles: Rock
Location: United Kingdom
Date Born: 5th February 1949
Location Born: Wallasey, United Kingdom
CONTACT DETAILS
Web Site:www
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BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
Nigel Olsson
An English Rock Drummer.
Nigel Olsson (born 10 February 1949) is an English rock drummer, best known for his long-time affiliation with Elton John.
A dynamic drummer and backing vocalist, Olsson helped establish the Elton John sound as a member of John’s original power trio alongside bassist Dee Murray. When not working with John, Olsson has taken up the role of a session musician. Olsson has composed, recorded, and produced albums for his own solo career.
Member of the famed “THE SPENCER DAVIS BAND” in the latter part of the groups changes Olsson and Dee Murraay, both fromt the Davis group left to join “ELTON JOHN”, part of his backing band.
Spencer Davis formed in Birmingham England in 1963.
In 1971, Olsson produced and released the solo album “Nigel Olsson’s Drum Orchestra and Chorus”.
His second solo album, “Nigel Olsson,” appeared that year on John’s Rocket Record label and featured a mild hit a cover of the Bee Gee’s “Only One Woman.”
In 1991, Olsson reunited with former band mate Davey Johnstone to form the Warpipes, though this group disbanded shortly after cutting its debut album.
Above: The Elton John band, while still a trio- Olsson in the center on drums, 1971
Olsson was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, England, the second of five boys of John and Elsa Olsson. He began his musical career playing the guitar in small bands, and took up the drums at a gig where the drummer did not show up. His first appearance on a record album was in the band Plastic Penny, which released Two Sides of a Penny on Page One Records in 1968. Olsson was spotlighted on one song on that album, “I Want You,” performing both lead vocals and a drum solo. In 1969 he played drums on the “flower power” pop single “Mr. Boyd” b/w “Imagine” by Argosy, a one-off group which also included Reginald Dwight (later known as Elton John), Caleb Quaye, and Roger Hodgson. Olsson also served a brief time with the English hard rock band Uriah Heep, playing drums for some songs on its 1970 debut LP, Very ‘eavy… Very ‘umble. Subsequently, he played drums on one track on Elton John’s debut album, Empty Sky, and the next year, as a member of The Spencer Davis Group with bassist Dee Murray. The pair joined John on the road as his touring band, and played with John during his debut tour in the United States at the Troubadour Club on August 25, 1970. Only permitted at first to play on one track of John’s studio albums, Olsson and Murray were added, along with guitarist Davey Johnstone, who was newest to the band, and all teamed up to play and sing backing vocals on Elton John’s early 1970s albums.
Joining the Elton John band
With Johnstone, Olsson and Murray on board, John enjoyed a string of critically acclaimed albums and hit singles. The albums include Honky Chateau, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Caribou. Shortly before the Captain Fantastic studio sessions, percussionist Ray Cooper toured as a sideman in what was billed as The Elton John Band. Olsson played during all of John’s original American tours and confesses that he still gets nervous before going on stage.
Personal life
Nigel Olsson married Schanda Butler in 1989. He has a son, Justin, who lives with his wife Angela in Los Angeles, and a daughter, Annette, who lives with her husband Barry and their children Ashley and Katie Marie near Manchester, England.
Olsson is a longtime car fanatic, collecting vintage autos as well as racing.
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