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Obit: Walter Ward, 66; lead singer of group the Olympics, 'Western Movies"

C

CrankyYankee

Walter Ward, lead singer of the Olympics, an R&B group whose biggest hit was the 1958 novelty tune "Western Movies," has died. He was 66.

Ward, who last performed with the group in November, died Monday at his home in Northridge after a long illness, said Freda Sinclair, the group's agent.

At a time when America was preoccupied with western-themed movies and TV shows, "Western Movies" told the story of a man who lost his girl to the horse operas on the tube. The song — complete with gunshots, ricochet effect and doo-wop harmonies — peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's pop charts.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ward16dec16,0,5480950.story?coll=la-home-obituaries
 
The L.A. Times obit says the Olympics had two lead singers during their run. What's not clear to me is which of them sang lead on "Western Movies" and their other hits. Was it Walter Ward? Or did he take over the lead vocal position later - in the mid 1960s? Anybody know for sure?
 
The OLYMPICS for the record also had the first version of GOOD LOVIN or MY GIRL SLOOPY. Of course, most agree the remakes were far superior.
 
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