Oliver Cheatham

Oliver Cheatham (February 24, 1948 – November 29, 2013) was an American R&B singer who is best remembered for his 1983 hit "Get Down Saturday Night".[1] The song was also sampled by Italian DJ Room 5 on his 2003 single "Make Luv", which reached #1 on the UK charts, and by British DJ Michael Gray on his 2004 single "The Weekend".

Oliver Cheatham
BornFebruary 24, 1948
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedNovember 29, 2013(2013-11-29) (aged 65)
United Kingdom
GenresR&B, soul, funk, boogie
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1969–2013
LabelsMCA, Critique, Warlock, Positiva, Native Soul
Associated actsJocelyn Brown, Room 5

Biography

Cheatham was born in Detroit, Michigan. Encouraged by his mother to sing, over the years he joined several local groups including The Young Sirs, Mad Dog and the Pups and Gaslight before releasing a single, "Hard Times" on the Tier record label. He then joined another group, the Sins of Satan, the group later being renamed as Roundtrip. They finally took Cheatham's first name and recorded two albums as Oliver.[2]

Cheatham then signed for MCA Records as a solo singer. He worked with Al Hudson of the band One Way on his first album, The Boss. His first chart success came in 1983 with "Get Down Saturday Night", co-written by Cheatham and One Way's Kevin McCord, which reached no.37 on the Billboard R&B chart, and also reached no.38 on the UK singles chart. The album, Saturday Night, produced by Al Perkins, was released the same year. In 1986, he moved to the Critique label, and had further success in the US with the singles "S.O.S." (R&B chart no.35), and "Celebrate (Our Love)". Other Cheatham singles included "Mama Said," "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," "Things to Make U Happy," and "Wish on a Star."[1] After moving to the New York-based Warlock label, he recorded "Turn Out the Lights" and "Mindbuster" with Jocelyn Brown.[2][3] He spent much of the 1990s working as a backing singer with artists including Leo Sayer, and released his final album, Stand for Love, in 2002.[4]

He returned to the charts in 2003, when he was featured in Room 5's UK #1 single, "Make Luv",[5] which sampled "Get Down Saturday Night", though Cheatham re-recorded his vocal parts for later releases.[6] The track was featured on a commercial for Lynx deodorant on British TV.[6]< Its success in the UK led Cheatham to relocate to Surrey, England, and he recorded in London for the Native Soul record label.[2]

Elements of "Get Down Saturday Night" were also used in Michael Gray's 2004 hit, "The Weekend".[4] It also featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Ex Machina. The track was also sampled for Lino di Meglio's 2013 song "I Can't Live Without (Dino In Paris Full Vox)".

Cheatham died on November 29, 2013, at the age of 65, following a heart attack in his sleep.[4][7]

Discography

Albums
  • 1982 The Boss
  • 1983 Saturday Night (#52 U.S. Black Albums)[1]
  • 1987 Go for It
  • 1994 Stand for Love (Zygo label)
  • 1995 So Sentational
  • 2003 Stand for Love

Chart singles
Year Single Chart Positions
US
R&B[3]		 UK[6]
1983 "Get Down Saturday Night" 37 38
1986 "S.O.S." 35 -
1987 "Celebrate (Our Love)" 87 -
1990 "Turn Out The Lights"
(feat. Jocelyn Brown)		 70 -
2003 "Make Luv"
(Room 5 feat. Oliver Cheatham)		 - 1
"Music and You"
(Room 5 feat. Oliver Cheatham)		 - 38

References
  1. Hogan, Ed. "Artist Biography". AllMusic.
  2. Oliver Cheatham biography at Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2013
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 38.
  4. "80s R&B singer Oliver Cheatham dies at age 65". Soul Tracks. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 101. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 142. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  7. "Oliver Cheatham Passed Away Last Night", Soul Source, 29 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013
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