OLIVER

William Oliver Swofford came into the world on February 22, 1945, in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. His breakthrough arrived via a number drawn from the stage production Hair, the same show that supplied the 5th Dimension with their smash “Age of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” Jubilee issued the single “Good Morning Starshine” backed with “Can't You See,” which climbed to number three on the pop listings during spring 1969. Another track, “Jean,” penned by Rod McKuen for the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and released by Crewe, earned gold status while occupying the number-two pop position for a fortnight and topping Billboard’s adult-contemporary chart in autumn 1969. The Good Morning Starshine album gathered both hits and reached number 19 pop that same season. Oliver maintained a touring schedule across the 1970s before stepping away from the industry in the 1980s to pursue work in construction and pharmaceuticals. Cancer claimed his life at age 54 on February 12, 2000, in Shreveport, Louisiana.