Rhythm Heritage

In the middle of the 1970s, keyboardist Michael Omartian joined producer Steve Barri in putting together the Los Angeles studio ensemble Rhythm Heritage. The outfit notched a pair of television theme successes before slipping from view, starting with “Theme From S.W.A.T.,” which reached the top of the pop charts in 1975 and climbed to number 11 on the R&B side, followed by the 1976 Top 20 crossover single “Baretta’s Theme (Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow).” Although Oren and Luther Waters supplied the vocals, additional releases could not maintain the group’s momentum.