The Ovations

Founded in 1964 in Memphis, Tennessee, the Ovations was an R&B and soul vocal group best known for their 1973 hit “Having a Party”. The first line-up of the group included former Del-Rios vocalist Nathan ‘Pedro’ Lewis (born July 30, 1943), Louis Williams, Jr. (born February 24, 1941), and Elvin Lee Jones. Discovered by songwriter Roosevelt James in 1964, he recommended the group to Goldwax Records, who signed the band and released their first single, “Won’t You Call” backed with “Pretty Little Angel”. The single failed to chart but their next release, the group penned “It’s Wonderful to Be in Love” (1965), climbed to Number 22 on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart. After touring with artists such as Percy Sledge, James Brown, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and many others. Their next single, “I’m Living Good” (1965), wasn’t as successful and, with an uncertain future, Elvin Lee Jones left the group. The group replaced Jones with vocalist Billy Young and continued releasing single on the Goldwax label – including the Top 40 hit “Me and My Imagination” (1966), “I Believe I’ll Go Back Home” (1968), and “Happiness” (1969) – but after a royalty dispute with Goldwax and the eventually collapse of the label, the group split up in 1969. Two years later, Louis Williams, Jr. formed a new version of the Ovations with Rochester Neal, Bill Davis, and former Nightingales vocalist Quincy Billops, Jr. Their 1972 single “Touching Me” – taken from their debut album Hooked On a Feeling (1972) - reached the Top 20 and kickstarted the group’s resurrection. A cover of Sam Cooke’s “Having a Party” – which also featured nods to other soul hits – reached Number 7 on the R&B chart. The Having a Party album was released and, like the single, it was credited to The Ovations featuring Louis Williams. However, the group split up a short time later. The Ovations featuring Louis Williams, Jr. resurfaced in 1981 with the album Sweet Thing. Louis Williams, Jr. died on October 13, 2002.

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