Music Makers Encyclopedia: O

Click on a letter to choose an act ("S" for Bruce Springsteen, "B" for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards, short bios for select acts, and links to albums and songs reviewed by the DMDB.

Will Oakland

Solo performer as well as a member of the Heidelberg Quintet (1911-15).

Song(s):
Mother Machree (1911)
I Love the Name of Mary (1911)

Oak Ridge Boys

Country/gospel vocal quartet founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. Changed name to the Oak Ridge Boys in the early 1960s. Were a gospel group until the mid-'70s and they changed focus to country music. Their most popular lineup consisted of Duane Allen (lead: 66-), Joe Bonsall (tenor: 73-), William Lee Golden (baritone: 65-87, 95-), and Richard Sterban (bass: 72-).

Song(s):
I’ll Be True to You (1978)
Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight (1979)
Trying to Love Two Women (1980)
Elvira (1981)
Fancy Free (1981)
Bobbie Sue (1982)
American Made (1983)
Love Song (1983)
I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Someone (1984)
Everyday (1984)
Make My Life with You (1984)
Little Things (1985)
Touch a Hand, Make a Friend (1985)
It Takes a Little Rain to Make Love Grow (1987)
This Crazy Love (1987)
Gonna Take a Lot of River (1988)
No Matter How High (1989)

Album(s):
Y'All Come Back Saloon (1978)

Berry Oakley

Rock bassist born Raymond Berry Oakley III on 4/4/1948 in Chicago, IL. Died 11/11/1972 in a motorcycle accident. With the Allman Brothers Band (1969-72).

O.A.R.

Song(s):
Shattered (Turn the Car Around) (2008)

Oasis

Alternative rock group from Manchester, England at the helm of the Britpop movement. Active: 1991-2009 Members: Brothers Liam (v) and Noel Gallagher (g/lyrics) with Gem Archer (k/g: 99-09), Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs (g: 91-99), Andy Bell (b/k/g: 99-09), Tony McCarroll (d: 91-95), Paul McGuigan (b: 91-99), Alan White (d: 95-04).

Song(s):
Oasis: Top 20 Songs
Supersonic (1994)
Live Forever (1994)
Cigarettes and Alcohol (1994)
Whatever (1994)
Shaermaker (1994)
Wonderwall (1995)
Don’t Look Back in Anger (1995)
Champagne Supernova (1995)
Morning Glory (1995)
Some Might Say (1995)
Roll with It (1995)
D'You Know What I Mean? (1997)
The Hindu Times (2002)

Album(s):
Definitely Maybe (1994)
(What’'s the Story) Morning Glory (1995)
Be Here Now (1997)

The DMDB Blog:
Blur beats Oasis in the battle of Britpop: August 26, 1995 (8/26/11)

John Oates

Born 4/7/1949 in New York City. Half of the pop-rock blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates with Daryl Hall.

Oberkirchen Children's Choir

Song(s):
The Happy Wanderer (1954)

Brendan O'Brien

Producer born 6/23/1963 in Atlanta, GA. Worked with Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen.

Ed O’Brien

Experimental-rock guitarist born 4/15/1968 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. With Radiohead (1985-).

Ric Ocasek

New wave singer born Richard Theodore Otcasek on 3/23/1944 in Baltimore, MD. Died 9/15/2019. With The Cars (1976-88, 2000 2010-11, 2018) and a solo artist (1983-).

Billy Ocean

R&B singer ("Caribbean Queen," "Loverboy," "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going") born Leslie Sebastian Charles on 1/21/1950 in Trinidad.

Song(s):
Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) (1984)
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (1985)
There’ll Be Sad Songs to Make You Cry (1986)
Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car (1988)

Danny Ocean

Song(s):
Me Rehúso (2016)

Frank Ocean

Song(s):
Thinkin’ ‘Bout You (2012)
Pyramids (2012)
Lost (2012)

Album(s):
Channel Orange (2012)
Blond (2016)

Phil Ochs

Song(s):
There But for Fortune (1963)
Talking Airplane Disaster Blues (1964)
I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore (1966)

Ocean Colour Scene

Song(s):
The Riverboat Song (1996)
The Day We Caught the Train (1996)

Helen O’Connell

Song(s):
Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy) (1941) – see Jimmy Dorsey
Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes) (1941) – see Jimmy Dorsey
Tangerine (1942) – see Jimmy Dorsey

Donald O'Connor

Song(s):
Make 'Em Laugh (1952)

Sinéad O'Connor

Alternative-rock singer born Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor on 12/8/1966 in Glenageary, County Dublin, Ireland. Died 7/26/2023.

DMDB podcast: R.I.P. Sinéad O’Connor: A Dozen of Her Best Songs (7/26/2023)

Song(s):
Top 50 Songs
Troy (1987)
Mandinka (1987)
I Want Your Hands on Me (1987)
Nothing Compares 2 U (1990)
Black Boys on Mopeds (1990)
The Emperor’s New Clothes (1990)
Mother (live, 1990) – see Roger Waters
Sacrifice (1991)
The House of the Rising Sun (1994)
All Apologies (1994)

Album(s):
The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990)
Universal Mother (1994)
So Far…The Best of (compilation, released 1997)
Collaborations (archives, 2003)

Alan O'Day

Song(s):
Undercover Angel (1977)

Anita O'Day

Song(s):
Tennessee Waltz (1951)

Corki Casey O'Dell

Tom Odell

Song(s):
Another Love (2013)

St. Louis Jimmy Oden

Song(s):
Goin’ Down Slow (1941)

Odetta

Album(s):
Sings Ballads & Blues (1957)

Colby O’Donis

Song(s):
Just Dance (2008) – see Lady Gaga

Roger O’Donnell

Rock keyboardist born 10/29/1955 in East London, England. With The Cure (1987-90, 1995-2005, 2011-).

Offset

Song(s):
Ric Flair Drip (with Metro Boomin, 2017)
Taste (2018) – see Tyga

The Offspring

Song(s):
Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated) (1994)
Self Esteem (1994)
Pretty Fly for a White Guy (1998)
You're Gonna Go Far, Kid (2008)

Album(s):
Smash (1994)
Americana (1998)

Of Monsters and Men

Song(s):
Little Talks (2011)
Mountain Sound (2011)

Album(s):
My Head Is an Animal (2011)

Lenny O’Henry

Song(s):
Across the Street (1964)

The Ohio Players

Funk band formed in 1959 in Dayton, OH.

Song(s):
Fire (1974)
Love Rollercoaster (1975)

Oingo Boingo

Song(s):
Dead Man's Party (1985)

The O’Jays

R&B group formed in 1958 in Canton, OH. Consisted of Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles.

Song(s):
Back Stabbers (1972)
Love Train (1973)
For the Love of Money (1974)
I Love Music (1975)

Album(s):
Ship Ahoy (1973)

Johnny O’Keefe

Song(s):
She’s My Baby (1960)
Come on and Take My Hand/Don’t You Know (Pretty Baby) (1960)
I’m Counting on You (1961)
Move Baby Move (1963)

Walter O'Keefe

Song(s):
The Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934)

OK Go

Song(s):
Here It Goes Again (2006)

Babtunde Olatunji

Album(s):
Drums of Passion (1960)

Chauncey Olcott

Song(s):
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1913)
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby) (1913)

Old Crow Medicine Show

Song(s):
Wagon Wheel (2004)

Mike Oldfield

Composer and musician born 5/15/1953 in Reading, Berkshire, England.

Song(s):
Tubular Bells (1973)

Album(s):
Tubular Bells (1973)

Andrew Loog Oldham

Producer/manager born 1/29/1944 in London, England. Managed the Rolling Stones (63-67). Pushed Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to record original material and billed the Rolling Stones as bad boys in contrast with the Beatles.

Spooner Oldham

American R&B songwriter born 6/14/1943. Notable member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

Thomas Oliphant

Song(s) written by Oliphant:
Deck the Halls (1862)

Joe "King" Oliver

Jazz cornet player, band leader, and composer born Joseph Nathan Oliver on 5/11/1885 in Aben, Louisiana. Died 4/10/1938.

Song(s):
Dipper Mouth Blues (1923)
Chime Blues (1923)
Froggie Moore (1923)
Snake Rag (1923)
Canal Street Blues (1923)

Paul Oliver

George Olsen

Jazz/big band leader born George Edward Olsen, Sr. on 3/18/1893 in Portland, OR. Died 3/18/1971.

Song(s):
Who? (1926)
Always (with Fran Frey, Bob Rice, & Edward Joyce, 1926)
Horses (with Fran Frey, 1926)
At Sundown When Love Is Calling Me Home (with Bob Borger, 1927)
The Best Things in Life Are Free (with Bob Borger, 1927)
The Varsity Drag (1927)
Blue Skies (with Fran Frey, Bob Borger, & Bob Rice, 1927)
A Precious Little Thing Called Love (with Ethel Sutta, 1929)
Beyond the Blue Horizon (with Bob Borger, 1930)
Lullaby of the Leaves (1932)
Say It Isn't So (with Paul Small, 1932)
The Last Round-Up (with Joe Morrison, 1933)

The Olympics

Song(s):
Western Movies (1958)
Good Lovin’ (1965)

Don Omar

Song(s):
Danza Kuduro (with Lucenzo, 2010)

OMC

Song(s):
How Bizarre (1996)

OMI

Song(s):
Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix) (2014)

OmPrakash

Alexander O’Neal

Song(s):
Criticize (1987)

Jim O'Neal

One Direction

Song(s):
What Makes You Beautiful (2011)
Story of My Life (2013)
Night Changes (2014)
Drag Me Down (2015)

Album(s):
Take Me Home (2012)
Midnight Memories (2013)

One Eskimo

Song(s):
Kandi (2009)

Melissa O'Neil

Song(s):
Alive (2005)

One Republic

Song(s):
Apologize (with Timbaland, 2007)
Counting Stars (2013)
I Ain’t Worried (2022)

Album(s):
Native (2013)

112

Song(s):
I'll Be Missing You (1997) – see Puff Daddy

The Only Ones

Song(s):
Another Girl, Another Planet (1978)

Yoko Ono

Song(s):
Walking on Thin Ice (1981)

Onyx

Album(s):
Bacdafucup (1993)

Operation Ivy

Album(s):
Energy (1989)

Orange Juice

Song(s):
Rip It Up (1982)

The Orb

Album(s):
Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (1991)

Roy Orbison

Influential early rock and roll singer/songwriter born 4/23/1936 in Vernon, TX. Died heart attack on 12/6/88 in Madison, TN. Had own band, the Wink Westerners, in 1952. Attended North Texas State University with Pat Boone. First recorded in early 1956 as leader of the Teen Kings. Toured with Sun Records shows in 1958. Toured with the Beatles in 1963. Member of the supergroup Traveling Wilburys in 1988.

Song(s):
Ooby Dooby (1956)
Only the Lonely (1960)
Running Scared (1961)
Crying (1961)
Working for the Man (1962)
In Dreams (1963)
Blue Bayou (1963)
Pretty Paper (1963)
It’s Over (1964)
Oh, Pretty Woman (1964)
Ride Away (1965)
Penny Arcade (1969)

Album(s):
For the Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1956-64, released 1989)

Orbital

Album(s):
Orbital 2 (aka "The Brown Album") (1993)

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Song(s):
Enola Gay (1980)
If You Leave (1986)

Carl Orff

German classical composer born 7/10/1895. Died 1982.

Album(s):
Carmina Burana (1936)

The Organ, the Dance Band & Me

Song(s):
My Dreams Are Getting Bigger All the Time (1946)

Orleans

Song(s):
Dance with Me (1975)
Still the One (1976)

Orgy

Song(s):
Blue Monday (1998)

Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Song(s):
Darktown Strutters’ Ball (1917)
Livery Stable Blues (1917)
Tiger Rag (1918)
Royal Garden Blues (with Al Bernard, 1921)
Margie (1921)

The Orioles

Song(s):
It’s Too Soon to Know (1948)
Crying in the Chapel (1953)

Orion the Hunter

Band formed by Boston members Brad Delp (v) and Barry Goudreau (g).

Album(s):
Orion the Hunter (1984)

Nicholas Orlando

Song(s):
Till We Meet Again (with Harry Macdonough and Charles Hart, 1919)

Tony Orlando (& Dawn)

Singer born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis on 4/3/1944 in New York City, NY.

Song(s):
Knock Three Times (1970)
Candida (1970)
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree (1973)

Eugene Ormandy

Classical conductor and violinist born Jen%u0151 Blau on 11/8/1899 in Budapest, Hungary. Died 3/12/1985.

Orpheus Quartet

Active: 1914-1919. Members: William F. Hooley (bass: 1914-18), Harry MacDonough (tenor), Lambert Murphy (tenor), Reinald Werrenrath (baritone).

Song(s):
Turn Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday (1916)
Mammy's Little Coal Black Rose (1917)
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (aka "Bring Back My Bonnie to Me") (1919)

Benjamin Orr

New wave bassist born Benjamin Orzechowski on 9/8/1947 in Lakewood, OH. Died 10/3/2000. With The Cars (1976-88, 2000 2010-11) and a solo artist (1986-).

Beth Orton

Song(s):
She Cries Your Name (1997)

Kid Ory

Song(s):
Ory's Creole Trombone (1922)

Roland Orzabal

Singer/songwriter and musician born 8/22/1961 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. With Graduate (1978-81) and Tears for Fears (1981-95, 2004, 2017-2022).

Album(s):
Tomcats Screaming Outside (2001)

The Osborne Brothers

Song(s):
Ruby, Are You Mad? (1956)
Rocky Top (1968)

Joan Osborne

Song(s):
One of Us (1995)

Album(s):
Relish (1995)

Ozzy Osbourne

Heavy metal rock singer born John Michael Osbourne on 12/3/1948 in Aston, Birmingham, England. With Black Sabbath ("Iron Man," "War Pigs") and later a solo artist.

Song(s):
Crazy Train (1980)
Mr. Crowley (1980)
Shot in the Dark (1986)
Close My Eyes Forever (1988) – see Lita Ford
Under the Graveyard (2019)

Album(s):
Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

The DMDB Blog:
Judge refuses to reinstate a lawsuit against Ozzy Osbourne’s "Suicide Solution": December 19, 1986 (12/19/11)

Sharon Osbourne

Rock manager born Sharon Rachel Levy in London, England on 10/9/1952. Daughter of rock promoter/entrepreneur Don Arden. Married to Ozzy Osbourne, whose career she managed. Also a TV personality (The X Factor, America’s Got Talent, Celebrity Apprentice<?i>, The Talk).

K.T. Oslin

Song(s):
Do Ya (1987)
I’ll Always Come Back (1988)
Hold Me (1988)
Come Next Monday (1990)

Album(s):
This Woman (1988)

Donny Osmond

Pop singer born 12/9/1957 in Ogden, UT. Recorded with siblings in The Osmond Brothers and with sister Marie as a duo.

Song(s):
Go Away Little Girl (1971)
Puppy Love (1972)
I’ll Make a Man Out of You (with Chorus, from Mulan, 1998)

Little Jimmy Osmond

Song(s):
Long Haired Lover from Liverpool (1972)

Marie Osmond

Song(s):
Paper Roses (1973)
Meet Me in Montana (with Dan Seals, 1985)
There’s No Stopping Your Heart (1985)
You’re Still New to Me (with Paul Davis, 1986)

The Osmonds

Song(s):
One Bad Apple (1971)
Yo-Yo (1971)
Down by the Lazy River (1972)

Vess Ossman

Ragtime banjoist born Sylvester Louis Ossman on 8/21/1868 in Hudson, NY. Died 12/7/1923.

Song(s):
Yankee Doodle Went to Town (1894)
Cocoanut Dance (1895)
Hot Time on the Levee (1896) – see Len Spencer
Yankee Doodle Went to Town (new version, 1897)
Honolulu Cake Walk (1898)
At a Georgia Camp Meeting (1898)
A Bunch of Rags (1899)
Whistling Rufus (1899)
The Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) (1900)
A Coon Band Contest (1900)
The St. Louis Rag (1905)
The Buffalo Rag (1906)
The St. Louis Tickle (1906)
Maple Leaf Rag (1907)

Mo Ostin

Record executive born 3/27/1927 in New York City, NY. With Verve, Reprise, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks SKG.

Gilbert O’Sullivan

Song(s):
Alone Again (Naturally) (1972)
Clair (1972)
Get Down (1973)

Clyde Otis

Johnny Otis

R&B bandleader, musician, producer, and disc jockey born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes on 12/28/1921 in Vallejo, California. Died 1/19/2012. Often called "The Godfather of Rhythm & Blues". Produced artists like Etta James, Jackie Wilson, Little Esther Phillips, and Big Mama Thornton.

Song(s):
Harlem Nocturne (1945)
Double Crossing Blues (Johnny Otis Quintette with Little Esther & The Robins, 1950)
Willie and the Hand Jive (1958)

Outhere Brothers

Song(s):
Don’t Stop (Wiggle Wiggle) (1995)

John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett

Song(s):
Josephine (1978)

Outkast

Atlanta-based male rap duo. Part of one-time collaboration The Dungeon Family. Active: 1992- Members: Andre "Dre, aka Andre 3000" Benjamin and Antoine "Big Boi" Patton

Song(s):
Rosa Parks (1998)
B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) (2000)
Ms. Jackson (2000)
The Whole World (with Killer Mike & Joi, 2001)
Hey Ya! (2003)
The Way You Move (2003)

Album(s):
ATLiens (1996)
Aquemini (1998)
Stankonia (2000)
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)

The Outlaws

Song(s):
Green Grass and High Tides (1975)
There Goes Another Love Song (1975)

The Outsiders

Song(s):
Time Won’t Let Me (1966)

Buck Owens

Country singer born Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. on 8/12/1929 in Sherman, TX. Died 3/25/2006.

Song(s):
Under Your Spell Again (1959)
Act Naturally (1963)
Love’s Gonna Live Here (1963)
My Heart Skips a Beat (1964)
Together Again (1964)
I Don’t Care Just As Long As You Love Me (1964)
I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail (1965)
Before You Go (1965)
Only You Can Break My Heart (1965)
Buckaroo (1965)
Waitin’ in Your Welfare Line (1966)
Think of Me (1966)
Open Up Your Heart (1966)
Where Does the Good Time Go (1967)
Sam’s Place (1967)
Your Tender Loving Care (1967)
How Long Will My Baby Be Gone (1968)
Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass (1969)
Johnny B. Goode (1969)
Tall Dark Stranger (1969)
Made in Japan (1972)

Album(s):
Carnegie Hall Concert (live, 1966)

Gary Owens

Radio DJ.

Jack Owens

Song(s):
How Soon Will I Be Seeing You? (with Eddie Bellantyne’s Orchestra, 1947)

Owl City

Song(s):
Fireflies (2009)
Good Time (with Carly Rae Jepsen, 2012)

Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Song(s):
If You Wanna Get to Heaven (1974)
Jackie Blue (1974)

Seiji Ozawa

O-Zone

Song(s):
Dragostea Din Tei (2004)

Ozuna

Song(s):
Criminal (2017) – see Natti Natasha
Te Boté (2018) – see Casper Magico
China (2019) – see Anuel AA

Click on a letter to choose a recording act ("S" for Bruce Springsteen, "B" for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards, short bios for select acts, and links to albums and songs reviewed by the DMDB.