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The Olympics are an American doo-wop group formed in 1957, featuring lead singer Walter Ward, tenor Eddie Lewis (Ward's cousin), tenor Charles Fizer, baritone Walter Hammond, and bass Melvin King. They initially recorded as Walter Ward and the Challengers, releasing "I Can Tell" on Melatone Records. After changing their name, they achieved success with "Western Movies" in 1958, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reflected the era's fascination with western-themed entertainment. In 1959, The Olympics recorded "(Baby) Hully Gully," which sparked the Hully Gully dance craze, followed by "Big Boy Pete" in 1960, which inspired The Kingsmen's "The Jolly Green Giant." Throughout the next decade, they released upbeat R&B songs centered around popular dances. In 1965, they were among the first to record "Good Lovin'," which later became a No. 1 hit for The Young Rascals. Tragedy struck in 1965 when Fizer was shot and killed during the Watts riots, and King left the group after his sister's accidental death. Although a revamped lineup continued to record into the early 1970s, they struggled to achieve chart success after the mid-1960s. The Olympics remained active in the oldies circuit, performing in the United States and abroad. Eddie Lewis, the last original member, passed
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