Molly Oliver History

In the fall of 1974 on the final tour with Everyday People, Bruce Wheaton decided to move to Halifax Nova Scotia and continue his musical career based from the Maritimes. Bruce, Carson Richards, and Brian Fraser (keyboard player with Everyday People in it's final days) were intending on carrying on with a new band. Bruce spent some time looking around and talking to musicians from the Halifax area getting some ideas on what direction to go. Bruce ran into Bob Quinn at that time, they got together for a talk and decided to form a band. Bob and Tim Garagan were in the same situation (finishing with Pepper Tree and looking for a new project to get into). Bruce informed Brian Fraser of his plans with Bob and Brian moved back to Toronto. Then  Bruce, Bob, Tim & Carson began practicing at a cottage in Duncan's Cove, and the new band began. This rendition of the band was mainly for fun and to make some money  and play some of their favorite cover tunes. One day when the band was practicing the band had to decide on a name. Many names were thrown around at the time says Bruce. Laughable names like Everyday Tree, Pepper People and some others that don't come to mind. Tim Garagan came up with the name Molly Oliver, we all agreed that it was a neat name and decided to use it. It actually was the name of two dogs that lived around Duncan's Cove at the time. The band informed booking agent Skip Yorke about the name and he did some research with friend George Brothers and came back with "The Legend Of Molly Oliver" story. So that folks is the honest story of how the band got it's name, where the legend came from and how it began. 
Bruce Wheaton Guitar & Vocals

Tim Garagan Drums & Vocals

Bob Quinn Keyboards & Vocal

Carson Richards Bass

 

In 1975 Bob Quinn went off to Berkeley School of Music and Tim Garagan decided to perform as a soloist. 
At this point Bruce wanted to get back to working on his original music that he had been writing for sometime and to get back into the recording studio.
Bruce with Carson Richards still on board, contacted his old friend from Winnipeg 
(Drummer) Dutch Schultz. 
Mike Leggatt (Keyboards & vocals)  whose talent he admired since coming to Halifax. 
Tony Quinn (Guitar & Vocals)  who's talent he also had great respect for.
 

With this lineup in place the band began to work on original material and start recording.
 "Molly Oliver" released it's first single in 1976 on Big Harold's Records
B-side "Rainbow Woman" written by Tony Quinn
A-side "Straight In My Head" written by Bruce Wheaton

 

 
 

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1976

In the fall of 1976 Bruce acquired Larry Maillet on rhythm guitar & vocals.  This version of the  band was the hardest working unit of all, recording almost all  of the Molly Oliver material  that is available today.  The band recorded the Molly Oliver album first released on London Records and now available on CD as part of a compilation CD of all Molly Oliver material.
Pictured from the top
Dutch (Ken) Schultz - Drums
Left: Larry Maillet - Guitar Harp & Vocals
Right: Mike Leggat - Keyboards & Vocals
Bottom Left: Carson Richards - Bass Guitar
Bottom Right:
Bruce Wheaton - Lead Guitar & Vocals
     



 
MoMike Leggat performing with Molly Oliver at Dalhousie University in 1975
Bruce and Larry started performing together in 1976 with Molly Oliver and played together until 1986 when Larry left Molly and decided to  perform as a soloist. In 1999 they reunited again in Molly Oliver and have been playing together again for special shows ever since 
Mike Leggat was a member of  Molly Oliver from 1975 to 1983. He played Keyboards and sang vocal harmony on every Molly Oliver recording. Mike continues to be active as a player and teaching music at the Canadian Conservatory of Music in Halifax
Bruce Wheaton, Larry Maillet, and Mike Leggat were all part of the Molly Oliver reunion for the 
Classic Rock Concert at the Halifax Forum Oct. 4th / 2003.
 In 1975 Bruce Wheaton surprised Dutch Schultz with a phone call and told him there was a plane ticket paid for waiting at the air port, and to come join Molly Oliver. Dutch did come play with Molly Oliver from 1975 to 1978. Dutch played on all but 2 songs of the (London Records) Molly Oliver album. 
Carson Richards and BruceWheaton  played together for 10 years. Beginning in 1970 with Everyday People and continuing with Molly Oliver until Carson retired from the band in 1980. Carson played bass on all Molly Oliver recordings except Apology and Go Back Home.    
Dutch Schultz and Carson Richards rejoined Molly Oliver for the Classic Rock Concert at the 
Halifax Forum on Oct. 4th/ 2003  
 



Ian MacMillan was with the band a few short months and played drums on  two songs of the Molly Oliver album
 "Hey There" and "Greet Your Neighbour"



 


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The original recording band of "Molly Oliver" reunited for the "Classic Rock Concert" 
Halifax Forum Oct. 4th / 2003. The above video was a TV promotion for the event.

Molly Oliver's exceptional vocals are featured on their version of
"Carry On" /"Crosby Stills & Nash"
Taken from the "Molly Oliver album & CD
     



Molly Oliver recordings have been professionally remastered to CD CD includes 4 extra tracks that the band had recorded

for their second album
 
( 12 songs total )

Contact Bruce Wheaton to purchase your copy.
 
 



BRUCE WHEATON PH: 902-865-0115

e-mail: bwheaton@chebucto.ns.ca


Click Here For Bruce Wheaton's Musical History Website:

 
This is just the beginning of the Molly Oliver story! 
There is much more to come!!!