Bobby Orlando
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Ottawan were a disco duo in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Career
They were fronted by lead singer Jean Patrick (born 6 April 1954, in Martinique) and Annette (born 1 November 1958), with Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger the main songwriters. They are best known for their two hit singles "D.I.S.C.O." and "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)". They also performed "Hello Rio" a song produced and written by Bobby Orlando, also known as Bobby O. He is more famous for founding The Fast later to be known as Man 2 Man, Divine, The Flirts and producing some early recordings with The Pet Shop Boys.
This band was created to appeal to the gay section of the disco community. The band was originally founded by Patrick - as Black Underground. He was introduced to Kluger by Vangarde, who managed the band. Under the new name of Ottawan, they were active over a three year period from 1979 to 1981. They were signed to the French record label, Carrere.
In the United Kingdom they had two Top Ten UK Singles Chart hits. "D.I.S.C.O.", the act's debut single, reached number two in September 1980; "Hands Up" peaked at number three nearly a year later.
In France, their single "You're OK" (French title "T'es OK") is one of the top 50 best selling singles of all time.
Patrick quit the band and organized a new duo, Pam 'n Pat, with whom he scored another European dance hit, "To Be Superman" in 1982. Later, he re-organized Ottawan and toured Europe with his new partner, Tamara.
Soon after Patrick quit again with the group and started his solo project " Ottman Jones", Esther de Bijl continued Ottawan with the new singer Robert Walker. They are still touring the globe today.Template:Fact
Trivia
- Vangarde is the father of Thomas Bangalter, one of the members of Daft Punk.
- "Hands Up" reached the Number #1 spot in the New Zealand music charts during 1982, staying there for eight weeks.
- Help Get Me Some Help was sampled and the main lyrics reused in Charly Lownoise and Mental Theos Wonderful Days, the song is however originally written by Tony Ronald.
- Songs D.I.S.C.O., You're OK! and Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart) were also recorded in French, under the titles D.I.S.C.O., T'es OK! and Haut Les Mains (Donne Moi Ton Coeur).
- Song You're OK was copied in Indian Film Disco Dancer as Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja Aaja
Significant singles
- "D.I.S.C.O." - UK #2
- "You're OK" - UK #56
- "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)" - UK #3
- "Help, Get Me Some Help!" - UK #49