Ollie & Jerry

Drummer Ollie E. Brown and bassist Jerry Knight were first-call recording session musicians. The native Detroiters formed the rhythm nucleus of fellow Detroiter Ray Parker Jr.'s band Raydio. Knight sang lead vocals on Raydio's gold Top Five R&B/Top Eight pop smash "Jack and Jill." As an A&M recording artist,Knight forged an intriguing rock/R&B/funk mix with producer David Kershenbaum on the Top 17 R&B hit "Overnight Sensation" from the LP Jerry Knight and on Super Rare Disco, Vol. 2. Brown produced sides for Klique, Patti Austin, Latoya Jackson, and the Rolling Stones. Polydor Records exec Russ Regan asked Brown to contribute songs to the soundtrack of the breakdancing-themed movie Breakin'. While watching scenes from the movie during a pre-release screening of the movie, a line uttered by one of the character's got Brown's attention, "they can't stop us." While collaborating on the song idea with Knight, the two began to reflect on their music biz travails. Issued as Ollie and Jerry, "Breakin'...There's No Stoppin Us" went to number three R&B and number nine pop in the summer of 1984. The 12" extended version features a more echoey, cavernous mix and burning synth bass with an instrumental on the flipside. The duo returned on the soundtrack for the sequel Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo which included "Electric Boogaloo" which made it to number 45 R&B in late 1984. Knight later co-wrote and produced sides on the Jets, Bunny DeBarge, Natalie Cole -- Everlasting -- and Patrice Rushen -- Watch Out. "Breakin'...There's No Stoppin Us" is on Disco Nights, Vol. 7: DJ Pix, Breaking Homies, Billboard Top Dance Hits:1984, Dance Dance Dance: Dance Hits of the '60s, '70s, & '80s, and Decades of Dance '60s '70s & '80s. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide