1995.
Olive was formed in 1995 and consits of singer Ruth-Ann, keyboardist Tim Kellet and beatmeister Robin Taylor-Firth.
Kellet was a member of the band Simply Red for their first nine year, as well as occasional collaborator with UK pop-soul band Lighthouse Family. Taylor-Firth was one of the original Nightmare on Wax members. Ruth-Ann used to sing in local bands in Sunderland where she's from. She had not been singing professionally before Olive was formed.
Kellet and Taylor-Firth accidently found the Ruth-Ann, Kellet was playing at a gig in Portugal with Durutti Column
and they had sampled her voice. He loved it so much so he asked them 'who is the vocalist I'm making tape loops of?'.
The trio meet and there was an audition for the song "Miracle" and the rest is history.
1996-1997
In 1996 they released "You're not Alone" in England but it wasn't such a success. The single only reached to ..41 on the charts. But as an import in the US it got great respone from DJ's like Danny Tenaglia and Kimball Collins, but also from LA's dance station Groove Radio. It was re-released in 1997, now with more mixes by for example Rollo & Sister Bliss, and it went right into ..1 on the charts.
Their third single was "Outlaw" and it was released in the summer of 1997.
Their favorite style is Drum'n'Bass, but there are all sorts of influences on the album - from dub to jazz. The album was done in May 1996 and after that they went on a tour. When they play live it's basically a seven-piece band. It's Ruth-Ann, Tim and Robin. Ruth-Ann sings, Robin does live dubs and has a mixing desk and also plays live keyboards. Tim also plays the keyboards and trumpet. They have a guitarist, a bass player, a backing vocalist and a drummer. According to themselves it sounds very 'live' which obviously surprised their record company, when they heard them live.
They have made a great success in USA and the album "Extra Virgin" was released in the end of August 1997 on
RCA Records.
1999
Ruth-Ann appears on vocals on Enigma's hitsingle "Gravity of Love".
Olive ends it's agreement with RCA.
2000
Ruth-Ann appears as a vocalist on 2 songs on the Enigma album "The Screen Behind The Mirror:
"Gravity of Love" and "Silence Must Be Heard".
Maverick Recording Co. has signed Olive. The band made their first appearance on the Maverick soundtrack to
"The Next Best Thing" with a cover of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love". Tim Kellett and vocalist Ruth-Ann are now preparing
their official Maverick debut with "Trickle" on May 30th. The twelve track has been composed by Kellett, Ruth-Ann
and/or Peter Vettesse, with the exception of the Gouldman/Stewart-penned "I'm Not In Love".Olive hadn't even started looking for a new record deal, when Maverick began showing interest.
2003
Ruth-Ann is featured on the Enigma album "Voyageur".
