The east coast's isolation from the rest of Canada's music scene always played part in its unique sounds. Bruce Wheaton formed "Molly Oliver" in Halifax N.S. in the fall of 1974 after the demise of his band "Everyday People"... the band's origins began in the fall of 1974 after Bruce Wheaton (songwriter, producer, vocalist & guitarist) the driving force behind "Everyday People" decided to move to the East Coast and start anew.... Carson Richards (bassist) & Bruce Wheaton from "Everyday People" hooked up with former members of "Pepper Tree"... Tim Garagan (drums / vocals) and Bob Quinn (keyboards / vocals) to form "Molly Oliver".....

The group's name according to legend was inspired by an 18th century madame named Molly Reed who came to Halifax from England. She married an English sea captain named Charles Oliver and following his death during the War of 1812, she took command of his ship and became a pirate, raiding and looting the Eastern Seaboard. Though it's quite the tale, there's no truth behind it. "Molly" and "Oliver" were actually two dogs that lived near the band's original practice place in Duncan's Cove, outside of Halifax NS.....

This original band got together mainly to make some money and have fun by playing some of their favourite tunes.... but not originally for recording or performing their own original songs...The band played the local circuit  for about a year with this original lineup....When Tim Garagan decided to go out on his own Bruce's friend and drummer Ken (Dutch) Schultz joined the band along with Tony Quinn... formerly of Moon Minglewood and The Universal Power, Tony wasn't related to Bob... Bob Quinn soon left the band and went off to university as he had planned....  Mike Leggat then joined the band and with this lineup Bruce then led the band in the direction of working more on original music and searching for a recording deal ... The band soon released their first single on "Big Harold Records" The (A) side "Straight In My Head" written by Bruce Wheaton  backed by Tony Quinn's "Rainbow Woman"... Shortly after its release Tony Quinn left the band and was replaced by new rhythm guitarist & vocalist Larry Maillet. With this lineup the band seriously got into working on Bruce's original songs and soon signed a recording contract with "London Records" Canada.....

The band got the attention of record execs while continuing along the tour trails and signed a deal with London Records. Their revolving door policy continued while cutting tracks in "Le Studio" in Morin Heights, QB.  Ken "Dutch" Schultz left in the middle of the sessions and was replaced by Ian MacMillan. Their self titled debut hit the shelves in the summer of '78, polished and with a flare, with Bruce Wheaton acting as chief songwriter. "Greet Your Neighbour" was the band's second single and got some airplay across the country, backed with "Living A Dream." Other noteable tracks from the album included the other singles the 1st release was "You Didn't Listen To Me" and "Somebody New In My Eyes," the band's 3rd and last release on 'London Records'.... both singles received considerable play across the country.... the band also recorded a cover of Crosby Still Nash & Young's "Carry On."

But troubles were abrew back at London Records headquarters, and unfortunately for the band the label closed its doors and "Molly Oliver" found themselves without a recording contract.... The band continued on the circuit for a couple of years while searching out a new deal. The revolving door continued to spin, and when they went back to Le Studio in Morin Heights in '81 the lineup was Wheaton, Richards, Shultz, Leggat and Maillet. But before the recordings were done, Dutch Scultz was replaced by Terry Hopkins on drums and Carson Richards had bowed out of the group, replaced by new bassist Bo Hanson. Paul Northfield, whose credentials included the likes of Rush and The Bee Gees was hired to lend a hand to Bruce Wheaton with production on a new recording project... Molly Oliver then came out with a self-released
4 - song "EP".... which was released the following spring. Along with a rehashing of "Greet Your Neighbour," it contained the lead-off track  "Apology" & "Go Back Home" written by Bruce Wheaton...."Apology" was released as a single and received extensive airplay throughout the Maritimes.... The relative success of the song landed them an opening gig for The Beach Boys at the Halifax Metro Centre.... But by then Peter Jackson had replaced Mike Leggat on keyboards, Mike Gaudet was now on Bass and Ben Cassidy was the new drummer.... Ben stayed for a short while and was then replaced by Robert Biggs... Don Rodgers was  now on keyboards, saxophone & vocals.....

This lineup carried on for a year or so.... Then in the last year of "Molly Oliver" Neil Robertson was on drums, Mike Gaudet had left and then Ian MacDougall was the new bassist soon followed shortly by Donnie Morris whom Bruce had played with before in "Stitch In Tyme" & "Soma".... Larry Garden came onboard on keyboards & vocals.... Bruce decided in the fall of 1987 to end "Molly Oliver" and begin his solo career.... In '87 Bruce Wheaton's song "Keep On Giving" a song written for "Famine Relief"for Africa's continuing need for aid debuted when he and 60 other musicians held a benefit show at the "Crazy Horse" in  Dartmouth, NS. The song was recorded and released with all proceeds from the sale of the record and concert went to the Red Cross.

Bruce Wheaton, Molly Oliver's co-founder would start up his own home studio and enjoy a modestly successful solo career. He reuinited with with Larry Maillet, Mike Gaudet and added Doug Mackay on drums and Andre Leblanc on keys and played several "Molly Oliver" concerts in 1999 and beyond..... The original recording band of "Molly Oliver" reunited for a "Classic Rock" concert at the "Halifax Forum" in the fall of 2003....  Various versions of the group still get together for the on-again, off-again dates. The '78 debut album was remastered and re-released in 2003 as "MOLLY OLIVER IN THE STUDIO" along with four bonus tracks - "Apology" and "Go Back Home" from the '83 EP, the previously unreleased "Open Up" and "Straight In My Head," the band's first independent single.