Ollie Gabriel is from a small town in Louisiana and grew up in a family of artists. As a child he listened to soul stars like Bobby Womack or Tyrone Davis. He would hear his parents playing those records in the living room, which entranced him and made him want to try everything. Drums, church organ, trombone - he tried it all in his school band. „Like most I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a young kid, I wanted that power to move people emotionally.“ The natural talent, learned from his idols that it is not about trying to copy something, but about creating something unique. „I fell in love with Motown. I liked the gritty street soul music of Curtis Mayfield and those types. I’m also a big fan of bands like Metallica, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. I appreciate music of various different genres. From artists like Garth Brooks to Tupac and Biggie - it is the diversity that has made me into the artist that I am today.“
Ollie Gabriel has performed in Sofar San Diego.