Olympic Runners, a British funk band formed by record producer Mike Vernon, emerged from a group of session musicians assembled to record an album with blues musician Jimmy Dawkins at Olympic Studios in London. The band included multi-instrumentalist Pete Wingfield and vocalist George Chandler, along with other key members DeLisle Harper, Joe Jammer, and Glen LeFleur who were also part of the jazz-funk band Gonzalez. Their initial breakthrough came when Mike Vernon released a funk track, "Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is", which reached number 72 on the US R&B Chart in 1974. Olympic Runners released their debut album Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is in 1974. This was followed by Out in Front (1975), and Don't Let Up (1976). Their 1976 album Hot to Trot is often cited as one of their finest works, characterized by a spontaneous recording process that involved using improvised jams as the basis for new tracks. Notable singles from this period include "Grab It" and "Personal Thang". The band's commercial success in the US waned while it grew in the UK, culminating in hits like "Get It While You Can" and "Sir Dancealot" between 1978 and 1979. In 1979 they also recorded the theme tune for the film The Bitch, which featured Joan Collins. The group disbanded later that year. Later on, George Chandler became a member of Londonbeat. Drummer Glen LeFleur died on 22 December 2022, and the renowned producer and percussionist Mike Vernon died on 2 March 2026 at the age of 81.
