Karin Oliver

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Karin Oliver in concert with His Name Is Alive in 1998.
Karin Oliver in concert with His Name Is Alive in 1998.

Karin Oliver is a former singer for Livonia, Michigan's His Name Is Alive. During her tenure with the band (1989-1998), she became a fan favorite because of her impressive vocal range. Due to HNIA's status as a mostly underground, indie rock band, it was necessary for her to hold other jobs while a member of the band. After leaving the band following the USA release party for the Ft. Lake album, she pursued a career in marketing full time.

Oliver's departure was a sore point for many fans of the band, who felt that her vocals were the defining point of the band's ever-evolving sound. After she left, vocalist Lovetta Pippen rose to the forefront for two HNIA albums. Pippen's background as a gospel and soul vocalist changed the band's sound considerably, leaving many fans pining for the early years when Oliver handled vocals.

Currently, Oliver's cousin Andrea, who goes by the stage name Andy FM, is now the primary vocalist for HNIA. Andy FM's vocal style is somewhat reminiscent of her cousin, as evidenced by her first album with the band, 2006's Detrola. Many fans who were disappointed with the soul/R&B-influenced direction of the Pippen-lead albums have since returned, making Detrola one of the band's most successful albums to date, both commercially and critically.