JONNE SANDS

                                               

Jonne Sands (real name John Sandstrom) was just short of his 16th birthday when he was groomed to take Normie Rowe's throne following the latter's controversial conscription. He certainly had the talent as well as the looks to make young girls swoon which brought immediate, albeit minor success in hometown Brisbane with his debut single "It's Your Life" in May 1968. His second single, "Mothers & Fathers" did even better, charting nationally, including a much-needed breakthrough in Sydney and things looked promising for him. It remains perhaps the song he's best known for now. Throughout his career, he was also a popular performer on TV shows in the southern states like Uptight and Bandstand. However, the hoped-for upper heights of pop stardom never quite happened for Jonne, despite further hits in Brisbane and a total of six singles on the Sunshine label over the next two years.

A one-off single for EMI/Columbia at the tail end of 1970 failed to reverse the trend and his last solo single, ''I Can Promise You Sunshine / Rikky Rikky'', a picture disc on Nuclear Productions, was issued in 1973. Not that his career ended in 1973. On the contrary, he then joined popular 60's harmony / rock band The Executives following their reformation the following year, replacing Gino Cunnico as co-lead vocalist with Carole King. With the rejuvenated group he cut three singles (on the Polydor label) as the band's vocalist as the band again enjoyed much success on the Sydney Club and Cabaret circuit. They also made regular TV performances on the popular night-time variety shows of Ernie Sigley, Don Lane etc as well as appearing on the also revived Bandstand. Jonne stayed with the Executives for the next four years, the band finally dissolving in 1978.

SINGLES

''It's Your Life / I'll Never Dance Again'' 1968 Sunshine
''Mothers And Fathers (#38) / Isn't It A Lovely Day'' 1968 Sunshine
''Change Of Mind (#100) / Gingerbread Man'' 1968 Sunshine
''I've Just Seen A Face / Yeah I'm Hip'' 1969 Sunshine
''Oh! Girl / Confessions Of A Lonely Man'' 1969 Sunshine
''Let The Sunshine In (From "Hair") / Wish It Were You'' 1969 Sunshine
''One Road / Candy'' 1971 Columbia
''I Can Promise You Sunshine / Rikky, Rikky'' 1973 Nuclear

EPs

'Mothers And Fathers' 1968 Sunshine

References

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/