SMACKA FITZGIBBON

Graham Francis Fitzgibbon was an icon of the Melbourne jazz scene. He was born at Mordialloc on 12 February 1930, the son of Francis (Frank) Fitzgibbon, clerk and Minnie née Mitchell and younger brother to actress-singer Maggie Fitzgibbon. Educated at St Bede's College in Mentone, 'Smacka' as he was popularly known began first playing the ukulele at an early age before switching to the banjo. His earliest influences were Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong.

In 1951 he began playing with Frank Johnson’s Fabulous Dixielanders, and later with the father of Australian jazz, Graeme Bell, before forming his own band The Steamboat Stompers. He recorded his first EP in 1953 'Frisco Joe’s Bar Room Party' on the Magnasound label. He recorded a few more singles and EP's in the 1950s. In 1967 Smacka opened Melbourne’s first jazz restaurant La Brochette (Studley Park Road, Kew, Victoria) and later in May 1971 Smacka’s Place (Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne) which became a Melbourne institution; his recipe for an enjoyable night out was an ample supply of “good food, good liquor, and good entertainment”. 

Described as “Plump and smiling with a warm and friendly, genial personality” Smacka was a much-loved entertainer, a rare breed who left a smile on everyone’s face was a regular performer on Melbourne television shows, notably Sunnyside Up, In Melbourne Tonight and The Penthouse Club. In 1970 Smacka was one of the first signings to Ron Tudor's new record label Fable. His first single ''Waterloo Road'' did OK and sneaked into the bottom end of the charts. In 1972, the jovial Australian jazzman recorded the title song of the movie The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, which was released as a single that same year, reaching #20 on the Australian Singles Chart (Go-Set) in December 1972. He was a mate of Australian satirist Barry Humphries. Smacka released three albums on Fable, 'Smacka's Place' (1972), 'Smacka's Party Album' (1973) and 'Smacka Looks Back' (1976).

Having had a malignant tumour removed in 1955, on 1 September 1977 Smacka collapsed during a radio broadcast on 3LO in July 1979 he was told the end was nigh and died from a cerebral hemorrhage on 15 December aged 49 survived by his wife Faye née Hommelhoff whom he married on 31 October 1959 and four children.

Several thousands attended a rather colourful funeral service - “Mass for Smacka” - with Frank Traynor’s Jazz Preachers playing the New Orleans hymn “Oh Didn’t He Ramble” for the funeral march in honour of the man described “as Melbourne as the Yarra River”. On 8 November 2004, a tribute show Remembering Smacka was performed by his daughter Nichaud at The Arts Centre, Melbourne, in honour of the man best remembered for his popular jazz club, his dapper dress code (spotted bow ties, striped jackets, checked pants and two-tone shoes) and his passionate love of vintage cars - he collected Packards). The Victorian Jazz Archive featured 'Smacka' in its Fitzgibbon Dynasty exhibition.

SINGLES 
''Waterloo Road (#66) / That's My Girl'' 1970 Fable 
''A Little Bit Of This And A Little Bit Of That / Coney Island Washboard'' 1971 Fable 
''Honey Pie / A Girl Named Mary'' 1972 Fable 
''The Adventures Of Barry McKenzie'' (#20) 1972 Fable 
''Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven / Honey Hush'' 1973 Fable 
''I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas / Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye'' 1975 Fable 
''I've Got Them Feelin' Too Good Today Blues / Just One More Chance'' 1976 Fable 

EPs 

'Bar Room Party - Volume One' [with Frisco Joe's Goodtime Boys] Magnasound 1953
Housewarming Party Vol 1 [with Frisco Joe's Goodtime Boys] Paramount 1954
'The Perfect Party Record. Volume 1' [with Frisco Joe's Goodtime Boys] 1957 Magnasound
'The Perfect Party Record' 1957 [with Frisco Joe's Goodtime Boys] 1957 Magnasound

'Smacka With Momma's Jazz' Paramount
'Smacka At Sea' 1972 Fable
'Smacka Fitzgibbon' 1973 Fable

ALBUMS 
'Frisco Joe's Good Time Jazz!' Paramount 
'Frisco Joe And Smacka' Swaggie Records

'Smacka's Place' 1972 Fable
'Smacka's Party Album' 1973 Fable
'Smacka Looks Back' 1976 Fable 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smacka_Fitzgibbon

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