THE DEAKINS

The Deakins were a Melbourne-based band created in 1963, originally as a 1960s pop, surf rock quartet, with Jeff W Donoghue on bass guitar, Ian Kinkead on drums, Bob Millar on lead guitar and Gary Schober on rhythm guitar. Each member would also participate with vocals. They reformed as a trio and later as a quintet. They performed in Melbourne, Geelong, Torquay and Warrnambool. In developing their sound, they focused on three-part vocal harmonies. Jeff Donoghue used a Fender Bass VI (six string bass guitar), as part of his performance. For over three years, they were the resident band at a Geelong Saturday dance venue, Surf City, later renamed, Teen Scene. They also worked at many surf club dances along the Victoria southern coast.

During the years, 1964 to 1965 each member turned 18-years-old and, with Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, each registered for possible conscription into National Service. None were chosen to serve, and the group decided to turn professional. Their decision to do so, in 1965, resulted in Gary Schober departing. They were part of the second wave of rock and roll in Australia. As a trio of Jeff Donoghue, Ian Kinkead and Bob Millar, in 1966 the Deakins were signed to the GO!! label.

In one morning, session, early in 1966, the Deakins' Go!! recordings were produced by Ron Tudor and engineered by Roger Savage at Armstrong Studios in South Melbourne. They recorded four tracks, for two singles, "Tonight You're Gonna Fall in Love with Me" (cover version of the Shirelles' 1964 track) and "Take Me for a Little While" (originally by Evie Sands in 1965), which were both issued in 1966. For their second single the A side was ''Take Me For A Little While'' while the B-side was "Look and Learn", written by Donoghue, with guitar arrangement by Millar. During 1966 they regularly appeared on TV pop music shows, Kommotion and The Go!! Show, both broadcast on ATV-0.

In 1967 Kommotion finished up early in the year, while The Go!! Show ended in August. Go!! Records ceased by 1968. Consequently, along with a wave of other artists of the time, the Deakins' GO!! era had ended. The group continued working in the club and pub circuit. During the Vietnam War, in the early 1970s, Kinkead, departed the group to join with other musicians to entertain the American soldiers serving in Southern Vietnam. When Kinkead returned to Melbourne in 1972 they reformed as a quintet, with Donoghue, Kinkead and Millar, joined by two new members from Kinkead's Vietnam experience. The group, with a second lead singer and a keyboard player, performed in a new music era, the Australian pub rock scene. The 1960s weekend dance hall venues were obsolete. External pressures and demands caused the Deakins to disband in 1973. Their last appearances were at the Blackburn Hotel.

Members

Ian Kincade (drums), Jeff Donahue (bass vocals), Bob Miller (guitar) Gary Schober (guitar)

SINGLES

''Tonight You're Gonna Fall In Love With Me (#88) / I'll Make You'' 1966 Go!!
''Take Me For A Little While (#79) / Look And Learn'' 1966 Go!!

References

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

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