Bruce Gillespie (born 1941 from Mount Abu in Northern India) came to Australia when he was fourteen. Wandering around the streets of his new country and being jobless he decided to cheer himself up by going to a dance hall. They had a singing competition where the prize was two pounds. Gillespie recalls ''I'd never sung before, but I did know this Nat King Cole number Autumn Leaves''. Well, he won the competition, and his career began at venues such as the Coburg Town Hall. This was in the late 1950s, the era of the 60-40, a variety dance program that mixed old-time with current dance styles. Gillespie left home for Brisbane to appear at the Theatre Royal's variety shows, and at the Chevron Hotel in Surfers Paradise. He then moved to Sydney where he was contracted by Sammy Lee to appear at his Latin Quarter nightclub in Pitt Street. At this time, Gillespie also appeared on TV music shows, mainly on Johnny O'Keefe's Six O'Clock Rock but also on Bandstand and Teen Time.
Because of his voice and appearance, Gillespie was often asked to sing current hits by such black American stars as Sam Cooke and Brook Benton. The B-side of ''Velvet Waters'' was ''Teen Age Love'', Bruce Gillespie's only songwriting credit (an unidentified Maurice is credited as co-writer), but it seems that all the loving care went into the A-side. A further single was released by HMV: ''In All The World / Look Over The Hill'' (1960). Gillespie then recorded two singles in Melbourne under the direction of Bruce Clarke at W&G: ''Jenny, Oh Jenny / They Really Don't Know You'' (1961) and ''M'magine Me Thinking/Two By Two'' (1961) which was also released in the USA. Bruce Gillespie made no further recordings, but he built a successful career as a club singer in Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including five years based in the Philippines. In 1978 he left music for other business pursuits, and he is now living in retirement in Queensland.
SINGLES
''Velvet Waters (#29) / Teen Age Love'' 1960 HMV''In All The World / Look Over The Hill'' 1960 HMV
''Jenny, Oh Jenny / They Really Don't Know You'' 1961 W&G
''M'Magine Me Thinking / Two By Two'' 1961 W&G
References
http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=412
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=412
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
Blessed to have spoken to this superstar today. Amazing voice. Sad he did not release other albums.
ReplyDeleteA punjabi superstar who was successful in Asia and Australia. I heard from somebody that he's in his late 90s now and has dementia. Sad if this is true.
ReplyDeletehe comes into my cafe!!!!! at Bundaberg. He is doing well you guys. Today he told me not to call him Sir only Bruce!
DeleteI met Bruce in Singapore in 1975 where he was the MC and singer for a Miss Asia event. He was happy he found some Aussies in the audience and we had drinks after the show. Nice guy.
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