ADE MONSBOROUGH

One of the top Australian musicians active in the trad jazz movement, Lazy Ade Monsborough (born 1917 in Melbourne) was an important force and a popular figure for decades in his native country. A versatile multi-instrumentalist who mostly played clarinet and alto sax, Monsborough was also a decent trumpeter and trombonist. Monsborough studied piano first before taking up reeds, valve trombone, trumpet and even recorder. He met pianist Graeme Bell early on and was part of his influential band regularly during 1944-52. Monsborough made many recordings with Bell's freewheeling band (with whom he toured Europe and Czechoslovakia) and had occasional opportunities to lead his own dates. In addition to playing with groups led by Roger Bell, Dave Dallwitz, Len Barnard and Frank Traynor, Ade Monsborough headed his own bands (which were called his Late Hour Boys), recording prolifically for Swaggie. He retired from fulltime playing in the 1970's. Monsbourgh became an officer in the Order of Australia (OA) in 1992, for services to music. Ade died at 89 in 2006 at Nathalia, near Echuca in Victoria.

SINGLES

''Twelfth Street Rag / Look Down The Road'' 1950 Wilco
''March Of The Bob Cats / Forgotten Woman’s Blues'' 1950 Wilco
''Passion Rag / Stomp It Around'' 1950 Jazzart
''Race Day Rag / Tell The Boys You Saw Me'' 1950 Jazzart
''Hook Line And Sinker / Backroom Joys'' 1952 Parlophone
''Hiawatha / Whistling Rufus'' 1961 W&G
''The Whistler And His Dog / Pipes Of Pan'' 1962 W&G

EPs

'Recorder In Ragtime' 1956 Swaggie
'Recorder In Ragtime - Volume 2' 1957 Swaggie
'Ade For Dancing' 1957 Swaggie
'More Recorder In Ragtime' 1962 W&G
'Sydney Or The Bush' [with Shirley Jacobs] 1972 RCA

ALBUMS

'Back Room Jazz With Lazy Ade Monsbourgh' 1954 Swaggie
'Recorder In Ragtime' 1956 Parlophone
'Lazy Ade And His Late Hour Boys' 1956 Swaggie
'I’ve Got What It Takes' 1970 Swaggie
'The Odds Are Against Me' 1971 Swaggie
'Wild Life' 1971 Swaggie
'All Steamed Up' 1988 Swaggie
'The Jazz Parade' 1989 Swaggie
'The Bush By Moonlight' [with Michael Colrain] 1991 ABC

References

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lazy-ade-monsborough-mn0001813930/biography

ERIC JUPP

Eric Jupp was born in Brighton, England, in 1922 and began to study piano at seven. He left school and started his musical career at fourteen, playing in nightclubs. He joined the R.A.F. at the outbreak of World War II. When the war ended, he went to London, where he soon became a prominent member of several leading big bands, working as a pianist, composer and arranger. Jupp worked as an arranger for both of Britain's top bandleaders of the period, Stanley Black and Ted Heath. Heath's all-star staff of arrangers included Jupp, John Dankworth, George Shearing and Wally Stott (later the musical director of The Goon Show). As pianist and arranger Jupp was also a long-serving member of the Oscar Rabin Band, one of Britain's most popular dance orchestras of that period.

In 1951 Jupp formed his own orchestra at the request of the BBC and began making regular radio broadcasts and also appeared in the Hammer Films TV series Bands on Parade. He began writing music for films in Britain, beginning with the crime drama The Secret Place (1957). Jupp first visited Australia in 1960 under short-term contract to the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), and during his visit he arranged the music for the single "First Kiss" / "My Secret" (July 1960) by pop duo the Allen Brothers, which included Peter Allen.

Jupp returned to England later in the year but in 1961 he was invited to join the ABC as musical director of its light entertainment department, based in Sydney. Soon after taking up his new post he formed the Eric Jupp Orchestra and launched his popular and long-running weekly ABC-TV series, The Magic of Music, which was seen in 29 countries and ran from 1961 to 1974. The series featured mainly "orchestral pops" and light classical music, but it also included regular jazz segments featuring notable Australian performers such as Don Burrows and George Golla. Jupp soon made a name for himself as a leading composer for film and TV in Australia. Undoubtedly his best-remembered composition is the theme for the popular 1960s TV series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. The long version (the B-side on the record) has lyrics written by Ted Roberts. 

In early 1968 Jupp moved to Norfolk Island, commuting by air to the mainland for his TV, radio and film work. Among his later film and television credits, Jupp was the music director for the 1971 Fauna Productions adventure series Barrier Reef. He composed music for the TV series Bailey's Bird (1977) and wrote the score for Michael Pate's 1979 film version of Colleen McCullough's first novel, Tim, starring Mel Gibson. It was Jupp who persuaded McCullough to settle on Norfolk Island after she shot to fame with her second novel, The Thorn Birds. Jupp was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995 for service to music.  In his retirement, Jupp and his family moved to Launceston in Tasmania. He died there in January 2003, after several months' illness.

SINGLES

''Song Of Songs'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''O, Dry Those Tears'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''Little Grey Home In The West'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''Trees'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''Bird Songs At Eventide [From "Second Symphonic Rhapsody] 1960 Pye Zodiac
''Sleepy Lagoon'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''I Love The Moon'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''Always'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''By The Waters Of Minnetonka'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''Brown Bird Singing'' 1960 Pye Zodiac
''I'll See You Again'' 1960 Pye Zodiac

EPs

'Frenesi' 1965 Festival
''Skippy The Bush Kangaroo' 1968 Festival
'Beautiful Norfolk Island' 1973 Bounty

ALBUMS

'The Magic Of Eric Jupp & His Music' 1967 Columbia
'Eric Jupp Presents Shirley McDonald' 1968 Columbia
'Adventures With Skippy The Bush Kangaroo' 1968 Parlophone
' The Rhythm Of Life' 1970 Columbia
'Making It Happen' 1970 Columbia
'The Romantic Magic Of Eric Jupp & His Music' 1971 Columbia
'No Strings Attached' 1972 Columbia
'There's Magic In Music' 1972 Summit

References

Eric Jupp - Wikipedia

HOME

Led by Glyn Mason following his departure from the famous Melbourne group Chain (and a short stint as leader of Copperwine when Jeff St. John left), this is what might be best described as country rock with some progressive elements. Mason went on to play with many other great Australian bands like Ariel, Richard Clapton and Stockley, See and Mason. Other members of Home had been in bands before with Gunther Gorman on guitar (ex-Salty Dog), Trevor Wilson on bass (ex-La De Das), Mal Logan on keyboards (ex-Healing Force/Carson) and Kevin ''Loppy'' Morris (ex-Hot Cottage) . 

Signed to Atlantic records they released their first album 'Home At Last' in 1973 recorded at Bill Armstrong's studio in Melbourne. Home played a sophisticated form of country rock, not dissimilar to the bands such as the Dingoes or early Little River Band or even the Savannah Silver Band. Phil Lawson (ex-SCRA/Bakery) replaced Wilson before Home released one other album in 1974, called 'Long Long Way To Nowhere' which featured the single ''Bang, Bang, Bang''.

Members

Glyn Mason (vocals,guitar), Gunther Gorman (guitar), Phil Lawson (bass), Kevin ''Loppy'' Morris (drums), Trevor Wilson (bass), Mal Logan (keyboards)

SINGLES 
''Maureen / Forget Me Not'' 1973 Atlantic
''Bang, Bang, Bang / Long, Long Way To Nowhere'' 1974 Atlantic
''I Wish My Feet Had Wings / Bird On My Guitar'' 1975 Atlantic

ALBUMS 
'Home At last!' 1973 Atlantic
'Long Long Way To Nowhere' 1974 Atlantic

  

References

http://rockonvinyl.blogspot.com.au/2011_09_01_archive.html

SUN

Originally from Wollongong, bassist Henry Correy, drummer Gary Norwell, brass and woodwind player Keith Shadwick, vocalist Ian Smith and guitarist, Allan Vander Linden, formed a blues band, King Biscuit, which played universities and the nightclub circuit in Sydney from 1968 to 1971. King Biscuit predominantly performed cover versions of Muddy Waters, BB King, Howlin Wolf, Sunnyland Slim and Buddy Guy. They also provided covers of psychedelic rock and soul songs of the late 1960s. King Biscuit changed their name to Sun with the departure of Vander Linden. The lineup was now George Almanza (piano), Henry Correy (bass), Garry Norwell (drums), Ian Smith (vocals) and Keith Shadwick (saxophone, flute, clarinet, vocals).

Ian Smith left the band and was replaced by Steve Phillipson (ex-Velvet Underground). Phillipson was replaced by Renée Geyer (ex-Dry Red) when he went on a surfing sojourn. Chris Sonnenberg was added on guitar. They evolved into a jazz rock band that played the wine bars and other major venues during the early 1970s. Sun's live repertoire was a mixture of jazz, psychedelic rock and blues, inspired by John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. All these styles were played with varying degrees of success but with much enthusiasm and peer interest. They were one of the first jazz-rock groups in Australia, challenging musical moulds of the day and garnering critical acclaim from the arts world. As a result, they appeared on ABC TV's arts show, GTK.

Early in 1972 the group signed with RCA Records' Australian subsidiary RCA Victor and started on their debut album, 'Sun 1972', which is their only commercial recording. It has all original material by the band members (and one past member). It was released in August 1972 by the Australian subsidiary of and produced by jazz entrepreneur, Horst Liepolt. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, opined that it is a, "collectable, progressive jazz-rock album." Sun Drummer Gary Norwell has said "It could be arguably said that the Sun album was not representative of the excitement generated by the bands live gigs as the recording was rushed (8 hours) and the band members were very young and inexperienced" and Norwell said ''I was suffering an attack of Bronchitis and did not give my best on the day." Norwell also said "with hindsight it is a fairly good effort given the antipathy or complete incomprehension faced by the band by the more conservative rock community at the time. I recommend those that are at all interested have a look at the GTK recordings available from the ABC archive in Sydney, before the archive is dismantled and disposed of as is planned by the current ABC Management." Liepolt later moved to New York and founded the Sweet Basil nightclub.

After the album was recorded Starlee Ford took Geyer's place in the band (Geyer joined Mother Earth) and under the influence of Shadwick and Norwell they explored the outer limits of free improvisation, retaining a strong blues connection as well. Ford's vocal range and openness to various styles of music proved was a crowd pleaser. Singer-songwriter, Richard Clapton, had a six-week stint as lead vocalist in early 1973. George Almanza left the band and keyboardist, guitarist, and songwriter Tony Slavich, joined the band. Norwell and Shadwick left the band shortly after citing a difference in musical direction. 

Sun continued for a couple of years with Correy, Ford, Slavich, and drummer Ian McLennan. This lineup played a more progrock style and toured Australia extensively, but Sun finally folded as an entity after a couple more years. The album 'The Rehearsal Tapes' was released in 2022 on ETT Imprint. It was recorded by Ian Shadwick at their rehearsals from very various venues (Arts Factory, Narrabeen, Bondi and Sydney Town Hall) from 1971 to 73. Pianist George Almanza died in 1973. Keith Shadwick died in 2008. Renee Geyer died in 2023.

Members

Renée Geyer (vocals), Keith Shadwick (saxophone, flute, clarinet, vocals), Ian Smith (vocals), Chris Sonnenberg (guitar), George Almanza (piano), Henry Correy (bass), Garry Norwell (drums), Richard Clapton (vocals), Starlee Ford (vocals), Tony Slavich (keyboards), Ian McLennan (drums), Justin McCoy (bass)

ALBUMS 

'Sun 1972' 1972 RCA

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_1972

SNIBBO

The original Snibbo was formed in 1971 out of Canberra, the band's name derived from a segment on the TV show The World of Beachcomber starring Spike Milligan, which featured an all-purpose product called "Snibbo". The idea to use the name came from original guitarist Dennis Flynn. Band members hailed from a number of established local outfits, among them The Casuals and The Chosen Few. Not long after the band formed, Flynn was replaced by Bernie Nizynski on lead guitar. 

In June 1972, Tony Hayes (formerly from local Hoadley's title-winners, Heaven), replaced John Thompson on bass guitar. It was with this new line-up, introducing Hayes fresh musical input, in cahoots with Peter Ilyk's blossoming creativity, that the band began to forge its reputation on Canberra's quite healthy live performing circuit, by presenting a highly polished mix of pop, rock and blues standards, together with deftly chosen progressive staples of the day; among them, pieces from Juicy Lucy, King Crimson, Deep Purple, Chicago and Jethro Tull. The band recorded two EPs on the Obbins label. The lineup for these recordings were: Roman Demkowski (vocals), Rod Eckersley (sax, flute), Tony Hayes (bass), Peter Ilyk (guitar, trumpet), Henry Sliwka (drums) and Bernie Nizynski (lead guitar).

Snibbo went on to become one of Canberra's (and its surrounds) biggest live attractions, securing solid fan support through its regular appearances at the established venues of the day (such as Xanadu and Zeplin), as well as at high school dances and regular Saturday night dance-hops like 'Berties' at the O'Donnell Youth Centre. They supported Slade, Status Quo, Caravan and Lindisfarne on their tour in 1973. The group finally disbanded in September 1975 and played its last performance at Wests Rugby Club in Jamison ACT. Most of the members went on to various other bands and musical activities.

Members

Roman Demkowski (vocals), Rod Eckersley (sax, flute), Dennis Flynn (guitar), Tony Hayes (bass), Peter Ilyk (guitar, trumpet), Andy Ingram (drums), Henry Sliwka (drums), John Thompson (bass), Bernie Nizynski (lead guitar)

SINGLES 
''Bazooka / Bike-Pump Rock / Burton Hall Boogie'' 1973 Obbins 
''I Don't Wanna See Your Face Again / S'Long Sally / Mama, Weer Alright'' 1973 Obbins 

References

http://www.milesago.com/artists/snibbo.htm

SKYLIGHT

Skylight formed from the ashes of popular sixties soul-rock band The Vibrants, which formed in Adelaide in 1965 and broke up at the end of 1971. The group was put together by keyboardist Geoff Skewes, who played in The Vibrants throughout their career, and Trevor Courtney (ex-Chants R&B, Cam-Pact), who was the drummer in the final 1971 Vibrants lineup. Skewes said, ''there came a time in my life when I felt that I had to get into something a little more original and a little bit more creative and I wanted to get a little more into songwriting and Trevor was the same. We got together for a jam session and the magic was just phenomenal and that was the very beginning of Skylight, which went on to become a sort of a funk, soul, jazz fusion type band that started in the end of late 1972.''

Skylight pulled together some brilliant musical talent. Of course there was Skewes on keyboards and Courtney on drums, who were joined by Greg Cook (ex-The Mixtures) on guitar, Mike Clarke on bass, Sunil De Silva on percussion and a young singer named Bonnie Lever.

''Someone knew her and said we know this little girl she’s only 16 or 17 but she’s got a real gravelly, tough soul voice like an African American female singer", said Skewes. ''So we just had a jam with her and that was it, she was in the band. When Bonnie joined we knew we had the line up that worked for us and, consequently, we got a record contract with EMI.''

The group spent 1973 sharpening their sound through copious live work, particularly in inner-city Melbourne and could often be found playing gigs with some of the likeminded bands at the time. A personal highlight for Skewes occurred in January of 1974 when the group secured a gig at Sunbury and found they were opening the festival. Not long after that they signed a contract with EMI to make the album 'Skyhigh'. It was produced in Melbourne by Ian Miller at Armstrong Studios. The title track from 'Skyhigh' was released as a single as a single in June 1974.

However, as good as the single was, it just couldn’t find a place on the radio. The music for many stations around the country was being programmed from one place in Sydney. If you couldn’t make their list, then you had a problem. ''At the time the airwaves were ruled by Gary Glitter, Suzie Quatro, Slade and that was what the AM station programmers programmed,'' said Skewes. 'We just couldn’t crack it to get enough airplay. 'We got album time, late night, all that sort of stuff, but we couldn’t get that drive and breakfast radio two or three times in four or five hours, which they used to do then with hit singles. We couldn’t get that so we probably didn’t get the record success that we felt we should have. We certainly put the work in.'

The album followed a month or so after the single. Most of the songs on it were written by members of the band with a couple of notable exceptions, like Donny Hathaway’s ''The Ghetto''. While cuts like these were great on the dance floors, they didn’t cut through on the radio and the album’s sales suffered. They released one further single, the non-album track ''Too Many People'', in October of 1974. It was an attempt to break through, but it didn’t work. Disappointed, the group split in the early months of 1975. Perhaps, many would say, just a little too soon. ''About six months later a band from Scotland called Average White Band had a big hit right around the world and had very successful albums. It’s a funny thing timing isn’t it?'' said Skewes. The album 'Skyhigh' was reissued on vinyl in 2016 by Universal out of Japan. Tragically Bonnie Lever died in a car accident in 1978 aged only 23. Geoff Skewes died in 2019.

Members

Bonnie Lever (vocals), Greg Cook (guitar), Mike Clarke (bass), Geoff Skewes (keyboards), Trevor Courtney (drums), Sunil De Silva (congas, percussion)

SINGLES 
''Skyhigh / Get It Happening'' 1974 EMI
''Too Many People / Give Me Your Love'' 1974 EMI

ALBUMS 

'Skyhigh' 1974 EMI

References

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/rarecollections/skyhigh-with-the-soulful-skylight/6246906

THE RAMRODS

The Ramrods hailed from the Bankstown area in Sydney's south-west. They would hardly stand out among the large number of obscure minor bands of the period, except for the fact that their manager, a young government pay clerk called Paul Keating, made something of a name for himself in politics. He joined the Labor Party, entered parliament, rose to be federal Treasurer and finally deposed Bob Hawke as leader of the Labor Party to become Prime Minister of Australia from 1991-96. Thanks to his rock'n'roll past, Keating became the first, and so far, the only prime minister to feature on the cover of Australian Rolling Stone magazine, in March 1993.

Interviewed about his stint as their manager, Keating famously quipped that he took them "from nowhere to obscurity". The Ramrods recorded two singles issued on EMI's Parlophone label in 1966. The Raven label combined them on the EP 'Enfield Energy' released in 1988. The band backed a few artists including The Bee Gees. Organist Gary Moberly went on to considerable success as a musician. He joined Sydney pop band Aesop's Fables (1968-70), and after that split in late 1970 he joined former Aesop's guitarist Brian Holloway, singer Ronnie Charles (ex-The Groop) and Richard Wright (ex-Richard Wright Group) in the shortlived Captain Australia & The Honky Tonk. Gary settled in the UK and became a successful session musician and musical director with credits including The Sweet, ABC, The Bee Gees, Mick Taylor, Prefab Sprout, Wet Wet Wet, Fine Young Cannibals, The The, Jody Watley, Talk Talk, Terence Trent D'Arby and The Damned.

Members

Barry Connors (vocals), Brian Hall (guitar), Barry Brady (guitar), Gary Moberley (keyboards), Ken Kramer (bass), Quentin Chadwick (drums)

SINGLES

''Since You Broke My Heart / Since I Don't Have You'' 1966 Parlophone
''You Shoulda Held On / Get Back'' 1967 Parlophone

References

http://www.milesago.com/artists/ramrods.htm

MANDU

The elusive and mysterious Mándu (real name Chris Moriatis, aka Chris Morris) is known mainly for his impressive vocals on two Lobby Loyde albums 'Obsecration' and 'Live With Dubs'. However, there is more to his story… Mándu arrived in Melbourne from Queensland in the early Seventies with hopes of securing a record contract. With a series of unsuccessful bands behind him, the singer had developed a new persona (Mándu) and written a peerless batch of songs that would form the basis of his extraordinary concept album 'To The Shores Of His Heaven'. Ex-pop star-turned-label boss Jon Blanchfield was so blown away by Mándu’s audition that he signed him on the spot and immediately put him into Armstrong’s studios to rehearse and record. 

The resultant album: 'To The Shores Of His Heaven', is one of the best and most original records ever made in this country – and a must hear for fans of Tim Buckley, Van Morrison and Terry Reid - at turns gentle and ethereal, spacious and mystical. Sadly, despite the stellar musical backing, (eg. Phil Manning, Barry Sullivan, Gary Young and Graham Lyle) a striking image, and Mándu’s incredible voice, the album was a disappointing flop. A follow up single, a highly original take on the Rolling Stones’ classic ''Gimme Shelter'', suffered a similar fate and after that, Mándu turned his back on a solo career. Mandu joined as vocalist in Lobby Loyde’s Southern Electric in late 1975 and recorded the classic 'Obsecration' album before leaving on the eve of the band’s move to the UK. Apart from teaming up with Loyde on the 1980 album 'Live with Dubs', there have been only sporadic sightings of Mandu, a disappointing end to such a promising start.

SINGLES 
''We Ran Across The Sky / Traveller'' 1974 Image
''Gimme Shelter / To The Shores Of His Heaven'' 1975 Image

ALBUMS 
'To The Shores Of His Heaven' 1974 Image

References

http://www.amazon.com/To-Shores-His-Heaven-MANDU/dp/B0013N489C

HOT COTTAGE

In 1969 with the exit of vocalist Gerry Anderson, Paper Grape evolved into Hot Cottage, a pop orientated outfit featuring multi layered harmonies, favouring the music of Neil Young and Buffalo Springfield mixed with the Brit styling’s of the Hollies and Beatles. Rick Suey from the band Rick and The Bad Boys was recruited as co vocalist, along with Greg Grace from The Flying Circus. The line up was completed with Hammond organist Dick Huxley (ex-Johnny Rebb & The Atlantics), Steve Hart on bass, Kim Humphreys on guitar and Kevin ''Loppy'' Morris on drums.

The band became an instant crowd pleaser and was quickly snapped up by EMI / Alberts. Their single ''Mr Soul'', received a ton of airplay of but was not a major chart success. In time, Greg Grace returned to the Flying Circus, keyboardist Dick Huxley lost interest and Rick elected to go and party 24/7 with his newfound friend, Easybeats singer Stevie Wright. The band then called on Barry Dominey (ex-Omen) to fill the vocal spot. Back down to a four piece, the band returned to the Paper Grape format of blues rock, embracing the new Brit sounds of Free, Rory Gallagher, Family and Spooky Tooth. The band supported The Kinks on the Sydney leg of their Australian tour in 1971. Their next single, ''Made To Love You'', was penned by Ted Mulry. The record did much better aided by weekly TV appearances on the four-hour Saturday morning music show, Happening 72. The band did a huge outdoor gig supporting The Kinks and Daddy Cool at Randwick Racecourse to a crowd of over 20,000. They finished up not long after.

Members

Rick Suey (vocals), Barry Dominey (vocals), Jim Willebrant (vocals), Steve Hart (bass), Kim Humphreys (guitar), Dick Huxley (organ, guitar, vocals), Alan Marshall (organ, guitar), Kevin "Loppy" Morris (drums)

SINGLES 

''Mister Soul / Bluebird'' 1970 Columbia
''Made To Love You / Sour Lovin' 1971 HMV

References

1969-1972: Hot Cottage (kimhumphreys.com)

AFRIKA

Formed in 1973 Afrika was a nine piece band heavily influenced by Earth Wind and Fire, Aretha Franklin, The Commodores Parliament and other great funk bands of the era. Afrika toured extensively around Australia for seven years from 1973 - 79.  As indicated by the personnel listing, it was very much a family affair, featuring several members of the Azzopardi clan. Joe and Marz Azzopardi had been members of Sydney band Bullett in 1971 who recorded on RCA.

They released their first single ''Fais-Do'' on the Sunshine label in 1974 under the name Africa. If this was a typo error it is unknown. Their second single ''Running From Your Love'' and their self titled debut album was released on the Axent label in 1979 but the group split the following year. Mary Azzopardi went on to considerable success in later years, working with Danny D'Costa and performing on recordings by The Rockmelons, Ian Moss, Margaret Urlich and Mondo Rock, The Angels, Billy Field, Dragon, Sunnyboys, Ana Christensen, Icehouse and Daryl Braithwaite.

Members

Joe Azzopardi (guitar/vocals), Marz Azzopardi (drums/percussion/vocals), Mary Azzopardi (vocals/saxophone), Rita Azzopardi (vocals/saxophone), Tony Azzopardi (percussion), Doug Charleston (bass), Warren Clark (trumpet), Steve Heard (keyboards), Chalky White (keyboards), Kevin Somerville (keyboards), Terry Stacey (bass), Jim Nejaim (bass)

SINGLES 
''Fais-Do / Never Die'' 1974 Sunshine
''Running From Your Love / Sticking With You'' 1979 Axent

ALBUMS
'Afrika' 1979 Axent

BIP ADDISON

Bip’s real name was Phillip - his baby brother couldn’t quite pronounce it. As early as 1962, Bip had performed as a solo singer on the Sydney dance circuit. He then formed his backing band, The Thunders; however, by late 1965, Bip had joined another Sydney band, The Fugitives. Come January 1966 and The Fugitives issued a single on Leedon, “All Your Lies / Baby Come Back”. Daily Mail reviewer Wal Wallis thought The Fugitives had “obviously quite a lot to learn about presentation and selection of material.” While still in The Fugitives, Bip had also performed as a solo artist. He’d been advertised as “Dip Addison (pop vocalist)” when he’d sung at the Thirroul Leagues Club in October 1965.

Bip's first single ''Young Man's Fancy / Hey'', released in August 1966, had no commercial success but its main claim to fame today is that both sides were co-written by Maurice Gibb and Nat Kipner and featured The Bee Gees as backing musicians. Both tracks were recorded at Ossie Byrne's short lived St Clair Studio in Hurstville, probably during June or July 1966. Bip suffered the indignity of having twenty screaming girls drag him off-stage when he performed his first single ''Young Man’s Fancy'' on the TV show Saturday Date. “I don’t mind,” was Bip’s comment on the bruising, “but it’s a bit awkward trying to look supple on stage when your back is ramrod stiff.” He was forced to wear a back-brace for several weeks. In 1971 Bip released another single: "Hey Girl / Hard To Handle". Addison died unexpectedly in July 1999. He had been working as a DJ in Sydney. His widow is well known Sydney actress Joanna Lockwood who had a starring role in Cop Shop.

SINGLES

''Young Man's Fancy / Hey'' 1966 Downunder
''Hey Girl / Hard To Handle'' 1971 Festival

KEVIN TODD

Kevin Todd (born 1943) from Hurstville, Sydney was a regular singer on Bandstand and Johnny O'Keefe's Six O'Clock Rock television show. When he was at school he had no interest in singing in the choir because his focus was on footy. What got him started was watching other people singing on TV and Todd said at the time, ''If they could it then I could do it so I gave it a try''. Until the singing bug bit him he was all set for a career in the wholesale fruit marketing business of his godfathers firm. In 1961 he released his first single ''Linda Lea'' on the HMV label. Also, in that same year he married fellow performer Laurel Lea. The pair often performed duets together. Todd released a number of singles during the 60s.  He supported Screaming Lord Sutch's tour in 1964. Todd would later move into the club scene.

SINGLES

''Linda Lea /I Look For A Love'' 1961 HMV
''One More Fool And One More Broken Heart / The Magic Of Summer'' 1962 HMV
''Wishing Well / Never More'' 1963 HMV
''I Could If I Wanted To / Why Can't We Love'' 1964 CBS

ROLAND STORM

Roland Storm was born Roland Hillcote in Rockhampton, Queensland. Roland's musical training goes back to his childhood. He began piano lessons at age four and later became a choirboy at St.Andrews cathedral in Sydney. He appeared on the Johnny O’Keefe Show, Teen Time and Sing, Sing, Sing. He also fronted The Statesmen who were the resident band at Coogee Surf Club and cut a couple of singles with them in 1963/64. He also released singles as a solo artist in the mid 60s on the In record label. He had a short stint with vocal group The Magnificent Males that recorded a single ''Mood Matcher / Are You Getting Any Love?'' in 1968. Storm has proved to be a firm favourite in no less than 25 countries around the world, with a career spanning from the sixties through to the millennium. Roland's formal classical vocal and piano training included seven years in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, equipping him with the essential skills for his stage performances.

SINGLES

''Heaven Only Knows / It's The Stomp'' 1963 HMV
''The Swingeroo / Girls'' 1964 HMV
''Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah / Shaking All Over'' 1964 HMV
''You Bug Me Baby / Soldiers Of Love'' 1965 In
''Cheryl's Goin' Home / Ain't You Got No Heart'' 1966 In
''Muleskinner Blues / J.O'K And Elvis Did It Too'' 1980 Rockabilly

ALBUMS

'Rollin' With The Flow' 1982 Rockabilly
'Rock 'n Roll Madness' 1984 Bunyip
'Roland Storm & Friends' 2001
'Roland Storm & Friends Volume 2' 2001
'Songs Of My Life'

VICKI SIMMS

William Victor Simms, known as Vic Simms and Vicki Simms, is an Australian singer and song writer. He is from La Perouse, New South Wales and is a Bidjiga Man. His singing career began at age 12 at the Manly Jazzorama Music Festival in 1957, soon after Col Joye heard him as an 11-year-old singing at a football social. He released his first single (as Vicky Simms), "Yo-Yo Heart" on Festival Records in 1961 at age 15. A follow up single, ''I'm Counting Up My Love / She's Got Soul'' followed in 1962. After getting into alcohol and committing a robbery he was sent to prison. Whilst incarcerated in the notorious Bathurst Gaol he learnt how to play guitar and started writing songs. 

In 1973 his music was heard by a Robin Hood Foundation and they sent a tape to RCA who organised to have him record an album. This album was recorded in one hour with a mobile studio in the prison dining room and was released as 'The Loner'. It has been described as "Australia's great lost classic album of black protest music". After the release of the album, he was sent on tours of other prisons, shopping malls and the Sydney Opera House as an example of a model prisoner. After he was convinced, he was being used he refused to continue the shows.  After his release from prison, he has re-entered the entertainment industry. He has toured Australian prisons and in 1990 he toured Canada with Roger Knox and Bobby McLeod where they played in prisons and on reservations. In 1996 he released a covers album 'From The Heart'. Simms was given a Deadly in 2001 for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music. In 2009 his album, 'The Loner', was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry. Simms sang "Stranger in My Country", in both the SBS documentary and accompanying cd, Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music.

SINGLES

''Yo Yo Heart / I Wanna Bop'' 1961 Festival
''I'm Counting Up My Love / She's Got Soul'' 1962 Festival

''Try To Understand / Back Into The Shadows'' 1973 RCA

''Hey Sherrif'' 1988 Enrec

EPs

'Yo Yo Heart' 1962 Festival

ALBUMS

'The Loner' 1973 RCA

'From The Heart' 1996 Bunyip

References

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

GINO CUNICO

Gino Cunico was born in Sydney on February 26, 1949. He recorded his first single ''Aw Please Daddy / Eeny Meeny Miney Moe'' at the age of 13 for the HMV label in 1962. In 1966 aged 16, Cunico formed, The Gino Affair. The first lineup featured guitarist Ray Burton but by late 1966 the lineup had changed to Cunnico, Jim Kelly, Tony Bolton, Tony Bowman and Bob Daisley (both ex-Dennis Williams & The Delawares). The group's name was shortened to The Affair at the beginning of 1967 but Cunico left a few months later after being invited to join leading pop-vocal group The Executives. The Executives was a very successful band scoring several singles that charted. 

In 1969 he left the band and travelled to the United States to try his luck. In 1972, Gino released the album 'Strive, Seek , Find' with his former guitarist Ray Burton on Paramount Records. In 1974, Gino started his solo artist career by releasing the album 'Gino Cunico' on the Kama Sutra label. In the mid 70s Gino met the famous American record producer and music industry executive, Clive Davis the founder of Arista Records. Gino signed the contract with Arista Records and released the album 'Gino Cunico' in 1976. He also recorded a number of singles on this label. His last known recording was on the Wizard label as Gino Cunico And Fugitive with ''Everytime I See Your Picture / Nothin's Like Nothin''.

SINGLES

''Aw Please Daddy / Eeny Meeny Miney Moe'' 1962 HMV
''Everytime I See Your Picture / Nothin's Like Nothin' 1984 Wizard

IAN CRAWFORD

Ian Crawford born in London in 1940 emigrated to Australia in the late 50's and before breaking into showbiz was employed by the Royal Exchange Insurance Co in downtown Sydney. Ian had his first Australian 45 released on the HMV label in 1960 ''Uptown/ DJ Blues''. Next, Ian signed with Lee Gordon and recorded on the Leedon label and had two minor hits ''The Golden Rocket'' in 1960 followed by ''Little Lover'' in 1961. He also appeared on the Johnny O'Keefe Show. In 1963 he hooked up with the late Australian female singer Laurel Lea and they were engaged. This union did not last, and Laurel married another singer, namely Kevin Todd the same year. 

In 1963 he returned to the UK and formed a backing band The Boomerangs that toured Europe. Whilst in West Germany Ian was flown into London to record a single for the Decca label ''Everlovin' Me / Love Is Getting Started''. Returning to Australia Ian continued to put out single releases. He also had one or two records issued in the US. The last significant event Ian was involved with worthy of a mention, was his contribution to Johnny Rebb's work in setting up his Ramrod Records operation in the mid-sixties. Ian Crawford died in 2003.

SINGLES

''Up Town / D.J. Blues'' 1960 HMV
''Golden Rocket / My Love Is Only In My Dreams'' 1960 Lee Gordon
''Outside / Will It Be'' 1961 Leedon
''Little Lover / Lost Weekend'' 1961 Leedon
''Linda Said To Say Hello / Yesterday Is Crowding My World'' 1968 Astor

LANA CANTRELL

Lana Cantrell was born on August 7, 1943, in Sydney and grew up in a home filled with music. Her father, a jazz musician, was a tremendous influence and she displayed prodigious musical gifts from a very early age. Singing and playing the piano at the Sydney Town Hall by age 10, she became a viable entertainment name on the concert stage and TV by her late teens. Lana had ambitions, however, that extended far outside of her native Australia. She was first heard on record when she cut an EP 'Introducing Lana Cantrell' on the Rex label in 1961. In 1963 she supported UK singer and actor Mark Wynter on his tour of Australia.

At age 19, long before phenom Helen Reddy put Australia on the Billboard singing map in America with her #1 "I Am Woman" feminism, Lana was chartering American waters seeking her fame and fortune. Her career began slowly in America, yet her determination and love for performing never wavered. Perhaps too quirky for mainstream stardom, she evolved into a popular marquee headliner especially on the night club and TV circuits. With the trendy, angular, slightly awkward looks of a Twiggy, with her boyishly cropped hair and large eyes, she was a highly emotive belter/chanteuse often compared to a Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Eydie Gormé or Lainie Kazan. 

Lana played nearly every Las Vegas hotel on the strip during her prime and wound up appearing on Ed Sullivan's popular variety show a whopping 15 times. A foreign import favorite on a host of variety show formats including Kraft Music Hall Presents and Red Skelton's weekly series, she served as a vibrant opening act for such stars as Jerry Lewis on the road.

Lana moved strongly into the recording arena with seven albums/CDs recorded for RCA. With such titles as 'Another Shade of Lana,' 'Lana!' and 'Act III: Lana Cantrell,' a number of her singles found status back in Australia, but her Billboard charting in America was not a success. One of her songs, "Like a Sunday Morning," reached #63 in 1975. Her taste was eclectic for the changing times yet each had her own personalized stamp on them -- "I'm All Smiles," "Since I Fell for You," "If You Go Away," "I Will Wait for You," 'I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise," "What Now My Love," "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "When You Wish Upon a Star". For every nostalgic "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby" on an album, one could also find an odd, contemporary version of a rock song such as "The House of the Rising Sun". She wasn't ahead of her time or behind the times; she merely sang and swayed to her own beat and style, refusing to be pigeon-holed. Many would say that made her relevant for all times. She was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in the Grammy Awards of 1968.

Lana spread her wings to include musical theatre as well, playing the role of Dorothy in a 70s stage version of The Wizard of Oz alongside baritone star Alfred Drake. But she was at her best on the concert/festival circuits and she performed all over the world -- from New York's St. Regis and Waldorf-Astoria hotels to the Sydney Opera House. In 1973 she returned to Australia and did a residency at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne.

The never-married singer is a dedicated yoga disciple and, sports-wise, was once the table-tennis champion of New South Wales. Never one to be pinned down to any single interest, Lana retired from singing in 1988 (age 45) to pursue a law degree. She now practices entertainment law in New York. In 1996 she made an isolated singing appearance at the Sydney Festival Club to much public clamor and has since showed up on a rare occasion.

SINGLES

''Moscow Nights / Mama May I'' 1962 Festival
''Stay (Reste) / I Love Him'' 1966 RCA
''Since I Fell For You / Breakfast At Tiffany's'' 1967 RCA
''Theme From "The Sand Pebbles" ("And We Were Lovers") / Confession'' 1967 RCA
''How Can I Hurt You / Sunshine'' 1967 RCA
''Catch The Wind / The Good Times We Had'' 1968 RCA
''Tomorrow Is The First Day Of The Rest Of My Life / I Let The Moment Slip By'' 1969 RCA
''Like A Sunday Morning / Good Times'' 1975 Polydor
''Like A Sunday Morning / Good Times'' 1978 Wizard

EPs

'Introducing Lana Cantrell' 1961 Rex

'Australia's Great Talent' 1967 Festival

ALBUMS

'And Then There Was Lana' 1966 RCA
'Another Shade Of Lana' 1967 RCA
'Lana!' 1968 RCA
'Act III' 1968 RCA
'The 6th Of Lana' 1969 RCA
'The Now Of Then!' 1969 RCA
'If You Go Away' RCA

References

Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net