Carrl Myriad Tregoning was an Australian rock and folk musician. His father was Cornish, and he derived a sense of Celtic identity from him: “I was born in Melbourne and brought up on the popular culture around me, American movie and music, and television (mainly American). I started playing guitar in my teens wanting to emulate the rock heroes of the time. Then the “Folk revival” came long and swept me into a whole new musical world. I discovered songs from places I didn’t know existed. I found there were even folk songs from Australia, Eventually I was playing in a bush band, then I travelled the country writing songs about things that had happened in the places I saw, mainly bushranger stories''.
He formed a duo with his wife Janie, and they played on the Melbourne circuit in the early 70's. It was one of the first country/folk/rock bands in Australia and they called themselves Myriad. Some of the players in that band included several future members of The Sports including guitarists Andrew Pendlebury and Ed Bates and bassist Rob Glover. Other members of note include Mark Ferrie of The Models and now part of the RokWiz Orchestra, plus Chris Wilson who was in Buster Brown and has played with Broderick Smith for many years. For a long time, the band held a residency at the famed Station Hotel in Prahran and even had three tracks appear on the 'Live At The Station' various artists album which came out in 1976. By that time Carrl & Janie had separated and Janie reverted to her maiden name Janie Conway, helping to form, with Jane Clifton, another popular band of the late 70's, Stiletto. Janie is also the sister of Mic and Jim Conway of Captain Matchbox/Backsliders fame. Quite a talented family indeed.
SINGLES
''Last Saturday (We Fell In Love Again) / I've Got My Heart Set On You'' 1970 Fable
''Back In The Wildwoods Again / Ballad Of Rachelene'' 1972 Spin
They released one album 'Of All The Wounded People' on the Spin label in 1972. The album was recorded with a who's who of the Australian music industry including Kerryn Tolhurst from Country Radio on guitar, Duncan McGuire (ex-Doug Parkinson In Focus, King Harvest/Ayers Rock) on bass and drumming wonder Mark Kennedy (ex-Spectrum, King Harvest. Ayers Rock). Others of note were Carson's John Capek on keyboards, Janie's brother Jim Conway on mouth harp and it was produced by Gus McNeil (ex The Nomads/White Wine and producer for Renee Geyer, Company Caine and Redhouse among others). Carrl & Janie made several appearances on Happening '72 to promote the album when it was released. Carrl Myriad Tregoning died on 11th February 2015.
''Last Saturday (We Fell In Love Again) / I've Got My Heart Set On You'' 1970 Fable
''Back In The Wildwoods Again / Ballad Of Rachelene'' 1972 Spin
ALBUM
'Of All The Wounded People' 1972 Spin
So sad to read where Carrl died in 2015. He and I worked as a duo for a little while in Sydney when I first came there in 1978. He produced Donna-Marie and my first album at Kanangra Studios in Parramatta in 1981. He was single minded about Australian music. He warned me once "If I played Okie From Muskogee again, he would walk off stage." So Donna and he wrote an Aussie version which we performed on stage, but were refused permission to record, I'm Proud To Be A Failure From Australia. I still perform a couple of his songs from time to time, helping to keep the name out there.
ReplyDeleteYes he produced 'No Reason To Stay' for Hank and Donna Marie. Can you reveal your name?
DeleteCarl...surname Tregoning
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