BEV HARRELL

Pint-sized Bev Harrell (born 1946 in North Adelaide) began her career when she was six in Kangaroos on Parade a radio series in her hometown of Adelaide. Early in her career, singing was a part-time occupation as she was working as a shorthand typist and ledger machinist with a wholesale firm during the day. During this period, she appeared as a guest singer at Adelaide suburban dances with local bands such as The Harts and The Vibrants. In 1966 she joined Barrie McAskill as co-lead singer of The Clefs, which was led by Tweed Harris (who subsequently founded The Groove). When The Clefs relocated to Melbourne later in the year Bev decided to stay in Adelaide.

Eventually she was spotted by promoter Ron Tremaine who offered to become her manager. Under his guidance she began to attract more bookings and soon turned professional. Her big break came when her manager sent a tape of Bev’s singing to a record company. Her first recording "What Am I Doing Here with You?" was an instant national hit. She soon became a regular on TV shows like Bandstand and Kommotion. Her following singles "Come on Over to My Place" and "One in a Million" charted and sold well. From that moment her career skyrocketed with many other music awards and tours with many international names including Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, The Walker Brothers, Roy Orbison and The Yardbirds.

The 70's began with tours through Europe, Canada (in Toronto Bev had her own television special "Two New"), the Caribbean, South Africa and Southeast Asia. In London Bev released a single written and produced by Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees and, as England's representative in the 1971 Tokyo World Song Festival, Bev took out the “Outstanding Composition and Performance” award. Since then, Bev has performed with Charlie Drake in London, David Frost at the Opera House in Sydney, Ronnie Corbett's Australian tour, the Hilton Hotel of Asia, the Southern Sun Hotel and Casino chain in South Africa, the Landdrost hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Hotel Indonesia, Jakarta and along with The Supremes, opened the Manza Beach Hotel in Okinawa, Japan and appeared regularly on most Australian national television variety shows.

In 1972 she returned to Adelaide. . She released three singles with RCA in 1973 and 1974, along with an album, 'I Believe in Music' (1974). In 1989 and 1990 she performed the role of Grizabella in the musical Cats in Australia and New Zealand. She has continued to perform on stage and for clubs, corporate functions, and cruiseships into the 21st century. She has been married twice, to Brian Braidwood, a talent manager, and Gary Grant, a singer. At the 2006 Australia Day Honours, she received a Medal of the Order of Australia "For service to the entertainment industry as a singer and to the community in the support of ex-service welfare organisations".In 2014, she was inducted into the South Australian Music Hall Of Fame.

SINGLES

''What Am I Doing Here With You (#12) / You Really Didn't Mean It'' 1966 HMV
''Come On Over To Our Place (#35) / You Don't Love Me No More'' 1967 HMV
''You Are The Love Of My Life (#83) / You Baby'' 1967 HMV
''Run On The Run / Walk Among The Stars'' 1967 HMV
''One In A Million (#33) / Give Me Time'' 1968 Columbia
''Mon Pere (#42) / At Times Like These, Mamma'' 1968 Columbia
''One Way Ticket / I Am The World'' 1969 Columbia
''The Looking Glass / Yes I'm Ready'' 1970 Columbia
''Back To The People / Travelling Easy'' 1971 Bell
''Bringing Back Those Memories / Sing'' 1972 Polydor
''It Was So Easy / The Right Thing To Do'' 1973 RCA
''We Almost Made It Together / Slip N' Slide'' 1973 RCA
''Carols By Candlelight / You've Got To Save Me'' 1973 RCA
''Mon Pere / I Believe In Music'' 1974 RCA

EPs

'Come On Over To Bev's Place' 1967 HMV

ALBUMS

'This Is Bev' 1967 HMV

'I Believe In Music' 1974 RCA

References

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