GEMINI

Perth band Gemini formed in mid 1969 when singer Sue Jennings and guitarist Charles Hall arrived from Melbourne. Sue had grown up in Melbourne and was a well-known singer with a number of trad jazz bands including the Yarra Yarra New Orleans Jazz Band. In Perth they met up with bassist Len Wright, drummer Paul Young and guitarist Mick Melidosis and formed folk-rock pop band Gemini. ''Sunshine River'' was written by their friend singer/songwriter Will Taylor.

Two disc jockeys at  6PR DJs Gordon O'Byrne and Barry Martin loved the song and arranged for them to record it at Martin Clarke's Clarion recording studio. Charles Hall reflects: "In a way, it was like a guy smoking a cigar, coming up saying 'hey y'all, I'm going to make you guys stars. In '69 you could hardly go anywhere in Perth without it playing into a supermarket or into a petrol station and it would be playing on the radio, in nightclubs, in places in North Perth and so on."

Gemini hit #4 on the Perth charts with the folk-rock-influenced classic. These days you can find the track on YouTube after it featured on a 2007 British album called 'Folk Rock and Faithfull: Dream Babes Volume Five'. The band recorded another single in 1969, ''Butterfly Wings / Nobody Knows You When You Are Down And Out'' which failed to chart. Drummer Paul Young died in 2023.

Members

Sue Jennings (vocals) Len Wright (bass), Paul Young (drums), Charlie Hall (guitar), Mick Melidosis (guitar)

SINGLES

''Sunshine River (#71) / 12.30'' 1969 Clarion
''Butterfly Wings / Nobody Knows You When You Are Down And Out'' 1969 Clarion

References

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