ISSI DYE

Issi Dye was born Israel Dyzenhous in Austria in 1946 to Dr Ben Dyzenhaus and Edith Dyzenhaus (née Wrobel). Dye's mother Edith had been interned in the Auschwitz concentration camp, where her mother and aunt were murdered by the Nazis. She met Dr Ben Dyzenhaus after he was sent to Austria from Poland to help rescue survivors of The Holocaust. The couple later migrated to Australia with their three-year-old son Israel Dyzenhaus. After the Jewish family settled in Melbourne, Dye attended Mount Scopus Memorial College and sang in the choir with his father at the Toorak synagogue.

In 1966 Issy formed Treo+1 with Chas Brown and Neville Raye (both ex-Jackson Kings) plus Chris Young. The band made appearances on TV including the Go!! Show that impressed EMI executives who offered them a contract, but I can't find any reference with them recording for the label. They did however cut a couple of acetates on the Trend label in 1966: ''Inside Looking Out / What You Gonna Do'' and We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place / Bury My Body''. After they disbanded Issi launched his solo career by signing with Festival. 

His first single ''Incense'' released in 1969 charted at #47. He released further singles but none of them charted. His fourth single ''Family Full Of Soul'' was also released in NZ. In 1970, Dye was ranked at #6 on the Go-Set pop poll. Dye supported international acts such as Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, Ray Charles and The Everly Brothers. Throughout his career, Dye regularly appeared on television programs including Bandstand, The Go!! Show, Kommotion, The Ernie Sigley Show, The Penthouse Club, The Maumill Show, Celebrity Squares and Happening '72. Dye performed on the final episode of Happening '72, footage of which was discovered in 2022 and was subsequently restored and preserved by the National Film and Sound Archive. Dye also performed on a television special in 1975 to celebrate the third anniversary of TattsLotto.

Dye went on to host his own television programs including In Gear with Issi Dye, a fashion show on ABC TV and Issi Dye Presents Late Movies, an overnight block of films on the Nine Network. While hosting Issi Dye Presents Late Movies from the mid 1970's to the early 1980's, Dye garnered a cult following and became well known for his work on late night television. In what were essentially wraparound segments, Dye would introduce films but would also host live commercials with the owners of the advertising businesses coming into the studio to accompany Dye while he hosted the advertisements. His oft repeated phrase ''It's just a little after midnight'' was ranked in a "Top Ten Lines from Australian TV" list, compiled by the Coodabeen Champions in 1987.

In the late 1980's, he relocated to the Gold Coast and began appearing on NRTV where he continued introducing late night movies on Friday nights as well as hosting a lotto draw.It was there that Dye helped organise a "vibe in" benefit for Steve Gilpin, the former lead singer of Mi-Sex who suffered serious injuries in a car accident near Mullumbimby, but later died. Dye began starring in an Al Jolson tribute show in the late 1990's, touring nationally. After living on the Gold Coast for 15 years, Dye moved back to Melbourne in 2001. That same year, he continued touring with his shows Crooners and the Rat Pack and Best of Al Jolson. As of 2024 Issi Dye deals with 100’s of clubs/casino’s/corporate functions and concerts. Issi Dye runs one of the most professional & diverse entertainment & promotions agencies in the country. Issi handles many different types of cabaret & rock'n'roll artists to suit the most fastidious clients all over Australia. 

SINGLES

''Incense (#47) / A Simple Song'' 1969 Festival 
''Love-Itis / One Last Kiss'' 1970 Festival
''Teeny Bopper / Honey Bee'' 1970 Festival
''Family Full Of Soul / I'm Your Tiger'' 1971 Festival
''Personality / Hitch Hike'' 1975 Image

EPs

'Incense' 1970 Festival

ALBUMS

'Outback Nights'
'The Crooners Story'

References

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