THE BLUE ECHOES

The Blue Echoes were one of the longest surviving groups, having stayed together in various line-ups for twenty years spanning early 1964 to late 1983. Even though they were considered as one of Australia’s longest surviving groups, they never really got going until consolidating their lineup with: Ray Eames on guitar (ex-Fabulous Blue Jays/Jigsaw), Ray Quon on keyboards, drummer Ron Chapman, vocalist Phil Golotta and Chris Stuttard on bass (ex-Young Once). Phil Golotta was also a successful songwriter, penning Jamie Redfern’s ''Hitch A Ride On A Smile'', a song which won the 1973 Australian Popular Song Contest.

The band was extremely popular on the pub scene. Vocalist Phil Golotta, recalls The Blue Echoes appearing at Tottenham Hotel’s opening night. He remembers playing to crowds of 600 people at venues such as The Tarmac (now The Westside Hotel) in Laverton and the Altona Sports Club. “The queue to get in would be right around the entire hotel,” Golotta said.

Their only charting hit was with one song which hit #37 in 1973 and stayed on the chart for only one week and that was ''Going To A Party''. It sold particularly well amongst Melbourne hotel-goers. The band also released a few albums with 'Dancing In The Street' and 'High-Heeled Rock N Roll' being the most successful. In the late 70s vocalist Phil Golotta left and the remaining members recruited ex-soloists Rod Kirkham (Young Talent Time fame) and Robin Jolley into the lineup as well as changing the band's name to The Echoes. Ray Eames died in 2014.

Members

Ray Harris (guitar), Joe Paparone (guitar), John Rodgers (steel guitar), Russell Boyle (bass),
Ron Backway (keyboards), Ron Chapman (drums), Phil Golotta (vocals), Larry Groves (keyboards),
Andy Doig [Andy Scott] (guitar), Ray Eames (guitar), Don Mudie (bass), Doug Reece (bass),
Chris Stuttard (bass), Ray Quon (keyboards), Rod Kirkham (vocals), Robin Jolley (vocals)

SINGLES

Going to a Party

1 OCT '73

#37

References

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