HORRIE DARGIE

Horrie Dargie was born in Whyalla, South Australia in 1917, the second son of Andrew Dargie and Adelaide (née Sargent). His older brother Sir William Dargie was a noted Australian portrait artist. Dargie began his musical career as a diatonica harmonica player. He joined the Yarraville Mouth Organ Band, which practised in a shoe repair shop. Later he joined William Ketterer's Victorian Mouth Organ Band. This band consisted of the most promising players in the state of Victoria. In the early 1930s he took up the chromatic harmonica and won a variety competition on a local radio station in 1937. In 1938 he moved to Sydney. Dargie studied clarinet and orchestration and started his own harmonica school in Sydney. With Williamson, Lois, and Metcalfe on chromatics, and Shea on chords and Bertram on bass he started a harmonica group, The Rockin' Reeds.

Horrie Dargie joined the Australian Army in 1941 and served in New Guinea and later in the occupational forces in Japan. He returned to Melbourne in 1947 and subsequently formed the famous Horrie Dargie Quintet. By 1952 the Quintet had risen in popularity by dint of hard work and played their farewell concert at the Sydney Town Hall in 1952 before leaving for England. By chance, a recording was made of the performance on a wire recorder using just one microphone. The 10″ record of the farewell concert became Australia's first gold record, selling 75,000 copies. Upon arrival in England the Quintet performed at the Empire in London and an agent recognised the group's performance as unique because of their distinctive sound, humour, and individual style. They never copied or made renditions of numbers by overseas performers. The Quintet consisted of: Joe Hudson (drums/harmonica/vocals), Vern Moore (guitar/harmonica/vocals), Reg Cantwell (piano) and ''Doc'' Bertram (bass/harmonica/vocals).

Whilst on tour in London Horrie contracted polio – apparently, he collapsed on stage. The disease affected his diaphragm and legs, at the time he was told he would not be able to play a wind instrument again. He once described the illness as a 'bit of a problem' – he was paralysed except for his right arm and he could swallow. With persistence he recovered, and the Quintet later performed upon their return at the Tivoli in 1958. One of their more well-known numbers was "Green Door" which become a hit in its own right.

In 1958 Dargie returned to Australia where he took up a position at Channel 9, where he was in charge of the talent division – variety was very popular at the time and Dargie did four or five shows a week. He compered the BP Super Show and also was responsible for the Delo and Daly Show, He was the first Australian compere of the show The Price Is Right and managed The Go!! Show, a pop music show that regularly featured entertainers such as Johnny Young, Ian Turpie and Olivia Newton-John. Dargie also established Go!! Records in 1964 to promote artists who appeared on the show. 

In the 60s his band The Dargies consisting of Billie Fowler on vocals, Vern Moore, ''Doc Bertram, Billy Hyde on drums and Kevin Hocking released a number of albums on the Astor label. In August 1967 Channel 0 Melbourne abruptly cancelled The Go!! Show and the loss of its major promotional outlet led to the demise of the Go!! record label. Dargie is also remembered for his musical arrangements for the film Crocodile Dundee and the TV show The Leyland Brothers. He also played the background music for the TV series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. In 1996 he was inducted into the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards Hall of Fame in recognition for his effort in being the first Australian to achieve gold record status. Horrie Dargie died on 30 August 1999.

SINGLES

''Autumn Concerto / The Green Door'' [and his Quintet] 1957 Festival

''Every Night / Geisha Girl'' [and his Quintet] 1958 Columbia
''The Sunshine State (#81) / Dust In The Sun'' [and his Quintet] 1958 Columbia
''The Alexandra Waltz (#33) / Autumn Leaves'' [and his Quintet] 1959 Columbia
''The March Hare (Irish Mouth Music) / Guaglione / They're A Weird Mob'' [and his Quintet] 1960 Columbia
''Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport (#34) / East Of The Sun'' [and his Quintet] 1960 Astor
''Wock And Wobble / It Isn't Over'' [and his Quintet] 1960 Astor
''Got A Zac In The Back Of Me Pocket (#75) / Mais Oui! (But Yes)'' [and his Quintet] 1960 Astor
''My Boomerang Did Come Back (#98) / Fish 'N Chips'' [and his Quintet] 1962 Astor

EPs

'Dargie Encores' [and his Quintet] 1955 Diaphon
'Dargie Favourites' [and his Quintet] 1955 Diaphon
'A Date With Dargie' [and his Quintet] 1957 Festival
'Dig The Didjeredoo' [and his Quintet] 1960 Astor
'The Dargies Make The Party Go!! Volume 3' 1967 Astor

ALBUMS

'Horrie Dargie Concert' [and his Harlequintet] 1953 Diaphon
'Dargie In Deutschland' [and his Quintet] 1955 Diaphon'Globe-Trotting With Dargie' [and his Quintet] 1957 Festival
'Happy Return' [and his Quintet] 1958 Columbia
'Around the World with the Dargies' 1959 Columbia
'The Dargies Make The Party-Go' 1965 Astor
'The Dargies Sing The Big Hits' 1965 Astor
'The Dargies Sing Songs Of The Islands' 1966 Astor
'Sing Hits From The Big Shows' 1966 Astor
'Harmonica Spectacular' 1973 Axis

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horrie_Dargie

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