Brisbane surf rock band formed in September 1963 by Nat Kipner who was then at QTQ-9 as musical director of teen shows. The band comprised John Reid, (ex-The Planets), Jeff Bean, (ex-The Corvettes), Lester Vickary, (ex-The Dominoes) and Billy Woodgate, (ex-The Corvettes). Ray Whitaker became their first lead vocalist in early 1964. Bobby Dean (real name Bobby Voltz) replaced Whitaker later in the same year. The Pacifics released a couple of instrumental singles on the Parlophone label and one on the Sunshine label with Bobby Dean on vocals titled ''Lost My Baby / Slowly But Surely'' which got to #15 on the Brisbane charts. The band split up after a gig in a Toowoomba carpark one evening in June 1965. Bobby Dean died in 1975. John Reid died in 1998. Billy Woodgate died in 2012.
Members
John Reid, (bass), Jeff Bean, (guitar), Lester Vickary, (guitar), Billy Woodgate, (drums), Ray Whitaker (vocals), Bobby Dean (vocals/harmonica),
SINGLES
''Breakwater (#91) / Barracuda'' 1963 Parlophone ''Lakeside 64 / The Beetle'' 1964 Parlophone ''Lost My Baby / Slowly But Surely'' (#86) 1964 Sunshine
i was in the pacifics second left thanks for the great write up theres only me and jeff left
ReplyDeleteSad to hear mate. All the best
DeleteHey mate, this Ray Whitaker’s grandson, Ray is still alive, if you want to contact him I can send through my details.
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