RONNIE CHARLES

Ronnie Charles Boromeo, began his professional singing career at just 16 when he joined Melbourne's The Jackson Kings (1965-66) followed by a very successful three-year stint in The Groop between 1966 and 1969. Both bands also featured the acclaimed singer-songwriter and keyboard player Brian Cadd. As well as his many fine recordings with The Groop, Ronnie also contributed vocals to the Pastoral Symphony single "Love Machine / Spread A Little Love Around", released in May 1968. This single was also released in NZ and the UK. Pastoral Symphony was a studio group put together by producer Jimmy Stewart and entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten, and the backing for the recording was anonymously performed by The Twilights, Terry Walker of The Strangers and the Johnny Hawker Singers.

He then cut two excellent singles for Festival which, according to Ian McFarlane, "echoed the big, booming pop sound of Love Machine". The first was "Katy Jane / No Face, No Name And No Number" (1969), the B-side being a track from Traffic's classic debut LP 'Mr Fantasy'. The second single was "It's Been So Long / Natural Man" (1970) but regrettably neither of these fine recordings made any impression on the charts. In 1970 he supported Frijid Pink's tour of Australia.

Ronnie's next venture, itself a supergroup, was Captain Australia & The Honky Tonk, and its membership was a classic illustration of the close connections between so many bands of that period. Besides Ronnie, the band included at various times, guitarist Brian Holloway (ex-The Dream, Image, Aesop's Fables), bassist Graham Jones (ex-Iguana), Ronnie's old Groop bandmate Richard Wright on drums and keyboardist Steve Yates (ex-Rush), Eric Cairns (ex-Somebody's Image/Image, Heart'n'Soul, Company Caine), bassist Les Gough (ex-Somebody's Image/Image, Heart'n'Soul) and Gary Moberley (ex-Aesop's Fables, Ramrods). Captain Australia recorded one single, "Excerpts from Muses/ Everybody I Love You" released on Havoc in early 1971, but just as the single came out, the group headed off for the UK. Like so many other hopeful Aussie groups, Captain Australia made no impression in the cutthroat and rapidly changing UK music scene and by 1972, the group had fizzled out.

Ronnie then formed an exciting new band called Atlas with Terry Gough and two English musicians, drummer Terry Slade (ex-Sunshine) and ace guitarist Glen Turner who had been an early (pre-recording) member of leading UK band Wishbone Ash. Ian McFarlane describes Atlas as "a hard rock/boogie outfit, fitting in with contemporary English bands like Wishbone Ash, Free, Status Quo". They signed with Warner-Reprise, who issued their well-regarded debut album and lifted two fine hard rock singles "Rock 'n'Roll Wizards / Military Rag'' and "They Don't Know / The Knowing before breaking up in 1974.

While still in the UK, Ronnie recorded two more solo singles, "Yesterday's Witness / Can You See", followed by "Layla, Part 1" / "Layla, Part 2". The latter single was lifted from Ronnie's extraordinary solo album, 'Prestidigitation', released on the 20th Century label in 1976 and produced by Lou Reizner, who had overseen the landmark 1971 orchestral version of The Who's 'Tommy'. It featured Ronnie and a small rock ensemble, swathed in lavish orchestral-vocal arrangements performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir.

Ronnie, at the peak of his vocal prowess, tackled an ambitious and eclectic range of material, including a dazzling rendition of the title track penned by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse and featuring renowned pianist-composer Keith Tippett on piano. It arguably equals anything that Scott Walker ever recorded and powerful orchestral-rock versions of Free's "Wishing Well", and Derek & The Dominos "Layla"; Unfortunately, the timing of the LP could hardly have been worse, England was about to be hurled headlong into the punk revolution, while the USA and Australia were still in the midst of the disco craze. The result was that this remarkable LP vanished without trace, becoming one of the great 'lost' recordings of the era.

Ronnie returned to Australia in the late 1970s. In 1980 he recorded a single backed by Melbourne band The Runners, "Rock and Roll Hoodlum / Aim for the Stars", which came out on the Full Moon label. As well as issuing a second solo album, 'Hands Off', in 1983 (which wasn't released in Australia), Ronnie also performed with White Light Orchestra, Turbo Luv Nuns, Running Scared and Post Mortem during the 1980s. He still lives and performs in Melbourne.

SINGLES
''Katy Jane (#44) / No Face, No Name And No Number'' 1969 Festival
''Natural Man / It's Been So Long'' 1970 Festival
''Yesterday's Witness / Can You See'' 1972 Interfusion
''Layla (Part I)'' 1975 20th Century

''Rock And Roll Hoodlum / Aim For The Stars'' [with The Runners] 1980 Full Moon

ALBUMS
'Prestidigitation' 1975 20th Century

References

http://www.milesago.com/artists/charles-ronnie.htm

MARK IV

Originally called the Zebecs from 1964 to 1966 the band played covers and consisted of four original members. John Crook (lead guitar) John Tower (bass) Howard Smith (rhythm guitar) and Alan Scupham (drums). In 1966 John Crook was called up for national service and was replaced with Harry Allen. This was the time when the band was renamed to the Mark IV. After a short time, a fifth member Murray Greive on keyboards was added. In 1967 with the band now in full flight, Harry Allen left the band making way for a new guitar player from Albany in John Lemin. Within a short time, the band was a fully professional unit and was one of Perth’s top pub and club bands.

Some lineup changes occurred, Alan Scupham was replaced with Ken Jackson, and John Tower was replaced with Geoff McAullay on bass. This was around 1967. In 1968 following a dispute with their management/booking agency, the Mark IV were black banned in Perth and Ken Jackson having worked in Kalgoorlie with his previous band The Namelous called the owner of the Albion Hotel, and they were contracted for three months. At this point in time Howard Smith the last of the original members left the band and was not replaced. Upon return to Perth, they had really tightened as a four-piece unit and were welcomed back by various agencies. They were immediately booked at the Waldorf for its opening where the band never looked back. Kevin Smith of the Melbourne band the Cherokees joined the Mark IV in 1969 some months later after their return from Kalgoorlie.

Ken Jackson left the band in May of 1969 to pursue a radio career. He was replaced by Cliff Toll. It was shortly after this that the Mark IV won the local National Battle Of The Sounds and went to Sydney (1969) and actually won the National Battle (in the best vocal group category) but were subjected to second place. The National Hoadleys Battle Of The Sounds (Best Vocal Group) was officially won by The Affair. Whilst in Sydney they cut a single ''Groove With What You Got / It's For You'' on the Spin label. The band supported Elton John in Perth on his 1971 tour. They continued as a professional outfit until 1972 and recorded another single on Martin Clarke's label ''Let This Life Mean Something To Me / Gonna Get Hung''. The single went nowhere and they went part time with replacement members; Alan Lyford (bass) Basil Vdeli (keyboards). The last time the band got together and played was in 1980 at Pinocchio’s Night Club. John Lemin went solo during the eighties. Murray Grieve died in 2008. Howard Smith died in 2015.

Members

Harry Allen (guitar), Howard Smith (guitar vocals), John Tower (bass), Alan Scupham (drums), Murray Greive (keyboards), John Lemin (guitar), Ken Jackson (drums), Geoff McAullay (bass), Kevin Smith (vocals), Alan Lyford (bass), Basil Vdeli (keyboards), Cliff Toll (drums)

SINGLES

''Groove With What You Got (#87) / It's For You'' 1969 Spin
''Let This Life Mean Something To Me / Gonna Get Hung'' 1972 MCR

JEFF BROWNRIGG

Jeff Brownrigg born in 1952 was a musician, songwriter, artist and photographer. He was born in Kalgoorlie Western Australia. At thirteen, Jeff started playing drums, bass drum, trumpet and bugle in his school band before becoming the Band Major for several years. At 16 he was presented with his first guitar by his parents for his academic achievements. Ostensively he became self-taught with help from his younger sister who was a classically trained pianist. His first paying gig was at the Girl Guides coffee shop in Perth. His artistic skills were also developing rapidly, and his portrait work was outstanding. Working mostly in pencil and carbon he was selling these when he was 16 years old.

At the end of his high school life, he went into teachers' college to train as an English, Art and Music teacher while working playing solo and in duos in the evenings. He graduated and went to teach at CBC Leederville but his heart was in performance. He quit teaching and became a professional musician. In 1976, he left for London and teamed up with another Perth musician Keith McDonald where they played the pub circuit including the famous Nashville Rooms in Kensington. During this time they wrote and recorded many demos and scored a publishing contract with Champagne Music, in London.

Through Champagne Music he met actor Jack Wilde (the child star of HR Puffinstuff and the Artful Dodger character in the film version of Oliver Twist fame). "I Can See It In Your Eyes" (Wild and Carpenter) was a song that caught Jeff’s attention. After his return to Perth, he recorded the song in 1978 and it went into the Australian top 100 charts, peaking in the Perth charts at #37. Jeff then recorded songs he had written and co-written namely ''Big Brown Cat'', ''Got To Be Someone'', ''A Song For You'', and ''Movie Star''.

At this time, he also toured Western Australia as support for John Paul Young (Love is in the Air fame). He went on to record more tracks and released his first solo album 'Self Portrait' in 1979. In 1983 he formed Woomera Records, and as the General Manager and Executive Producer, was involved in the recording of the first ever re-arrangement of Gustov Holtz “The Planet Suites” featuring Jeff Wayne, Rick Wakeman and Kevin Peek.

In 1987 Jeff stepped back from the music industry concentrating on his art and also developing his business acumen. He slowly became frustrated not playing and performing and began a prolific era of writing which culminated in two albums and enough strong material for several more. In 1993, while watching the US news on television he was inspired by a comment uttered by Jessie Jackson during Bill Clinton’s campaign that year. KEEP HOPE ALIVE. In 2011 he finally signed an international distribution deal through Mindseed Distribution a part of the Sony/IODA digital distribution network. He signed a world-wide distribution deal with Mindseed Records through the Sony/IODA/Orchard network on 13th March 2011. Jeff Brownrigg died in 2024.

SINGLES
''I Can See It In Your Eyes (#92) / Wasting'' 1978 Jefferson

''Big Brown Cat / Just Another Love Song'' 1978 Jefferson
''Got To Be Someone (Ode To The Children) / Big Shot Movie Star'' 1979 Jefferson

ALBUMS
'Self Portrait' 1979 Jefferson
'Brownrigg' 2004 Viking

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jeff_BROWNRIGG

JOHN CURRIE

John Currie started his career in Belfast Ireland as the lead singer in rock band The Playboys Show Band. Currie decided to emigrate to Australia and arrived in Sydney in August 1967 on board the Fairsky. A carpenter by trade and singer by inclination, he quickly became one of Sydney's leading folk artists of the day, winning New Faces and hosting his own radio show (The John Currie Show) on 2XY for eighteen months. Signing with RCA he released his first single in 1971 ''Don't Let Them Grind You Down / Missed The Season's Rain''.

 Moving to the M7 label, his version of an old Scottish folk song ''Four Maries'' was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House and became a hit on the charts in 1974. Currie appeared on the various artists compilation 'Treasury of Australian Songs' where he contributed a dozen songs. John was the first artist to record ''The Band Played Waltzing Matilda'' by Eric Bogle who happened to be in the audience when John performed this as a support act for folk rock band Steeleye Span at the Festival Hall in Brisbane. This was Currie's third single and took up both sides due to its length. He also supported Fairport Convention on their 1974 tour. John Currie is still out there performing.

SINGLES
''Don't Let Them Grind You Down / Missed The Season's Rain'' 1971 RCA
''Four Maries (#45)/ Follow Your Star'' 1974 M7
''And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda / And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Reprise)'' 1975 M7

ALBUMS

'John Currie' 1974 M7

JACKIE CHRISTIAN AND FLIGHT

In the late 60s Inheritance had been working in and around Sydney (they scored a residence at The Groove Room, which lasted for circa 12 months). In 1972 record label EMI signed the band to a recording contract. They recorded their first single called "Kookie / Come On" which was not released to the public. It was for promotional use only. The band was later joined by two female musicians, and they changed their name to Grapevine, which had a six-month residence at Jonathan's nightclub in Sydney. After that residency ended, the two female members parted ways with the band and a name change was forced on them after they found out another group had it registered. The band met with Harry Vanda and George Young who suggested the band's handsome Greek-born singer (Konstantinos Kougious) assume the name Jackie Christian. In 1972, they recorded a cover version of The Who's "Join Together", which was released as Grapevine featuring Jackie Christian with B-side called "That's Life".

The next single was recorded under Jackie Christian (no idea why the band wasn't added to the label), was "Rosy / You Chose a Fine Time" and released in 1972. This single was also released in NZ. The band signed with Alberts in 1974, and they recorded two songs penned and produced by Vanda & Young, namely "Love" and "The Last Time I Go to Baltimore". "Love" was chosen as an A-side and the single was released on the Alberts label. Polydor released it under the name Jackie Christian and Target in Canada and NZ.

Flight also recorded another Vanda & Young song called "Love Fever", but the producers did not like Jackie Christian's vocals and eventually gave the song to Ray Burgess, who recorded verses over Jackie Christian and Flight's track (which included backing vocals). The song was released in 1975 and was a hit for Burgess. The band featured Tony Currenti (who played on AC/DC's 'High Voltage') on drums. Not long after, Jackie Christian went solo, and the members of Flight disbanded and went on to join various successful bands.

Members

Jackie Christian (vocals), Tony Currenti (drums), Phil Doherty (guitar), Michael Meehan (guitar), Steve Hart (bass)

SINGLES
''Love (#86) / The Last Time I Go To Baltimore'' 1974 Alberts

JOHN FARRAR

John Clifford Farrar was born on 8 November 1946 and grew up in Moonee Ponds, a suburb of Melbourne. He has an older brother, Reginald, and the family lived in a large household with aunts and uncles. Farrar's mother bought him a country music guitar, which he began playing at twelve years-old. In 1961, he began playing in a band (The Jaguars) with his older brother and at the age of fifteen years-old the family relocated to nearby Niddrie. In 1963 he joined The Mustangs, which included Farrar on guitar, Johnny Cooper on vocals, Peter Ramis on bass guitar and Billy on drums. In late January 1964 Farrar joined The Strangers replacing founding guitarist Laurie Arthur and adding another lead vocalist to the group. Other members were Peter Robinson on bass guitar and co-lead vocals, Graeme Thompson on drums, and Fred Weiland on guitar and backing vocals. They had formed as an instrumental band in 1961 working in the Melbourne dance scene. In June 1964 with Farrar on board, the band issued their first vocal single, "Poppa Oom Mow Mow", which reached the top 30 on the Melbourne charts in July. They became a popular backing and session band.

In August 1964 The Strangers were hired as the house band for the ATV O pop music program, The Go!! Show. Both Farrar's future wife, Pat Carroll, and their close friend, Olivia Newton-John, appeared on The Go!! Show as singers and were backed by The Strangers. Carroll and Newton-John formed a vocal duo, Pat and Olivia, and in 1967 they first toured the United Kingdom which included a gig at the then infamous Raymond Revue Bar Club in Soho. After returning to Australia from a tour, Carroll was obliged to remain as her visa had expired, while UK-born Newton-John stayed on. Farrar dated and married Carroll and following their wedding in 1969, Carroll ceased to pursue her head-liner status and settled into occasionally reprising her duo work with Newton-John and session singing on Farrar productions or Newton-John's works. During 1968 The Strangers supported the Australian leg of a tour by UK instrumental group, The Shadows. In June 1970 The Strangers released their most successful hit, "Melanie Makes Me Smile", which peaked at No. 14 on the Go-Set National Top 60 in August.

However in July 1970 Farrar had left The Strangers and, with Carroll, moved to the UK where he was invited to become a member of Marvin, Welch & Farrar, a vocal-harmony group featuring two former members of The Shadows, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch. By that time Newton-John and Welch were engaged and Farrar and Welch became two of her songwriters and producers. Welch and Farrar co-produced and performed on Newton-John's cover of Bob Dylan's track, "If Not for You", and the album of the same name released in November 1971. Farrar also worked with Cliff Richard as a backing guitarist and vocalist. Marvin, Welch & Farrar put out two albums, an eponymous one in 1971 and 'Second Opinion' (in both quadraphonic and stereo formats) in 1972. In 1973 a third album featured just Marvin and Farrar. The Shadows reformed soon after and Farrar joined as second lead guitarist and vocalist. In 1975 the group represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Let Me Be the One". In 1973 Farrar had appeared at the same contest as a backing guitarist and vocalist for Richard's entry, "Power to All Our Friends"; the following year he backed and produced Newton-John on her effort, "Long Live Love".

From 1971 to 1976 various members of The Shadows were used as session musicians for Newton-John's early albums which were recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios. Aside from Farrar and Welch, they included Brian Bennett, Alan Hawkshaw, Alan Tarney, Dave Richmond and Trevor Spencer; other session musicians were fellow Australians Kevin Peek and Terry Britten – both also worked with Richard – and some other musicians. They worked under co-producers Farrar and Welch – until mid-way through Newton-John's second album, 'Olivia', thereafter Farrar was her main producer. He produced her number-one albums, 'If You Love Me, Let Me Know' (1974), 'Have You Never Been Mellow' (1975) and 'Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2' (1982). Farrar also produced Newton-John's first US number-one hit single, "I Honestly Love You", which was awarded the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1975. His last production for Newton-John was her 1989 album, 'Warm and Tender'.

In 1974 Farrar used the vocoder SFX unit on an instrumental track, "No, No, Nina", ahead of Peter Frampton's 1975 single, "Show Me the Way", and the associated double live album, 'Frampton Comes Alive!' (1976) which featured the same device for its talk box effect. However Farrar's track was held back from release by EMI until 1997, when it appeared on the CD album, 'The Shadows at Abbey Road', containing mostly unreleased material. A vocal version of "No, No, Nina" appeared on the 'Specs Appeal' album as a Eurovision contender track; but it was voted sixth out of six initial entries. Aside from instrumentation and vocals Farrar worked as an arranger on The Shadows' albums: 'Rockin' with Curly Leads', 'Specs Appeal', 'Tasty' and 'Live at the Paris Olympia'.

Farrar's work with Newton-John embraced a wide range of styles, from "You're the One That I Want" (duet with John Travolta) to "Physical". Farrar's biggest success with Newton-John as a writer-producer came with the film version of the musical, Grease. In 1977 during filming, its producers required extra songs, so Farrar wrote and submitted two originals, "Hopelessly Devoted To You" and "You're the One That I Want". Both were accepted and became two of the soundtrack's most successful singles, being international number-one hits during 1978. In June 2004 Farrar recalled writing the tracks: "'You're the One That I Want': The weird thing was it was the fastest song I ever wrote. It came so fast, the actual melody and the feel of it. 'Hopelessly Devoted To You': I spent the longest period writing the lyrics of any song I’ve ever written. Every thesaurus and every rhyming dictionary I had, just trying to really make it work properly". 

Other number-one hits for Newton-John that were written and produced by Farrar are "Have You Never Been Mellow" (1975) and "Magic" (1980). Farrar produced one side of the 'Xanadu' soundtrack for the 1980 film of the same name. The other side featured tracks by Electric Light Orchestra and was produced by their guitarist-vocalist, Jeff Lynne. In March 1981 he was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song for the Xanadu track, "Suspended in Time".

In 1995, Farrar collaborated with Newton-John and lyricist Tim Rice for the musical score of Richard's musical, Heathcliff based on the Emily Brontë novel Wuthering Heights. Farrar also co-wrote songs for a musical based on the 1959 film, Gidget, which, as of April 2012, was indefinitely postponed. Farrar runs the Moonee Ponds Studio at Sweetwater Road in Malibu.

SINGLES

''With Rainnie On My Mind (#90) / John And Mary (Instrumental)'' 1971 Fable
''Recovery / It'll Be Me Babe'' 1981 CBS

ALBUMS

'John Farrar' 1980 CBS

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Farrar

JAMES WRIGHT GROUP / JAMES WRIGHT BAND

The James Wright Group were a rock/soul band in Adelaide who grew in prominence in the latter half of the 1960's culminating in two huge local hit records.  Starting out as The Big Apple the original members were Bill O'Grady (guitar/vocals), John Carlini (bass/vocals) and Bobby Bishop (drums/vocals). Their debut gig was at the Octagon Ballroom at Elizabeth, and they soon secured a residency at Big Daddys Discotheque in 1967. At that club they played nightly, sharing the stage with interstate and local acts like The Valentines, The Twilights, James Taylor Move, The Blues Syndicate, Chain Gang and others. Later that year they added Jamie Swan on vocals and Chubby Carlini on sax and changed their name to Jame's Riot. They played regularly at The Princeton Club (Burnside Town Hall), St Clair Youth Centre (Woodville), Salisbury Youth Centre (Salisbury) and The Octagon to huge crowds.

By 1968 the band had a new singer in Dave Taylor who joined after Jamie Swan left suddenly for family reasons. The name was changed to The James Wright Group. For the next two years they played residencies to enthusiastic crowds at the 20 Plus Club, Head Quarters, Sgt Peppers, The Largs Pier, The Princeton, University campuses, Fiesta Villa, Winston Charles, Sergios, Caesars and Snoopy's Hollow. They shared the billing with Max Merritt and The Meteors, Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs, Levi Smith Clefs, The Mixtures, Y4, The Twilights and others. During this time, they also performed as backing band for Johnny Farnham, Ronnie Burns, Jeff Philips, Liv Maesson, Rim D Paul, Mike Furber, Johnny Young and others when they visited Adelaide.

They were approached by Max Pepper from Pepper Records (a local studio of Milton Ingerson Productions in Moger Lane Adelaide) and subsequently recorded six tracks for release on his new record label. (Planning to take advantage of the ban on imported records that was in place at the time) ''Louise / Good Times Together'' was released in 1970. The first run sold out quickly, entering the local charts and after rising steadily reached #2. In the 26 November 1970 issue Go Set Magazine listed "Louise" at #15 in the top 20 Australian singles chart for that year. In 1970 they were the first rock group ever invited to play at Adelaide's Carols By Candlelight and they played "Louise" along with several Christmas carols also backing Ronnie Burns and Liv Maesson for their performances. In 1970 James Wright Group spearheaded the promotion for Adelaide's 1st Festival of Fashion releasing a promotional single called "Festival Girl" and appearing on a cover of the special liftout section on the Festival in The Advertiser.

In 1970, Radio 5AD Programme Manager, Trevor Cowling picked ''Louise'' as one of the three noteworthy Australian singles of the year. He visited American record producers offering the singles for an American release. RCA expressed a desire to release "Louise" internationally and requested the master tapes however Pepper Records refused to release the tapes. While ''Louise'' was still in the charts they released ''Never Had A Girl / Half A Minute''. The second single entered the charts (for a while The James Wright Group had two singles in the Adelaide radio charts at the same time), rose to #7 and then succumbed to the flood of imported international records as the import ban was broken.

James Wright Group were regulars on Move (hosted by Vince Lovegrove, NWS9's four-hour rock marathon aired on Saturday afternoons) and ZAP! (SAS10's Saturday Morning Rock show with Ron Kosmider) often playing live to air, also making guest appearances on Adelaide Tonight (NWS9's Weekly Variety Show with Ernie Sigley). After two eastern states tours, Pepper records decided not to release the third single "Lawdy Lawdy" and closed their doors. The James Wright Group disbanded in late 1971.

Bill, John and Chubby formed The James Wright Band in 1974 to capitalize on their local profiles adding John Fraser (guitar) and John Swan (drums). Through John Swan they became friends with his brother Jimmy Barnes and the early Cold Chisel. On hearing Cold Chisel live at The Lord Melbourne Hotel, Bill O'Grady recommended them to his friend Vince Lovegrove who then became their manager.

The James Wright Band played at The Festival Theatre (Little River Band's first appearance), supported Osibisa at Apollo Stadium, opened for Bad Company at Memorial Drive, appearing at Countdown Nightclub (Hindley St. Adelaide), Woodville Town Hall (Headlining with the fledgling Cold Chisel as support act),The Arkaba, The Largs Pier and many other Adelaide rock pubs. John Swan was replaced by John Haffert on drums late in 1974 and the band toured to Canberra (supporting Maria Muldaur), Sydney, Brisbane (Residency at The George Hotel) and The Gold Coast (performing at The Playroom at Tallebudgera). While in Sydney they met Bernie Cannon, who produced GTK (a national 10-minute daily rock segment on ABC TV before the news), recording six tracks to be aired on the programme. Their videos were among the last episodes of the show. The James Wright Band disbanded in late 1975.

Members

Bill O'Grady (guitar/vocals), John Carlini (bass/vocals), Bobby Bishop (drums), Jamie Swann (vocals), Charlie Carlini (sax), Dave Taylor (vocals), John Fraser (guitar), John Swan (drums), John Haffert (drums)

SINGLES

''Louise (#73) / Good Times Together'' 1970 Pepper
''Never Had A Girl / Half A Minute'' 1971 Pepper

References

http://jameswrightband.blogspot.com.au/

JOHNNY NOBLE

Johnny Noble was born in Muswellbrook NSW in 1946. He made a solid start in the early 1960s with his various groups and solo singles. He appeared on national televisions shows such as Bandstand and Sing Sing Sing and also won NBN Newcastle Star Quest. As a solo artist he recorded on the Linda Lee label, a subsidiary of Festival, along with other acts like Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Laurie Wade's Cavaliers and Jackie Weaver. Johnny Noble was lead singer in two 1960s bands Johnny Noble and the Mods and Johnny Noble and The Incas who recorded on the Linda Lee label. Noble was the intended second vocalist for The Aztecs which later became Billy Thorpe’s permanent backing group. Billy was their third vocalist. In 1964 he appeared on the album 'Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs with Poison Ivy & Introducing Johnny Noble'. Side one is all Aztecs tracks and side two is Johnny Noble and his band The Mods. Later John was resident vocalist compare at the Western Suburbs Leagues Club and band vocalist and compare at the Newcastle Workers Club, working with local and international artists.

SINGLES

''That'll Be All Right / This Little Girl'' [with The Mods] 1964 Linda Lee

''Lonely City (#34) / Tough Enough'' 1964 Linda Lee
''Like I've Never Been Gone / My Prayer'' [with The Incas] 1965 Linda Lee

EPs

'Lonely City' 1965 Linda Lee

ALBUMS
'Billy Thorpe And The Aztecs Introducing Johnny Noble – Poison Ivy' 1964 Linda Lee

References

https://www.top100singles.net

DEBBIE NEWSOME

Debbie Newsome was an Australian television personality, born in 1960 and is a mother of two and lives in Australia. She is best known for her role as a co-host on Perfect Match. She was signed to the Laser label and the single 'Whats Your Name, Whats Your Number' was released in 1979. In 1989, Newsome launched the Debbie Newsome show, produced by Dee Lampe, initially partnering with New Zealand singer Lou Pihama at the North Sydney Leagues Club with Derek Williams as arranger and musical director, before touring New South Wales with Williams and his 8-piece showband. This marked her transition from the screen to the stage, and she now works as a singer.

SINGLES
''What's Your Name, What's Your Number (#100) / Make Love To Me'' 1979 Laser

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debbie_Newsome

CAROL LLOYD BAND

It was mid 1975 when Carol Lloyd began having major throat problems during the last southern tour with Railroad Gin. She even missed what was supposed to have been her farewell performance with the group. Her tonsils were causing excruciating pain, every tooth in her head ached, and at times she was unable to swallow. It was only when her jaw locked that she wrote a note for one of the roadies to fetch a doctor. Rumours were rife that her career was at an end when the news leaked that she was scheduled to have major throat surgery which could adversely affect her singing voice.

Before the year was out not only was she back in fine voice, but she had managed to convince some top-notch studio musicians to join with her to become The Carol Lloyd Band and together they had signed a two-year worldwide recording contract with EMI Records. Colin Peterson, former member of the Bee Gees, was the man responsible for negotiating the contract and it was he who produced their first single "Storm In My Soul". This song was a major hit, particularly in Queensland where Carol's fan base was strongest. It also afforded them the opportunity to appear on the national TV pop show Countdown to perform the song in front of a live studio audience and a viewing nation of pop music devotees.

The album 'Mother Was Asleep At The Time', having taken only nine days to record, was released on Oct 18, 1976. The single ''All The Good Things'' was lifted off the album and charted. Censors had a field day over-reacting to the original cover artwork for the album which showed a bowie knife severing the umbilical cord of an unborn foetus. The album was only permitted a release date once the offending knife was removed from the picture. Released in 17 countries the album sold quite well and it was therefore a huge surprise to everyone when less than a year later the band announced that it was splitting up. Carol Lloyd, the singer, former advertising executive and a long-time mentor to young singers died in Feb 2017 in the Wesley Hospital QLD after a long illness with pulmonary fibrosis. The disease was first diagnosed in April 2013.

Members

Carol Lloyd (vocals), Mark Moffat (guitar), Danny Simpson (drums), Gary Broadhurst (bass), Peter Harvey (keyboards)

SINGLES
''Storm In My Soul (#66) / Blue McKenzie'' 1976 EMI
''All The Good Things (#56) / Don't Do Me Any Favours'' 1976 EMI

ALBUMS
'Mother Was Asleep At The Time 1976 EMI

References

http://railroadgin.tripod.com/19CLBstory.html

BANDICOOT

Bandicoot formed in 1976 were mainly the duo of Mick Fettes, who had recently left Madder Lake, and Shane Bourne who later became known as a comedian and actor. The two knew each other from the Reefer Cabaret and teamed up to record and tour as Bandicoot, with the help of Dannie Bourne (keyboards and vocals), Ross Davis (guitar), Bruno Stanislo (bass, vocals) and Gary Young (drums, ex Daddy Cool). The band relentlessly toured all across the country to all the major capital citys and it became the reason Mick Fettes would quit the band. He stated ''We were back on the merry-go-round. And I got to the point where I'd had a gutful and I said to Shane one day "Enough! I'm out." Because you end up going troppo, and that was it for me''.

They released the one self-titled album and the single ''Living Off The Radio'' from it, both in 1976 on the short-lived Rainbird label. The single just scraped into the top 100 on the charts. The album was average with no outstanding tracks. There was an official video for this song, but it seems to have been lost, though hopefully it may appear again one day. Same for their appearance as a duo on Countdown, performing the B-side ''Who Am I To Say''. Mick Fettes died in 2016 aged 65.

Members

Mick Fettes (vocal) Shane Bourne (vocal) Dannie Bourne (keyboards and vocals), Ross Davis (guitar), Bruno Stanislo (bass, vocals) and Gary Young (drums).

SINGLES
''Living Off The Radio (#97) / Who Am I To Say'' 1976 Rainbird

ALBUMS

'Bandicoot' 1976 Rainbird

DAVID PAGE

David Page was born in Brisbane in 1961, the eighth of twelve children, and grew up in Mount Gravatt. His father was Aboriginal/Chinese and his mother Maori, Spanish, Irish and Aboriginal. Page embarked on a singing career as a teenager under the name Little Davy Page, releasing a cover of the Neil Sedaka song ''Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen'', and appearing on TV shows including Countdown and The Paul Hogan Show. He was signed to record label Atlantic Records. Page studied saxophone, voice and composition at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music within the Elder Conservatorium of Music at Adelaide University.

Page worked at NAISDA Dance College as music producer as well as bus driver and janitor. He joined the Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1991 as resident composer along with his brothers Stephen Page (choreographer) and Russell (dancer), turning it into a "global phenomenon." Page composed the scores for twenty-seven of Bangarra's works. He was appointed Artist-in-Residence in 2011. His last composition was for the company's work Nyapanyapa, which premiered in June 2016.

Page performed a one-man show of his life story, directed by his brother Stephen, called Page 8, at the Belvoir St Theatre in 1994 and then toured it in Edinburgh and London. He restaged it in 2014 for Bangarra's 25th anniversary. He performed in the Queensland Theatre Company's production of Mother Courage and her children in 2013, and the QTC and Sydney Festival production Black Diggers in 2014. Page appeared on screen in television shows Prisoner and Black Comedy, as well as a brief appearance in the 1997 film Oscar and Lucinda as an Aboriginal busker.

Page collaborated with Steve Francis on music for the 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and the Sydney Olympic Arts Festival in 2000, and the Sydney Dreaming Festival in 2002. He composed music for The Australian Ballet's Alchemy in 1997 and Amalgamate (with Elena Kats-Chernin) in 2007. Page composed music for various television programs including Heartland, Songlines, and Living Black. His film scores included Kanyini (2006), Hush (2007), and Jacob (2009). In 2015, he composed the music for his brother Steven's directorial film debut, Spear.

Page won four Deadly Awards and was the inaugural winner of the Indigenous Artist Award for the Myer Foundation in 2000. He won the Green Room Award for Best New Australian Play in 2006 for Page 8. He won two Helpmann Awards for Best Original Score, for Mathinna in 2009 and for Belong (with Steve Francis) in 2011. The soundtrack for Heartland received an ARIA Award nomination for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album in 1995.

Page died on 28 April 2016 at the age of 55. His family declined to reveal the cause of death. A memorial was held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre with tributes from Wesley Enoch, Christine Anu, Ursula Yovich and Dan Sultan, before he was buried in a private family ceremony.

SINGLES
''We Like Music Together (#77) / Dream Time Lover'' 1975 Atlantic
''Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen (#57) / Shelley'' 1975 Atlantic

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Page_(musician)

CHALICE

Chalice was an English band from Manchester that migrated to Perth in the early 70s and basically played covers of the day for a few years. Their rendition of Queen's ''Bohemian Rhapsody'' was legendary. One evening Brian May and Roger Taylor were in the audience at the Gobbles night club in Perth when they played it. Both were blown away and went backstage to congratulate them. They signed up with Clarion records and released three singles.

After gathering a good fan base, they moved to Sydney and signed on with the Polydor label. The band recorded one album produced by Jon English. 'Overflow' contained half originals and half cover versions including Seals and Crofts, Beach Boys and Mac Davis to name a few. They recorded five singles on Polydor with ''Sail On Sailor'' being their most successful. They disbanded in 1979. Vocalist George Heathcote has since died.

Members

Les Brazil (bass), George Bunua (guitar, keyboards), Ian Longford (drums), John Rimmer (drums), George Heathcote (vocals), Neil Scott (vocals, guitar)

SINGLES
''In My World / Mr. Won't You Help Me'' 1974 Clarion
''Ebenezer / After The Goldrush'' 1974 Clarion
''Nine To Five Girl / Nearly Gone'' Clarion
''Writings On The Wall / On The Road'' 1975 Polydor
''Sail On Sailor (#88) / Beginning To Feel The Pain'' 1975 Polydor
''Shot Down In Denver / Help Me Up'' 1975 Polydor
''Cold Clear Air / Black Wall Of City Smoke'' 1976 Polydor
''Deeper And Deeper / Can't Stop The Rain'' 1977 Polydor

ALBUMS

'Overflow' 1975 Polydor

DEREK REDFERN

Derek Redfern (brother of Jamie Redfern) is a professional Australian entertainer. Derek was one of the most popular team members on Australia's enormously successful children's variety program, Young Talent Time, and was a much-loved singing and dancing teen heart throb with a huge and very loyal fan base. When Derek's famous brother Jamie Redfern left Young Talent Time to tour the United States with Mr Showmanship Liberace, Derek was Jamie's obvious replacement, and went on to be a huge hit with the iconic television shows ever increasing weekly viewing audience. Derek released his own hit single "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" in the early seventies and the song charted very well around the country, making it into the charts in a number of Australian states. When Derek got out of showbiz, he became a carpenter for many years before returning to the music industry. Derek still gigs on the club scene.

SINGLES
Put Your Head On My Shoulder (#71) / Puppy Love'' 1974 L&Y 

References

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714819/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

DENIESE MORRISON

She was born in Tamworth Base Hospital in 1956 and raised in Kootingal the daughter of a chook farmer. In the years that followed, it was pretty obvious that Deniese was never a chicken. In the music business, particularly in a business so dominated by men at that time, Deniese had to stand up and be counted. It didn’t take her long. At the age of 10, John Minson (Mr Hoedown), invited her up on the stage at Kootingal Town Hall to sing at a Johnny Ashcroft concert. At the age of 13, she started performing with the Geoff Brown Showband. Gary and Rob Brown played in the band along with Frank Jones, who was also Phil and Tommy Emmanuel’s school teacher.

At the age of 16, she won the female vocal section of the Capital Country Music Association’s Jamboree, (which was the forerunner to the Golden Guitar Awards and the Tamworth Country Music Festival), narrowly beating a talented young singer from Melbourne, Karan Johns. A young radio announcer, Alan Clement, came to Tamworth to work at 2TM and gathered a few of kids together to form Teenage Country Style. Lawrie Minson and Gary Brown were also members of this little troupe.

When Max Ellis and the 2TM team staged the first Australasian Country Music Awards at the Tamworth Town Hall in 1973, Teenage Country Style performed along with Smoky Dawson, Shirley Thoms and Buster Noble. And so it began, the start of bigger things. Deniese was there from the beginning of an Australian Country Music phenomenon in her hometown. Or to be precise, she was there before it all started.

The next paragraph is typical of Deniese. These are her words: “Signed a contract with Fable Records and released my first single “NO CHARGE”, produced by Doug Trevor. Molly Meldrum wrote in TV Week that “No Charge” was the worst record he’d heard all year, but it made the charts of the day, and I was pretty chuffed about that!”

She went to University and flew to Melbourne in the holidays to record her album, in some ways, originally titled 'Denise Morrison' because that was not the correct spelling of her name! Deniese also managed to play with Gary Brown, Phil Emmanuel and Nev Nichols at Kings Cross on the weekends. “The Australian Newspaper offered me a cadetship at the same time as Wally Bishop gave me the chance to tour Australia on “The Greyhound Country Music Express” with Johnny Chester, The Hawking Brothers and Lee Conway.” She goes on to mention a pretty big gig at The Sydney Opera House in 1975 followed by a command concert performance for then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser in Canberra. After recording some songs which were produced by John Williamson, she made an interesting move by becoming resident singer/compere six nights a week at Wrest Point Casino in Hobart.

The 80’s came around and she remembers “Television shows with Mike Walsh, Don Lane, Ernie Sigley, Bert Newton, Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead, Travelin’ Out West with John Williamson, Conway Country with Lee, Country Closeup with Nick and That’s Australia.” “Nick Erby’s Jamboree tour saw Nick, John Williamson, Allan Caswell, Pixie and I off around Oz again. In 1990 she won the Golden Guitar for Female Vocalist of the Year with ''You’ve Gotta Learn to Dance''. In 2015 she moved to Bairnsdale, Victoria and began working at Radio East Gippsland REG-FM where she has several roles – as service co-ordinator, community service coordinator, studio coordinator, production manager and on-air announcer.

SINGLES
''No Charge (#58) / If You Have To Go'' 1974 Fable

''Hello Out There / Talia'' 1974 Fable
''Baby Doll / Talia'' 1975 Fable
''Tar And Cement / Forgettin' 'Bout You'' 1976 Philips
''It's Been A Long Time / Here We Go Again'' 1976 Philips
''Shot Full Of Love / That's The Real Thing'' [with Alan Caswell] 1982 Country Man
''Hearts On The Radio / No Matter How Hard I Try'' 1985 Country City
''Now I'm Easy / What's Good For The Goose (Is Good For The Gander)'' 1986 Country City
''Battle Hymn Of Love / No Charge'' 1988 Country City
''You've Gotta' Learn To Dance / Sounds Like Goodbye To Me'' 1989 Country City

ALBUMS
'Denise Morrison' 1974 Fable
'Sequins & Satins & Buckles & Britches [with Wayne Horsburgh] 1984 Country City

'Unfinished Business' 1989 Country City
'Since I Found You' 1990 J & B Records
'On The Move' 1991 BP

References

https://fiftyshadesofcountrymusic.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/profile-deniese-morrison/

BERNARD BOLAN

From his time as the first folk performer at the Sydney Opera House, through all the major Australian and New Zealand folk festivals and countless concerts and club shows, Bernard Bolan has made himself a national treasure with his unmistakable blend of words, wit and finely crafted music. Bernard's love songs are passionate and haunting, while his comedy material has had audiences literally gasping for breath with laughter. The words of his songs reveal themselves as gems of poetry and his all-original music has combined to produce many "classics of our time." The light-hearted mood of much of his work can be deceptive; it has poetic and musical subtlety and richness in it that has often baffled well-skilled imitators.

Bolan started writing songs when he was ''knee high to a grasshopper'' in Lancashire in the north of England. Before he emigrated to Australia in 1969, he started writing songs in a lighter vein under the irresistible influence of performers such as Flanders and Swan, Tom Lehrer and Jake Thackery. When he arrived in Australia he was in demand at concerts and folk clubs and eventually made his way on to TV. Bernard became more famous when his single ''The Rose Bay Ferry'' charted in 1974. It came off his first album 'The Liveliness Of The Long Playing Bernard Bolan' released by Larrikin Records.

Bernard never regretted moving to Australia decades ago; "In Britain, it would not have been possible to combine two careers to the same degree as I have in Australia," Bernard said. He has produced a number of bestselling albums. The most recent is an album (released in 2002) of many of his favourite songs issued by ABC Records: 'The Quirky Works of Bernard Bolan' His compositions have been recorded by many Australian artists.

SINGLES
''Australia Square / Toorak Tram'' 1971 RCA
''Rose Bay Ferry (#85) / Toorak Tram'' 1974 Copperfield
''Basingstoke / Not Many Fish In The Harbour Today'' 1980 Larrikin

ALBUMS

'The Liveliness Of The Long Playing' 1974 Larrikin
'Send The City Sunshine' 1982 ABC
'Passage Of Time' 1986 Larrikin

'Upon Sober Reflection'
'An Eclectic Collection'

 

References

http://bernardbolan.com/

DRUMMOND

Drummond was a studio recording band for record label Fable. The first single ''For You Blue / The Grasshopper'' was recorded in 1970 by power trio Bulldog. The single went nowhere. Drummond's second and most successful single was recorded by Allison Gros. The band was recruited to record a "Chipmunk"-style cover version of a 1950s rock song, "Daddy Cool". This track spent eight weeks at the top of the Go-Set National Top 40 in 1971. The single was also released in NZ and South Africa. Drummond recorded a further three singles under different ensembles of studio musicians until September 1975.

SINGLES
''For You Blue / The Grasshopper'' 1970 Fable
''Daddy Cool (#1) / Hot Mumma'' 1971 Fable
''You Talk Too Much / Scotty'' 1972 Fable
''Singin' The Blues / I Have Changed'' 1972 Fable
''The Bump / Listen To The Song'' 1975 Fable

EPs

'Drummond' 1973 Fable

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_(band)#1970-1972:_Allison_Gros_and_Drummond

BRUCE CLARKE

Bruce Clarke OAM born 1 December 1925 was an Australian jazz guitarist, composer and educator who lived in Melbourne. From 1949-1956 Clarke worked as a freelance guitarist-arranger among the many live radio orchestras. He accompanied overseas artists on their Australian concert tours and played in the dance halls and ballrooms that were the mainstay of pre-television social life. 

In 1956, television arrived in Australia and brought this era to a close. Bruce moved into film and television music production and composition. He established his own studios and production company The Jingle Workshop in 1957. He wrote and directed over 3000 television and film soundtracks for local and overseas producers between 1957 and 1974, some including vocalist Helen Reddy. As well as guitar he made extensive use of electronics, including the Moog synthesizer.

During this period, he continued to perform and release many singles and albums. He accepted a commission to realise the first major Australian electronic work for the 1968 Adelaide Arts Festival, and conducted performances in Melbourne of works by 20th-century composers Stockhausen, Berio and Webern. He toured Europe as guitarist with composer Felix Werder's Australia Felix Ensemble. He also appeared with the ABC orchestras under the batons of Sir John Barbirolli, Charles Mackerras, John Hopkins and others. In 1981 he played second guitar to John Williams with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in André Previn's "Concerto For Guitar And Orchestra".

In 1974 Bruce moved into the realm of teaching. Phasing out his commercial activities he accepted a position on the music board of the Australia Council and became Kenneth Myer Music Fellow to the Victoria Institute of Colleges - two positions which made him very aware of the need for more realistic approaches to the problems of students wishing to find a role in the world of "non-classical" music. With this in mind, in 1977 he instigated the Jazz Studies program at the Victorian College of the Arts, followed by the establishment of his "Guitar Workshop". In subsequent years he hosted many teaching clinics with visiting "guitar greats" including Joe Pass, Ike Isaacs, Ted Dunbar, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Martin Taylor, Emily Remler, and George Golla.

During the late seventies Bruce taught guitar using the Berklee method books and his own pre-recorded cassette tapes. His technique emphasised tone and quality of the guitar. His past guitar students include Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds), Robert Goodge (I'm Talking, Essendon Airport), Pierre Jaquinot (The Armchairs, The Slaughtermen), Laszlo Sirsom (sirsom.wix.com), Mark Cally, Anne McCue (Girl Monstar), Doug de Vries, Dominic Kiernan, Barry Morton, and Andrew Pendlebury (The Sports).

Clarke also founded Cumquat Records to issue recordings of Australian jazz from the 1950s onwards. From his catalogue of recorded works the author quoted his collaboration with George Golla on 'In Memory Of Charlie Christian' as his favourite. Bruce Clarke worked with Frank Sinatra and recorded with him on his tour of Australia, and also worked with Mel Torme, Dizzy Gillespie, Stephane Grappelli, Stan Getz, and legendary guitarist John Collins (by whom he was greatly influenced), amongst many other world class musicians. Bruce Clarke died on Thursday 24 July 2008.

SINGLES

''Apple Honey / Blue Moon'' 1949 Jazzart

''Blue Moon / Dance Of The Kordies'' 1952 Jazzart

''Forty Miles Of Bad Road / Bongo Rock'' 1959 W&G

''Tweet Tweet Beat / Bone Dome'' 1959 W&G
''At The Woodchopper's Ball / Sleep Walk'' 1959 W&G
''Rockin' Like Wow / Rock Crushers'' 1959 W&G
''Sugar Blues / Golden Wedding (Rock)'' 1960 W&G
''Happy Ankles (Kayser Theme) / The Flip Side'' 1962 Pye
''How High The Moon'' 1963 W&G

''Barley Charlie Theme / Stella By Starlight'' 1964 W&G

''Baroque, Schlock & Barrel - III / Baroque, Schlock & Barrel - I'' [with Maryan Kenyon] 1972 Cumquat

ALBUMS

'Evergreen Rhythm' 1952 Spotlight

'Rhythm-Airs' 1952 Spotlight
'Songs Of World War II' 1956 Planet

'Vichyssoise' [with Maryan Kenyon] 1972 Cumquat

'Lookin' Back (Or Remember What Jazz Was Like? When You Could Whistle It)' 1973 Cumquat

'Stratusphunk' 1974 Cumquat

'In Memory Of Charlie Christian' 1980 Ode

'Soft Winds' 1990 ABC

'The Indispensable Mood Music Library' Bruce Clarke's Recording and Creative Services Pty Ltd

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Clarke_(musician)

STAFFORD BRIDGE

The sextet Stafford Bridge was formed Sydney in the early 70s, releasing two singles in 1972 on the Infinity label. "Song for a Blind Man / Passing Lines" and ''Poor Soul / Welcome To The Court'' were both well executed, bringing in the typical mix of progressive and psychedelic rock. It's a shame this band didn't kick on because they had a load of potential. Stafford Bridge made the grand-final representing NSW Country in Hoadley's National Battle Of The Sounds. Vocalist Jim Willebrandt fronted a number of bands including Daisy Roots, Clapham Junction, Toby Jug and Hot Cottage.

Members

Peter Gordon (saxophone, flute), David Kay (guitar, flute), Gary Riley (drums), Terry Riley (organ), Ross Sanders (bass) Jim Willebrandt (vocal)

SINGLES
''Song For A Blind Man / Passing Lines'' 1971 Infinity
''Poor Soul / Welcome To The Court'' 1972 Infinity

THE SECOND MOVEMENT

The Second Movement played in and around Canberra in the late 60’s and early 70’s and were resident band at the Civic Hotel Lounge. The group became resident band at the Deakin Inn when it opened in 1969. The band played at the Deakin Inn up to six nights a week for four years until the band retired in 1974. In 1967 the band signed a recording contract with EMI and recorded two singles, ''The Big Top / Fairyland (Why, Why, Why)'' and ''It's Love / Gabrielle'' which were released nationally. The singles were produced by Robert Iredale (who was Johnny O’Keefe’s’ record producer at the time). The singles had moderate success and made it into a few top 40 charts.

After a thirty years’ absence the original band (there were some personnel changes in the early seventies) decided to get together for a 30th anniversary party bash at the Southern Cross Club Canberra. Some of the band members had not played in a band since the band retired in 1974. Others no longer lived in Canberra so the logistics of a reunion offered many challenges. However the project went ahead and the night was a huge success. The band enjoyed themselves so much it was decided to continue the band which would make itself available for the occasional booking. The band then played at many high profile events including the Multicultural Ball for the ACT Government, The Red Cross Ball, RSPCA Ball and venues in Tasmania including Wrest Point Casino, Hobart and Country Club Resort, Launceston.

Members

Zdiz Hebda (keyboards), Richard (Kishy) Wachniewski (bass), Arthur Laing (vocals), Bob Sawyer (drums), Wally Kulesza (guitar), Bill Kover (guitar)

SINGLES

''The Big Top / Fairyland (Why, Why, Why)'' 1968 Parlophone
''It's Love / Gabrielle'' 1968 Parlophone