TED HAMILTON

Edward Leslie "Ted" Hamilton (OAM) (born 1937) is an Australian singer, composer, playwright, entrepreneur and actor. In 1955, hailed as a teenage singing sensation, Hamilton began performing in nightclubs, and live on national radio. He guest starred on The Ford Show, Calling The Stars and The Gladys Moncrieff Show. He also had hit records with "Primrose Lane" and "The Things We Did Last Summer". Hamilton was also the featured singer with The Bob Gibson Band, Australia's premier swing-band, and the Australian All-Stars jazz quintet.

In 1956 Hamilton guest starred on Australia's first variety show broadcast on New Year’s Eve on ABC TV. Also in the 1950s, Hamilton featured in variety shows on all channels, including The Hit Parade (ABC), Make Mine Music (ABC), Bandstand (Channel 9), Sydney Tonight (Channel 7), and in the 1960s the seminal variety show Revue 61/62. In late 1965, Hamilton compered In Melbourne Tonight on Monday nights on Channel 9. He also starred in several variety specials, among them Ted Hamilton and Johnny Farnham - together again for the very first time.

Hamilton starred in the famous Australian TV series, Division 4 as Senior Constable Kevin Dwyer, winning best actor and best drama Logie awards. He also performed in a number of national theatre productions. He went on to host his own national variety shows on the ABC: Ted Hamilton's New Wave and Ted Hamilton's Musical World.

Hamilton moved his family to the United States and established a successful acting and corporate career. In 1980, when Rupert Murdoch attempted to establish a television presence in Australia, he acquired the Ten Channel in Melbourne. He invited Hamilton to return to Australia, to host The Ted Hamilton Show. However, the Broadcasting Control Board opposed his ownership and Murdoch quickly surrendered the idea, and sold his interest.

In 1981 Hamilton starred in The Pirate Movie with Christopher Atkins and Kristy McNichol. Hamilton and his partner David Joseph produced The Pirate Movie, the first Australian movie to receive a general release in the United States (2,500 screens 20th Century Fox). Hamilton provided development finance for The Wild Duck (Liv Ullmann and Jeremy Irons) for J. C. Williamson productions, and The Flight of the Navigator for Disney Studios. In 2001 Hamilton returned to Australia, performing in music and acting. In 2011 Hamilton was appointed Australia Day Ambassador. In the 2013 Australia Day Honours List Hamilton was awarded an OAM or service to the performing arts and to the community.

SINGLES

''Primose Lane / Just The Two Of Us'' 1959 HMV
''Pretty Baby / The Things We Did Last Summer'' 1959 HMV
''Ding Dong Bell / Kit, Kit, Kitten'' 1960 HMV
''The Lovin' Touch / You Are My Sunshine'' 1960 HMV
''Get On With Your Livin' (#81) / On This Road'' 1973 Fable
''Dandenong Grass / You Can Never Go Home'' 1974 ATA

''Come Friends Who Plough The Sea'' [Ted Hamilton and The Pirates] 1982 Polydor

ALBUMS

'Three Sides Of Ted Hamilton' (#28) 1972 Fable

'Ted Hamilton's New Wave' 1974 ATA

References

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