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Showing posts from November, 2014

AC/DC Singer DAVE EVANS has Nothing To Prove.

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Dave Evans , the original vocalist and co-founder of AC/DC released this EP Nothing to Prove via Rocksector Records in iMarch 2014. The EP contains a cover of blues classic Baby Please Don’t Go and three original tracks which Dave has co-written with guitar player Chris Appleton from Abslova, who plays on this EP along with Abslova colleagues Dan Bate and Martin McNee. What About Tomorrow - Dave Evans - This latest and all new and different fusion of soft rock, hard rock and acoustical grandeur is an absolute 'must listen' for all Dave Evans fans!... It's unlike any music you've ever heard before from the co-founder and original lead singer of AC/DC!... The title track ‘What About Tomorrow’ takes the listeners straight into today’s world headlines – and where we are all headed if things do not shape up soon. Track 2 ‘Tell Me A Lie’ is a softer and superbly blended acoustic and rock guitar ballad that shows the softer side of Dave Evans – a song that most an

Jeff Phillips - Wrote for Jermaine Jackson and Yvonne Elliman

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Jeff Phillips was born in Perth WA. Lots of family singalongs kickstarted his love of music. At 7 years of age, he fell in love with Rock and Roll and learnt to play guitar.  So began his career in show biz.  During his school years, his determination to be a singer persisted. He attended University and studied Economics, which only served to reinforce his plans for singing and songwriting. Jeff got a great break appearing on "In Perth Tonight" where he sang Elvis Presley's "Puppet on a String" and Billy Thorpe's "Broken Strings".  As a result, Graham Kennedy invited him to appear on " In Melbourne Tonight" .   He returned to Perth to finish school and then drove back to Melbourne, across the Nullabor in his trusty VW, looking for another taste of those exciting TV appearances. Melbourne had a new show called "New Faces" . He was asked to enter. Never one to say no, he entered, sang "Dreams Of The Everyda

Jacarandas and Bougainvillea. Look at Me! Look at Me!

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Australian streets are awash with the magnicient purple-blue blooms of jacarandas (Jacaranda mimosifolia) in late spring and early summer.  Jacarandas work well on their own as a specimen tree in an open lawn, where their fallen flowers form a colourful carpet of blue, a s well as being superb street trees,  I took this pic yesterday at Roseville NSW. What caught my eye was the contrast with the Bougainvillea lit up by the early morning light, right behind this tree. Australians think of jacarandas as natives, but they’re not. Natives to Brazil, they are deciduous, not because of cold winters, but because of the monsoonal wet and dry seasons.  They briefly drop their leaves at the end of the dry season, then leaf up again when the rains come. Jacarandahs can reach a height of around 10-15m, and a spread of the same size, so you need to be careful where you plant them.  A jacaranda is a magnificent shade tree. While the most common flower colour for jacarandas is the lovely purple-blue,

When Pally Met Elvis

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October 1968, Ward and Irene Austin honeymooned in the  USA  He was a dedicated music fan and a fanatic for all things American, Elvis Presley in particular, and The South in general.  He had a number of famous catchphrases which became part of the vernacular at the time, including "a rickapoodie and a fandooglie", "Too much for the human unit" and "Anytime you're ready Pally" . Ward married Irene Combe in 1968, when she was 17. He had met her Irene she was 14 and proclaimed his love for her, though at the time he was 31.  On their honeymoon in the USA they were excited to meet Ward's idol, Elvis Presley.  I stumbled across this 2UE Top 40 chart from 1962, and therewas was WARD "Pally" AUSTIN grinning fresh faced as a schoolboy at the bottom of the page.  the caption starts "2UE music man WARD AUSTIN spins all the latest discs. I love that kind of talk. (Judy Stone was the only Aussie to make this par

A Pop Star called "Booka". (Well it worked for Bono).

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"My mates called me Booka and it stuck". John Hyland began his career in 1956, entering talent quests in local pubs. Six years later he became lead singer for the Leedons who of course the became Booka Hyland and The Leedons. Then 4 years as lead singer for The Chessmen.  After the dances he was working for "Lousy Les's" at Sans Souci where Warren Williams and The Crescents heard him performing in the beer garden. They liked Booka, and kept coming back week after week, eventually persuading him to meet with Johnny O'Keefe" . O'Keefe wanted Booka for 6 'Clock Rock, and persuaded him to continue to use the name "Booka". Booka Hyland appeared on Six O'Clock Rock, Bandstand, Teentime and Rockville Junction, singing songs that included "I Dig Girls", "Is It Me?" "Sweet Thing", "The Right Time", "Transistor" and "We've got Something Going".

Australia's 88 year old DJ is offered a further ten year contract and wants more.

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In what could be described as a world first, Macquarie Radio Network’s major shareholder John Singleton has negotiated a new 10 year contract with morning DJ Bob Rogers , live on-air. Although the agreement wasn’t signed in the formal sense of the word - “because we’re both too arthritic" quipped Singleton - (the verbal contract should suffice). Bob signed his current contract with Radio Station 2CH at the age of 80. He is now 88 and requested  a further 12 year contract to take him to 100 years old.  "How about 12 years" asked Bob "No" said Singo "To keep the perception of a youthful radio station, let's stick to 10 years".  In 1957, Rogers discovered the Slim Dusty song "Pub With No Beer" and was the first DJ in Australia to play the song and catapult it to number one on the charts. He became successful and subsequently presented Australia's first Top 40 show on 2UE from 1958 to 1962.  He was Australia's to

Barry Stanton

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Barry Stanton was discovered by fellow recording artist Johnny O'Keefe in 1958, and regularly performed on many Australian music programs such as Bandstand, The Johnny O'Keefe Show, Six O'Clock Rock, and Sing Sing Sing. Barry released six singles on Leedon Records, the first being Don't Let Go in 1960. His second release, Don't You Worry 'Bout That, reached number 3 on the Sydney Top 40 in September 1960. Two other singles were issued, but his fifth and biggest release,  Beggin' On My Knees - written by Barry's brother Rod - reached number one in 1962.    Signed by RCA in 1964 he released A Tribute To The King - a song written for Barry by fellow musician and good friend Johnny Devlin. Stanton was one of the most popular performers of his era. He also achieved some success outside of Australia. He continues to perform regularly around the country along with other artists from the JO'K era. Leaving schoo

Coca Cola Easybeats Spectacular 1966

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It's been more than forty eight years since the  The Easybeats Coca Cola Spectacular  was seen on Channel 7, hosted by Billy Thorpe and telecast in July  1966, on the eve of the Easys' trip to the UK.  The show starred the Easybeats of course, and featured Janice Slater and Tony Worsley . It was a farewell to the Easybeats who were leaving for London's Abbey Road Studios. The show featured some great hits and artists of the time;  The EasyBeats; She's So Fine, Wedding Ring, I'll Make you Happy, I Can See, Sorry, Easy As Can Be, Someday Somewhere, In My Book, Come And See Her, Women, Too Much, For My Woman,A Very Special Man, Make Life Sweet with Coca Cola. Supported by; The beautiful Janice Slater; "We're Doin' Fine and If You Don't Think. Tony Worsley and The Blue Jays; Raining In My Heart and Knock on Wood. An enthusiastic live audience and fabulous group of dancers, ensured The Coca Cola Special captured the excitement that the ban

Paul Wayne

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Paul Wayne had all the ingredients to be a successful pop star. A powerful, gutsy singing voice, a personality and charisma to cut it with Johnny O'Keefe, Dig Richards and Johnny Devlin, and looks to scream for. Rocking tunes such as; "Don't Do That", Movin' Day", "I like It Like That", "Bye Baby Bye Bye", "Carol" and "Keep Walkin", to name a few, kept his teen idol status. Paul also recorded two successful covers; "Since I fell For You" (originally by Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra) and "That's All", A Nat King Cole single and That's All Right" by Arthur "Big Boy " Crudup. Paul and his wife Sharon now run a fantastic little restaurant by the sea at Copacabana, Central Coast, NSW, called the Sea Grill Restaurant - Great food by two of the best chefs on the coast, and great music. https://australianmusiclegends.blogspot.com/p/janice-slater.html

Dinah Lee's Latest Release, Cathedral Square

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Dinah Lee is the stage name of New Zealand-born singer, Diane Marie Jacobs (born 19 August 1946), who performed 1960s pop and then adult contemporary music. Her debut single from early 1964, "Don't You Know Yockomo?", achieved No. 1 chart success in New Zealand and, across the Tasman Sea, in Brisbane and Melbourne. It was followed in September by her cover of Jackie Wilson's, "Reet Petite", which also reached No. 1 in New Zealand and peaked at No. 6 in Melbourne. The Australian release was a double A-sided single with "Do the Blue Beat". On her early singles she was backed by fellow New Zealanders, Max Merrit & The Meteors .  Dinah appeared regularly on both New Zealand and Australian television variety programs, including Sing, Sing, Sing and Bandstand. She toured supporting Johnny O'Keefe, Ray Columbus & the Invaders and P.J. Proby. According to Australian rock music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, in the 1960s, "Lee was the m

Ray Brown. The Whispers, Moonstone and One Ton Gypsy

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Ray Brown & The Whispers were a chart-topping Sydney band that originated in the surf music scene as The Nocturnes. After acquiring Ray Brown as their lead singer, they went on to become one of the most popular Australian bands of sixties era. The focus was on Ray Brown, who became a major star of the Australian pop scene. with a series of hit singles, including, "Pride", "Fool, Fool, Fool", and "20 Miles". Ray Brown & The Whispers ranked with Normie Rowe, The Aztecs and the Easybeats as one of the hottest acts in the country. They made regular appearances on all the major pop TV shows. By the end of 1965, they had already released two LPs, four singles and several EPs, and starting with their second album, Headin' For The Top, they were able to make use of Festival's newly opened four-track studio in Ultimo, enabling them to make great strides in production. In 1966, after five hit singles, the Whispers disbanded and losing mo