Australian Music Stars of the 60's (4/4)

The "second wave" of Australian rock is said to have begun in about 1964, and followed directly on the impact of The Beatles. In the immediate wake of The Beatles' momentous Australian tour, many local groups that had formerly played guitar-based instrumental music recruited singers and took up the new 'beat' style. Some of the best-known and most popular acts in this period were Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs and Ray Brown & The Whispers, The Easybeats, The Bee Gees, The Masters Apprentices, The Twilights, The Groop, The Groove, The Loved Ones and cult acts like The Throb and solo star Normie Rowe, who quickly became Australia's most popular male pop vocalist. During this period a wave of acts also came from New Zealand, including Ray Columbus & the Invaders, Max Merritt & The Meteors, Dinah Lee, Larry's Rebels and The La De Das.
Many Australian bands and singers tried to enhance their careers by moving overseas, in particular to England, then seen as the mecca of popular music but few bands were successful and of those who relocated to the UK only The Seekers and The Bee Gees (who were actually born and raised in the UK) enjoyed any lasting success. Others that made the journey were The Easybeats (the first rock band to crack the UK market), The Twilights, The Groove, Lloyds World and the La De Das.
(extract from Wikipedia 2011)

[@andrewmiller4885]

Australia was the best country on earth to live in back then. How I miss those days ,and all our marvellous entertainers of Australia's early era of Rock and Roll. People were kinder had good manners and respected their elders. There was so much more civility.. I really don't know where it all went wrong. Even our nation's leaders leave a lot to be desired now. What a decline on so many fronts. Thank you so much for these videos. What a treat they were. We certainly had some of the best talent in the world right here at home.

[@robertmarshall7938]

Great clips Great Australian artists brings back Great memories and the world was in much better place

[@edithsymmans3273]

The good old days of 1960's here in Australia and the music business went full steam ahead all the way.... Some wonderful acts shown here but there are so many more not in the clip.... Even my Mom loved J O K, this man was a wild child who made great music and is still very muted loved today, sad day when he passed and I still miss him even now.... I will never forget his huge booming voice resounding around the show grounds back in 1968, what a talented man.... Thanks for posting this here, great memories from my youth.... REST IN PEACE J O K YOU ARE STILL SADLY MISSED.

[@nyosito]

07:37 Beautiful and sentimental. "Rock and roll is here to stay, they said it wouldn't last. But you've got to live for today, you can't live in the past. Those good times won't come round again, they were fun in many ways. But one is for sure my friends, we shared some happy days"

[@OldiesMomma]

I agree with you about the music of the years 1960 - 1999. But after that rock and roll did not die ,. It's been murdered. Have you heard what they are calling music to day. Even my daughter says that the music today is not any good. And that my generation had the best of everything. Clothes shoes hair movies car's. But not our furniture. And shag carpet.

[@anEyePhil]

Ray Brown and the Whispers! Memories.

[@andrewthornhill7042]

@anEyePhil Loved Ray Brown's music!

[@judycasemore2168]

Well done our favourites may have passed always in our hearts / Thanks for the memories.

[@collocke9427]

Thank you one and all for the fabulous memories.

[@calvinbealer7264]

This OUTSTANDING. Thank You Very Much from Australia 🌏🦘🦘

[@debraneilson2155]

Australian music you can't beat love love love ❤️

[@debraneilson2155]

Makes me so happy to hear all this music 💕

[@ralphsmith1170]

Fantastic stuff! I love these clips!! Too much time spent on JOK though! There were so many more great stars! Billy Thorpe, The Easybeats etc!

[@msfyn]

Not bias and certainly not fickle but 47 years on Ray Brown & the Whispers remain No1 and always will be. Nice to see the others I met during my journey. Thanks for sharing.

[@laminage]

IN The US there was a Group called The Whispers who had a string of R & B Records like And The Beat Goes On (Later sampled by Will Smith for Welcome To Miami). They hold the distinction of being the First R & B Group to have Twins. Only Jagged Edge did that. Shout & What'd I Say also hold a very important part in R & B Music because they were the first R & B Songs that crossed over to the Pop Chart. A Veritable Who's Who covered Shout. The Beatles, Lulu, The Ronettes, The Shangri-Las, and Nicola Roberts when she auditioned to be in Girls Aloud in 2002. When What'd I Say was released and Ray Charles performed it at The Apollo Theater, The Miracles were his Opening Act and although they were ill prepared he helped them out. Their performance was so bad that Frank Shipman, The owner demanded his Money back. Yet In 1963 they were much more prepared and improved.

[@kevingibbs3822]

Still remember the early days at Sydney Stadium and J O'K. Brings back memories every time I see this clip.

[@aussiediane7]

Well THANK YOU so much for posting this. I have watched all 4 and many a fond memory was remembered. Great music. I still have a LP J.O'K signed for my mother for me.

[@adamfriend1040]

Hi there.. how are you doing? Hope you are fine and staying safe over there??

[@rosslyn543]

Great times so glad I lived through them

[@dianebrewer8730]

really enjoyed watching these 4 videos

[@adamfriend1040]

Hi there.. how are you doing? Hope you are fine and staying safe over there??

[@warialdasue]

thankyou for posting these great memories .... loved it

[@adamfriend1040]

Hi there.. how are you doing? Hope you are fine and staying safe over there??

[@laminage]

Can you imagine how surreal it must have been to announce Olivia Newton-John as The Winner of his Talent Contest Sing Sing Sing and now she's recognized as a Dame in her Homeland England.

[@452poppy]

that was fantastic loved every memory thank you

[@laminage]

it true that Olivia Newton John won A Talent Contest that he sponsored on Sing Sing Sing "What'd I Say" was a major influence on Paul McCartney, The Ronettes, Billy Joel and Olivia Newton-John. He even tried to help Smokey Robinson who was his Opening Act in 1959 who didn't have a proper musical arrangement. He generously helped him out and tanked at The Apollo Theater. They were so bad The owner Frank Shipman screamed for his Money back. In future years Ray's Name would be mentioned in Bestselling Novels, Kids Programming and the like. What'd I say was next to Shout by The Isley Brothers one of the first successful R & B Songs to cross over to the Pop Chart in 1959.

[@TheFightwear]

" Great Memories " THANKS !!!

[@wonderwoman899]

Thank you for the upload.........I love memories.

[@neilforbes416]

"Johnny O'Keefe's "She's My Baby" actually belongs with EMI as O'Keefe recorded the song in the USA for Liberty Records, which, with United Artists, was bought up be EMI through their American subsidiary(read: infant member of EMI Group), Capitol.

[@OzBloke]

Thanks for the memories!

[@laminage]

In the US there was a Group called The Whispers who made History being the First R & B Group to have a Set of Twins. One of their Songs And The Beat Goes On would later be sampled by Will Smith for Welcome To Miami.

[@Bonstergirl1]

Thx for putting this up..i loved it..

[@laminage]

In The US there was a Song Called "The Real Thing" by Tina Britt who epitomized "Northern Soul" named after the Black Section of Philadelphia, PA. It fell between the cracks in The US but in The UK it gained cult status. The Real Thing's Melody reminded me of Sugar Pie Honey Bunch by The Four Tops.

[@meganharris9799]

Agree with allymayful also some big names missing Lonnie Lee, The Groop, Bobby and Laurie, The Atlantics and the Denvermen

[@collocke9427]

Oh Woman Your Breaking Me but its Such a Lovely Way you say it ;-)

[@amenic1894]

Fantastic channel, well done!!!

[@jadeshannon2272]

Proud to be Australian

[@nighthawktt]

Well put together thanks Memories for a lotta people

[@Lozzlej]

JO'K what a LEGEND

[@user-sf8mw4ys3p]

Very nostalgic, sheds tear ortwo

[@pgapper]

great Memories but you forgot a few like Peter Doyle, Bobby and Laurie, Grantley Dee and more

[@adamfriend1040]

Hi there.. how are you doing? Hope you are fine and staying safe over there??

[@steeplepossum39]

Good stuff!

[@stephensmith1794]

the wild one..gone neally 40 years

[@thra5herxb12s]

Great stuff, And I thought you only had Banjo Patterson and Frank Isfield and Howlin Rolf Harris...

[@ladyanne8139]

Great redo of SHOUT 💗

[@ladyanne8139]

Just great memories!

[@kerrykelaher2607]

" judith durham " " the carnival is over !" 😊

[@neilforbes416]

4:00 - Johnny O'Keefe TRUE LEGEND! No-one can top him, not even Elvis Presley! O'Keefe was the driving force behind the success of Festival Records. If it hadn't been for O'Keefe's little trick in 1956 when he rang a newspaper with the story that he was about to sign with Festival, the label manager calling him out on his claim, calling his bluff and inviting him to the company and fantasy becoming fact, though earliest efforts were duds, soon topping the charts with singles on the Lee Gordon(later renamed Leedon) label, Festival Records may well have gone the way of other small operations and simply closed up shop.

[@johnattard9446]

LOL

[@kevingibbs3822]

J O'K was the KING

[@MON383]

Kevin Gibbs Australia's equivalent to Elvis.... just ask Pee Wee.... He said the TITLE "KING" belongs to only two people, Elvis Presley and the late J OK....

[@ladyanne8139]

Love ❣️ ❤️ these memories...

[@wilson42cc]

Back when things were more real than today ,,that’s for sure,,

[@tutenvanman2715]

Why no Nick Cave he must be in his eighties. Love this sort of programme more more more

[@anthonywalsh785]

Nick Cave was born in 1957 so had no connection at all with the Australian scene in the 60's. He came along much later.

[@callithowiseeit5806]

Looks like the 60s didn't reach Australia until the late 70s

[@casscumerford5886]

yep---aussie tv rock back then before '68 was so damn square---producers were all 60 yr olds

[@markwilesmith5599]

Not quite true but we definitely dragged our musical feet in the first half of the sixties. The tyranny of distance, conservative mindset and other factors contributed. We really started to find our own personal groove in the late sixties and early seventies. Particularly in rock music. Pub rock to be precise. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Blackfeather, Daddy Cool and a host others emerged from the sixties to create a definitive Aussie sound.

[@jadeshannon5583]

good...

[@adamfriend1040]

Hi there.. how are you doing? Hope you are fine and staying safe over there??

[@OldiesMomma]

Why didn't we.hear about him in the USA. There was a lot of Australian performer's that never heard of. The only reason i know of the easybeats or Stevie wright was because of the song. Friday on my mind . Even then i had to use Google app on my phone to find out about them.. and after i googled Stevie wright life i kind of wish that i hadn't. It's a very sad life he lived. It makes me want to cry. Also Steve Marriott's and bon Scott they were all great performers that was lost to early. But especially with stevie wright having been through all that he was with the electric shock treatment's and giving him that cocktail of drugs to put him to sleep for 14 days. They really thought that was a good idea to fry his brain and give him being a drug addict more drugs to try. Not to sart on the doctors part.

[@doowoplover4106]

Hi Roy, would you please look into your mail box on Discogs. I left you a message regarding your record from Patsy Ann Noble - It's always the way. I would be greatful if you would read it. I just don't know how else to get hold of you. Thank you, Old Helmut from Germany

[@musieboy1]

A PLACE IN MY HART ALL WAYS XXXX

[@reedbender1179]

@ 1:30 the execrable John Laws..........talent inversely proportional to his ego !!!

[@michaelbox4394]

Cruel, but fair

[@audreyl.8366]

Who's the guy at 0.35 holding the doll? I dig the song but can't identify it 4 the life of me.

[@roydidlock1867]

Johnny Young, who had hits in Australia in the mid to late 60s and hosted the pop music TV show "Go!!!". In the 1970's and 1980's, he hosted the TV show "Young Talent Time". He still performs today in "oldies' concerts.

[@audreyl.8366]

@@roydidlock1867 Thank you so much! I didn't realize they were saying that he wrote that song 4 Russell Morris. Much appreciated!

[@allymayful]

l must be OCD - but l do like my history in chronological order. This doco has some excellent vision , but it is REALLY, REALLY IRRATATING me the way it is dodging all over the place.

[@collocke9427]

lol... perhaps see someone for the OCD.

[@laminage]

I've noticed that alot of these Acts seemed to have patterned themselves after US Popstars from Connie Francis, The Righteous Brothers not to mention Covering R & B Songs.

[@michaelbox4394]

Exactly: it's all about context.

[@robthelog223]

Jokka the rocker,,,, YEAH!

[@CC3193]

So Ryan Reynolds is a time-traveller who played base in the 60s? @ 0:16

[@judithc8831]

♥️✨🌟

[@martinhanna225]

To much 'Bandstand' and that older generation of tv show did have that effect

[@kerrykelaher2607]

Like russell morris shirt 👕 😎!" Sew much to remmember " bandstand " " noeline batley " " bev Harrell was " cute " jok " 😊 happy days 😀

[@trill4907]

I love all this music but even as a teenager I would never go to a concert and carry on like these people did...I used to stare at them from a distance and think ....what idiots.... they would be screaming and tearing at their own hair and faces....then they would be ripping at each other's clothes.....that was in the 60s they're doing the same thing today but not over music.. but over politics ...all lose nuts missing their screws

[@carolewilson1520]

Does anyone else see a facial resemblance between Ross D Wylie & JO'K ??

[@siks897]

some similarities yes, but he must be David Gates' twin Brother!!

[@adamfriend1040]

Hi there.. how are you doing? Hope you are fine and staying safe over there??

[@shakeAbooty88]

I saw JOK (E?) in '74 at the Findon Hotel. In the true meaning of the word, he was pathetic. Sang in tune (just). Unexciting. I never saw him as anything special and the first reasonable band I saw from our neck of the woods was the Easybeats, then Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. I can't count the Bee Geez because they aren't Australian. Later things started to get better. The Masters and then the GREAT COLD CHISEL!! Chis were the first Aus band that matched the best. Not forgetting Caddy & mates.

[@bodgiesteve8849]

3:00, Johnny O'Keaf became old peoples music the moment 'Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs' played their first gig in 1963. From '63 to '75, Billy was easily the the king of Ausie rock.

[@davidparris7167]

Billy Shortarse was a touch too nasally for my tastes.

[@bolivianprince7326]

you forgot the Valentines with bon scott

[@OldiesMomma]

You also for got the easybeats. And stevie wright. The seeker's.😮😮😮😮😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@bolivianprince7326]

@@OldiesMomma easybeats are in chapter 3 already and the seekers had only 1 hit I guess

[@gremlinuk1968]

,, frank ifield,, sorry my spell !

[@andrewthornhill7042]

WHY is Johnny Young holding a stuffed toy?

[@lynettekomidar]

Man if them copied Billy Thorpe

[@sierria64]

never heard.of these people ..from usa

[@missym7245]

💩💩💩💩

[@terrymccrory8885]

THE SEEKERS??

[@OldiesMomma]

It's sad that you didn't give the easybeats the same amount of time that you have given every body else. They were the rock legend's that jump started every body else. You put them in the credits. Why put them in at all

[@baggleman]

Australian rock lol where?

[@jaynebuchanan4612]

Is there no more talent?

[@derek5168]

Who said cruddy music only exists today back then there was a fair share of bad music johnny O'Keeffe was the exception