50-575: Douglas John Parkinson (30 October 1946 – 15 March 2021) was an Australian pop and rock singer. He led the bands Strings and Things/A Sound (1965), the Questions (1966–1968), Doug Parkinson in Focus (1968–1970, 1971), Fanny Adams (1970–1971), the Life Organisation (1973), Southern Star Band (1978–1980) and Doug Parkinson Band (1981–1983). Doug Parkinson in Focus's cover version of
100-507: A "pleasant folk single (in the Seekers vein)." Parkinson quit his cadetship in that year as "I was impatient, I was earning more with the band two nights a week than I was at the paper, but I was always having to swap shifts with other cadets and then I finally bit the bullet and left." The 'A' Sound broke up at the end of that year. In early 1967 Parkinson joined the Questions, alongside Bill Flemming on drums (ex- Midnighters, Roland Storm and
150-656: A No. 15 single in early 1972 with "Show Me the Way". Cadd then pursued a solo career as a performer, songwriter, record producer, label owner and film and TV score composer. In 2007 Cadd was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame , which acknowledged his iconic status including his work for The Groop. The Groop reformed for a national tour from late 1988 to early 1989, with members from both versions: Bruce, Charles, McKeddie, Mudie and Wright; plus Rob Glover on bass (ex-Sports) and Tweed Harris on keyboards (ex-Groove). A CD compilation
200-459: A couple of ponderous, over-long tracks (like the 10-minute 'In a Room'), but Melouney's crunching, multi-layered Jimmy Page-styled guitar riffs kept the whole thing together." David Nichols opined that they "played heavy, bluesy, progressive rock, and its members were instantly filled with a sense of their own perfection." The album had provided a single, "Got to Get a Message to You", earlier in that year. However Fanny Adams had disbanded ahead of
250-581: A few months. Their debut eponymous album appeared in June 1971, which Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane , described as "adventurous, heavy, progressive blues-rock... Melouney's crunching, multi-layered Jimmy Page-styled guitar riffs kept the whole thing together." Fanny Adams' founder, Vince Melouney had left the Bee Gees in 1968 when in London, after three-and-a-half years as their guitarist. He secured
300-669: A pseudonym, Brian Caine, after advice from Meldrum that Cadd didn't sound good as a rock artist's name. Cadd soon changed his name back after family protests. The new line-up of Cadd, Charles, Mudie, Ross and Wright, released "Sorry" which reached No. 12 on the Melbourne charts in January 1967. Their next single, released in May 1967, "Woman You're Breaking Me" (written by Cadd and Wright) reached No. 4 in Melbourne, No. 12 in Sydney, and
350-765: A single, "I Had a Dream", in May and finished third in that year's Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds behind the Groove and then the Masters Apprentices . The first version of Doug Parkinson in Focus disbanded in August. In the following month a new line-up with Parkinson, Green and McGuire joined by Johnny Dick on drums (ex-Max Merritt and the Meteors, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs ) formed in Melbourne. They "became one of
400-420: A single, an EP and an album. They decided to become more R&B orientated and placed an ad for a guitarist, and, with Peter Bruce joining, they were renamed The Groop in late 1964. At the time, Bruce (originally from England) claimed that he had been a member of UK pop group Dave Clark Five in their early years as Dave Clark Quintet in 1957. In a 2002 interview, Bruce admitted that he had only been in
450-520: A solo album deal with MCA Records in mid-1970 and wished to form a group to play material similar to Led Zeppelin . He contacted his former Aztec bandmate, Toi: the ex-pat New Zealander was in London doing session work. Then he asked Dick and Parkinson to relocate from Melbourne; both had been members of Doug Parkinson in Focus, which had won the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds in 1969. Fanny Adams recorded material for their eponymous debut album. It
500-1071: A succession of groups during the 1970s: the Cleves, Rockwell T James and the Rhythm Aces , and John Paul Young's Allstars . In July 1971 both Dick and Toi worked for Lobby Loyde and all three were members of a reformed Wild Cherries . In March 2023 Gil Mathews of Aztec Music issued an eleven-track remastered version of Fanny Adams (with four bonus tracks) on CD. By that time all the band's members, except Melouney, had died. The Groop The Groop were an Australian folk , R&B and rock band formed in 1964 in Melbourne , Victoria and had their greatest chart success with their second line-up of Max Ross on bass, Richard Wright on drums and vocals, Don Mudie on lead guitar, Brian Cadd on keyboards and vocals, and Ronnie Charles on vocals. The Wesley Trio formed early in 1964 with Ross, Wright and Peter McKeddie on vocals; they were renamed The Groop at
550-691: A support act, The Hill City Skiffle Group and never actually in Dave Clark's band. The Groop had success on the Melbourne singles chart with "Ol' Hound Dog" reaching No. 13, "Best in Africa" No. 10 and "I'm Satisfied" No. 21 in 1966. They were assisted by positive reviews from Ian "Molly" Meldrum writer for national pop magazine Go-Set who had earlier been their roadie. This version of The Groop also recorded two albums, The Groop (1965) and I'm Satisfied (1966) both on CBS Records. In August 1966, founders McKeddie and Bruce left, but instead of disbanding
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#1732801831363600-514: A version of "Always to the Light" to the tribute album, Some Lonesome Picker (June 2016). He told Christian Tatman of The Herald Sun that "My favourite thing is working with a crowd. It's what I'm going to keep doing. I have no plans for retirement." In early 2017 Parkinson undertook a tour featuring the music of Joe Cocker. Highlights of the shows included Cocker's songs and his own hits as well as songs made famous by others, such as Ray Charles and
650-404: Is cited by Nichols regarding Fanny Adams : "we got into the studio and the truth came out. In my opinion [Melouney] just couldn't play. Personal hang-ups... It was all done for [Melouney]'s production company... There was no musical freedom. Bad vibes all the way along." Melouney disputed Parkinson's assertions about his playing but felt the album was "really shithouse". Melouney was a member of
700-447: Is that person coming back on that tape?'. It intrigued me. Then I asked for a guitar for Christmas and that was the end of me." Parkinson attended Narrabeen Boys' High School , showing aptitude in literature, and was selected as a prefect, matriculating in 1963. He sang a surf rock song, for his first performance, at a school dance. As a sporting teen, he played district cricket and was a keen footballer. Parkinson also took up surfing but
750-725: The Kent Music Report singles chart top 100, " In the Mood (Forties Style) " (June 1973) and " Beyond the Blue Horizon " (November). In late 1973 he replaced Reg Livermore in the role of Herod in an Australian musical theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar . Former band mate Green composed the soundtrack to the biker film , Stone (1974), with Parkinson singing on two tracks, "Cosmic Flash" and "Do not Go Gentle". In that year his touring band were Rod Coe on bass guitar, Bruno Lawrence on drums (ex-Max Merritt and
800-578: The Rhythm section of Ross and Wright invited Don Mudie (ex–Sherwood Green) to join on guitars. At McKeddie's farewell party – he was travelling to UK – The Groop were supported by another R&B outfit The Jackson Kings. The Groop invited their keyboardist Brian Cadd to join, Cadd insisted on bringing along bandmate Ronnie Charles (Ron Boromeo) as vocalist. The Groop were searching for a more Blues / Rock sound, and when Cadd joined in October 1966 he used
850-868: The Aztecs, the Bee Gees), alongside Teddy Toi on bass guitar (ex-Max Merritt and the Meteors, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs). Parkinson "conveyed considerable charisma with his imposing presence and gruff, raspy voice." The group recorded their self-titled album in London and returned to Australia in December but disbanded a month later. Fanny Adams appeared posthumously in June 1971 on MCA Records; which McFarlane described as exemplifying "adventurous, heavy, progressive blues-rock." In February 1971 Parkinson formed another line-up of Doug Parkinson in Focus with Green and McGuire joined by Mark Kennedy on drums (ex- Spectrum , King Harvest). Their new label, Fable Records, had released
900-557: The Beatles tour of Australia, for his first front-page story. In 1965, Parkinson, on lead vocals, formed Strings and Things, with Helen Barnes on bass guitar, her brother Sid Barnes junior on drums and David Lee on guitar – and changed their name to the 'A' Sound – as a folk music group. The Barnes siblings were children of Australian test cricketer Sid Barnes Sr. The 'A' Sound released "Talk About That" (1966) via Festival Records, which Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane , described as
950-518: The Beatles' track " Dear Prudence " (May 1969) peaked at No. 5 on the Go-Set National Top ;40. The follow-up single, "Without You" / " Hair " (October), also reached No. 5. Parkinson released solo material and performed in musical theatre productions. Two studio albums associated with Parkinson: I'll Be Around (March 1979) by Southern Star Band and Heartbeat to Heartbeat (March 1983) by Doug Parkinson Band, reached
1000-649: The Beatles. In 1968, Parkinson married Suzie Clark, who later became his talent manager; the couple had two children. The family were long-term residents of Sydney's Northern Beaches . One of their children, Daniel Parkinson, was the bass guitarist for the Hanging Tree , a progressive metal group from 1992 to 2002. Daniel has also worked as a graphic designer and photographer. The couple also ran their own record label, Roy Boy Records, from 2005, which issued Parkinson's latter-day solo material. Parkinson died on 15 March 2021, aged 74, at his Northern Beaches home. He
1050-648: The Doug Parkinson Band with George Limbidis on bass guitar (ex-Highway), Adrian Payne on drums (ex- Pantha , Broderick Smith's Hired Hands), Tim Piper on guitar (ex-Chain, Blackfeather) and Dave Richard on guitar. They issued seven singles from March 1981 to September 1983, including a cover version of " The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore " featuring Broderick Smith on duet vocals in July 1981. Their album, Heartbeat to Heartbeat , appeared in March 1983, which reached
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#17328018313631100-772: The Joy Band (see The Loved Ones#1968-1986: After disbandment ). In August 1972 Parkinson launched his solo career and issued the single, "Lonely". In March 1973 he took the role of the Hawker in the Australian musical theatre, orchestral version of the Who's rock opera, Tommy . Fellow Australian artists were Daryl Braithwaite (as Tommy), Bobby Bright , Linda George , Colleen Hewett , Jim Keays , Ian Meldrum (as Uncle Ernie, in Sydney only), Billy Thorpe , Wendy Saddington , Broderick Smith and Ross Wilson . The Sydney performance
1150-538: The Meteors , Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs , Doug Parkinson in Focus), Vince Melouney on guitar (ex-Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Vince Maloney Sect, Bee Gees ), Doug Parkinson on lead vocals and rhythm guitar (ex-Questions, In Focus) and Teddy Toi on bass guitar (ex-Max Merritt and the Meteors, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Little Sammy and the In People). They relocated to Australia in December and broke up there after
1200-481: The Meteors, BLERTA), Mick Lieber on guitar (ex-Python Lee Jackson) and Ray Vanderby on keyboards. In November he released a cover version of " Everlasting Love ", which peaked at No. 22. He followed with "Love is Like a Cloudy Day" (May 1975) and "Raised on Rock" (September) but they did reach the top 100. From December 1977 to March 1978 Parkinson returned to musical theatre in the stage show, Ned Kelly portraying Kelly Gang member, Joe Byrne . Its first run
1250-573: The National Top ;60. Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane wrote that Parkinson, "conveyed considerable charisma with his imposing presence, 'Lucifer' beard and gruff, raspy voice. He also surrounded himself with mature, seasoned musicians who added to his appeal." Douglas John Parkinson was born in Waratah, New South Wales , a suburb of Newcastle. His German-descended father was a commercial artist in print advertising, while his mother
1300-731: The Questions, he co-wrote two tracks ("Get What You Can", "Takin' It Easy") with Capek. The singer also co-produced a track with Burton and other tracks with David Fookes. A 19–minute demo tape version of No Regrets was preserved in the Mike Eves collection. Also in 1973 he formed a big band jazz ensemble, the Life Organisation , with Morgan and Toi joined by Warren Ford on guitar and piano; Peter Martin on guitar (ex- SCRA ); and Bill Motzing on trombone and keyboards. The Life Organisation had backed Parkinson on two tracks ("Dear Prudence" and "Love Gun") on his solo album, No Regrets . The group issued six singles during 1973 and 1974; two of them reached
1350-582: The Roses and Something Wonderful . In January 1968 Ray Burton on guitar (ex-Delltones) and Les Young on bass guitar (ex-Chessmen) replaced Green and McGuire respectively. The new line-up supported international visitors, the Who, Small Faces and Paul Jones , on their Australian Big Show Tour. A month later the group broke up. In March 1968 Doug Parkinson in Focus were formed by Parkinson, Green, McGuire and Thomas together with Doug Lavery on drums (ex-Andy James Asylum, Running Jumping Standing Still). They released
1400-564: The Snark (October 1990: Sydney), Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story as the Big Bopper (January: Sydney and September 1991: Melbourne, April: Perth, June: Adelaide, July: Brisbane and August 1992: Sydney), Grease as Vince Fontaine (1998), Happy Days - The Arena Mega Musical as Delvicchio (1999) and The Wizard of Oz as Cowardly Lion (2002). Parkinson continued performing in cabaret and clubs and recording as of 2016. He contributed
1450-702: The Statesmen, Max Merritt and the Meteors ), Billy Green on guitar, Duncan McGuire on bass guitar (ex-the Phantoms, Roland Storm and the Statesmen) and Rory Thomas on piano, organ, woodwind and brass. The group had previously released an album, What Is a Question? (November 1966), providing "sub-Herb Alpert pastiches." The group held a residency at the Manly Pacific Hotel , in the Sydney suburb. Parkinson provided his "facility for soul and blues" for
1500-616: The Tamlas) each alternating on bass and lead guitars. By February 1970 Green and McGuire had returned and Rogers and Stacpool had left. The group issued another single, "Baby Blue Eyes" (May), which reached No. 36. The group disbanded when Parkinson and Dick relocated to the United Kingdom in June 1970. Parkinson and Dick had been invited to join Fanny Adams by founder Vince Melouney on guitar and vocals (ex-Billy Thorpe and
1550-596: The album due to "ill-advised boasts of their imminent success... internal dissent and high audience expectations". It had also followed a fire at a Sydney discotheque, Caesar's Palace, which destroyed the band's equipment. According to McFarlane, "The story of Fanny Adams encapsulates one of the great disasters of Australian rock music. What sounded like a brilliant idea in theory turned out to be an ill-fated and short-lived affair for all concerned." Parkinson left to form another line-up of In Focus in February 1971. Parkinson
Doug Parkinson - Misplaced Pages Continue
1600-415: The band. They released two more singles, but only "Such A Lovely Way" reached the national top 20 before they disbanded in May 1969. Their last recorded work was an uncredited appearance as instrumental support on Russell Morris ' No. 1 single " The Real Thing ". Cadd and Mudie were eager to explore a more rock sound and so disbanded The Groop to form Axiom. The second version of The Groop had recorded
1650-700: The end of the year. The Groop's best known hit single "Woman You're Breaking Me" was released in 1967; the band won a trip to United Kingdom but had little success there. Cadd later admitted that their style of music would have suited the US rather than the UK. Other singles included "Ol' Hound Dog", "Best in Africa", "I'm Satisfied", "Sorry", "Seems More Important to Me" and "Such a Lovely Way". When The Groop disbanded in 1969, Cadd and Mudie formed Axiom with Glenn Shorrock (later in Little River Band ). Cadd
1700-525: The line-up, which "lifted [the group] into the premier league of Australian mid-1960s pop." The Questions competed in the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds in July 1967 and finished second behind the Groop . With Parkinson the band issued three "minor psychedelic pop classic" singles, " Sally Go Round the Roses " (cover version, July 1967), "And Things Unsaid" (October) and "Something Wonderful" (February 1968). They also released two extended plays, Sally Go Round
1750-777: The most popular outfits on the Melbourne suburban dance/inner-city discotheque circuit" as they were "perfectly in sync with the tempo of the times." The group signed with EMI/Columbia and issued a cover version of the Beatles' track, " Dear Prudence ", in May 1969, which peaked at No. 5 on the Go-Set National Top 40. Also in that year the group won the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds national final. The band's follow up single, "Without You" / " Hair " (October), also reached No. 5. In November Green and McGuire left to join Rush while Parkinson and Dick recruited Mick Rogers (ex- Procession ) and Les Stacpool (ex-Chessmen, Merv Benton and
1800-475: The original, "I'll Be Around", by the Spinners at a Kings Cross nightclub and decided to get his group to record their own rendition. The album of the same name was "a steady seller" and reached the related Top 40 albums chart. Parkinson also sang the opening theme song of the short-lived TV soap opera, Arcade (1980), which was issued as a solo single. Early in 1981 Southern Star Band were renamed as
1850-471: The single, "Purple Curtains" (1971), which had been recorded by a previous line-up. According to McFarlane after Fanny Adams had disbanded "Such was MCA's dissatisfaction with the split that the label effectively prevented Parkinson from recording for two years." In December 1971 the line-up fractured when Kennedy and McGuire joined their former bandmate, Leo de Castro , in Friends; while Green joined Gerry and
1900-485: The song to England where it was recorded by Manfred Mann 's lead vocalist Paul Jones . Melbourne singer Ronnie Burns (close friend of Meldrum) had a local No. 22 hit with "When I Was Six Years Old" in 1968. Leaving the single "Seems More Important to Me" behind in Melbourne to reach No. 30 in early 1968, The Groop travelled to UK on the Sitmar line cruiser " Castel Felice ". They gave several onboard performances during
1950-580: The studio album Woman You're Breaking Me (1967), whilst the compilation Great Hits from The Groop (1968) was released while they were in UK. Following the break-up of The Groop, Cadd and Mudie formed Axiom in May 1969 with Glenn Shorrock (ex- The Twilights ) on vocals, Doug Lavery (ex-The Valentines) on drums and Chris Stockley (ex- Cam-Pact ) on guitar. Cadd and Mudie were the primary songwriters for Axiom including their three hit singles, "Arkansas Grass", "A Little Ray of Sunshine" and "My Baby's Gone". After Axiom disbanded in 1971, Cadd and Mudie had
2000-513: The top 60. He appeared in another Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar , but this time as Judas, which included a run in Tamworth in May 1984 and then Perth during 1984. From the late 1980s to the early 2000s Parkinson "concentrated on musical theatre" with roles in Australian stage productions of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (April 1989: Brisbane, May 1989: Melbourne, January 1990: Adelaide), The Hunting of
2050-579: The voyage. The Groop arrived in the UK as Paul Jones' cover of "When I Was Six Years Old" was released and they secured a deal with CBS in England, then toured there and in Germany. Band members had written most of their hits in Australia, but CBS decided they would cover an Italian ballad, "What's The Good of Goodbye", which failed to chart. The Groop returned to Australia by October 1968 and Ross left
Doug Parkinson - Misplaced Pages Continue
2100-619: Was a passionate supporter of Manly Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league club. The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards ), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Doug Parkinson won four awards in that time. Fanny Adams (band) Fanny Adams was a briefly existing hard rock super group formed by ex-pat Australians and New Zealanders in mid-1970. The quartet comprised Johnny Dick on drums (ex- Max Merritt and
2150-700: Was at the Festival Theatre, Adelaide and was followed by a run at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. The Bulletin ' s John Hoad praised his "booming voice." His touring band for solo work were Sanctuary, which included ex- Chain and ex- Renée Geyer Band members: Mal Logan on keyboards and Barry Sullivan on bass guitar. In 1978 Parkinson formed the Southern Star Band, comprising former band mates Kennedy and McGuire and new associates Frank Esler-Smith on keyboards (ex- Marcia Hines Band ) and Jim Gannon on guitar (ex-Black Widow, Yellow Dog). Gannon
2200-617: Was filmed and broadcast on channel 7 in early April. In May 1973 Parkinson released his debut solo album, No Regrets , on Polydor Records. For the sessions he used John Capek on piano (ex- Carson ); drummers Russell Dunlop , Peter Figures and Graham Morgan; Tim Partridge on bass guitar; guitarists Green, Kevin Borich , Jimmy Doyle and Ross East; Roger Sellers on percussion and drums; Don Reid on flute and saxophone; and Terry Hannagan on guitar and backing vocals. It includes Parkinson's solo version of "And Things Unsaid", which he had written for
2250-424: Was hit by a surfboard, knocked unconscious and almost drowned. He was dragged from the water, resuscitated by fellow surfers, and then taken to Mona Vale Hospital . After being bedridden for six months, he recovered from his injuries. He worked briefly as a labourer before starting a journalism cadetship with Sydney morning newspaper The Daily Telegraph in 1964. In that year he interviewed George Harrison , during
2300-537: Was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2007, for his work with The Groop, Axiom and as a solo artist. The Wesley Trio was formed as a folk music group in 1964 with Peter McKeddie on vocals, Max Ross on bass guitar and Richard Wright on drums; all three were students from Wesley College , a private school in Melbourne. The trio signed with CBS Records Melbourne, which released
2350-400: Was of Welsh-Irish heritage. The family relocated to Northern Beaches suburb of Sydney. His parents loved musical theatre and bought him a guitar when he was 12. He recalled how "my father one day made the huge mistake of buying a two-track reel-to-reel tape recorder. I have no idea why he bought it but it was there, and one night I snuck out and turned it on and sang into it. And I thought 'Who
2400-576: Was produced by Melouney with all the tracks co-written by the quartet. The group relocated to Australia in December 1970. Upon arrival Parkinson told national pop music newspaper, Go-Set , that "[we] will be the best band that ever trod this earth." They performed at the Wallacia and Myponga Pop Festivals in January. They issued Fanny Adams in June that year on MCA Records. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane , felt they had "cut an album of adventurous, heavy, progressive blues-rock. There were
2450-573: Was soon replaced by Tommy Emmanuel on guitar (ex-Goldrush, the Emmanuel Brothers Band). McFarlane felt the group "played slick, funky jazz over an R&B foundation." They issued four singles with " I'll Be Around " (January 1979) the highest charting, which reached No. 22 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The singer had heard fellow Australian artist, Ross Wilson , perform a cover version of
2500-443: Was their only national top ten hit. The band won a trip to UK from the 1967 Hoadley's National Battle of the Sounds in July, with "When I Was Six Years Old" written by Cadd and Ross. Meldrum, writing for Go-Set reported: "It was The Groop's day. Their performance was brilliant and they left no doubts in anyone's mind that they will be great ambassadors overseas, both with their music and their personalities." Publishers sent
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