Brisbane-based group Hey Geronimo release latest cut ‘Working For Google’..infectious indie-pop

Following on from releasing their critically praised single ‘Disconnect’, Brisbane-based group Hey Geronimo have just unveiled their latest cut ‘Working For Google’ – another electrifying number lifted from their sophomore album ‘CONTENT’ .

Opening with a wall of searing fuzz-laden guitars, ‘Working For Google’ shifts between frenetic razor sharp rock n’ roll riffs and stripped back muted rhythmic verses, before bursting into its spirited infectious indie-pop choruses.

Singer-Keyboardist Pluto Jonze describes the motivation behind ‘Working For Google’:

"We honestly believe that one day Google is going to be a fundamental interface between our brains and the outside world, and the idea of any corporation having that much power over humanity is terrifying".

In an Australian first, the band has also recruited Artificial Intelligence to "join the line-up” after their long time (human) guitarist left the band. The AI (‘Alex’) wound up writing lead guitar for five songs on ‘CONTENT’, which includes ‘Working For Google’.

To celebrate the release of ‘CONTENT’, Hey Geronimo will set out on an East Coast tour in November with performances set in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The ambitious new live show draws inspiration from Roger Waters’ recent ‘Us and Them’ world tour.

Debut record ‘Crashing into the Sun’ was received warmly with strong support and glowing reviews from the likes of triple j, Spotify, Sydney Morning Herald, Rolling Stone Australia, Happy and The Music – with each who scored the album awarding 4 & 4.5 stars.

Since their inception, Hey Geronimo have become a mainstay fixture on the Australian festival circuit with appearances at Big Day Out, Festival of the Sun, Homebake, The Big Pineapple Festival and Valley Fiesta. The band have also toured the country multiple times, selling out their own headline shows.

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Stars...Paradise...debut album from 1977

Stars were a country and rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1975 and disbanded in 1979. Founding members were Glyn Dowding on drums; Malcolm Eastick on guitar and vocals; Mick Pealing on vocals; and Graham Thompson on bass guitar. They were joined by guitarist, songwriter, Andrew Durant in 1976 and relocated to Melbourne. Thompson then left and was replaced by a succession of bass guitarists including Roger McLachlan (ex-Little River Band) and Ian McDonald.

They were touted as the "rock'n'roll cowboys" and played the local pub and club circuit. They were noticed by Little River Band's guitarist Beeb Birtles and were signed to Mushroom Records. Birtles produced their debut single, "Quick on the Draw" which reached the Australian Kent Music Report top 30 in July 1976. Their second single, "With a Winning Hand" peaked into the top 40 in October.

The band's debut album, Paradise, peaked at No. 11 on the Australian Kent Music Report in 1978 and included their highest charting single "Look After Yourself" which reached No. 21 on the related singles chart. Their second album, Land of Fortune, was released in 1979 but did not reach the Top 50. By that time Durant had been diagnosed with cancer, the band had their last performance on 5 November and Durant died on 6 May 1980 at age 25. A tribute performance by Stars members and other Australian acts followed in August and a double-LP, Andrew Durant Memorial Concert was released in 1981. It peaked at No. 8 on the albums chart with proceeds donated to Andrew Durant Cancer Research Foundation.

Post Stars, Eastick joined Broderick Smith's Big Combo (1979–1982) and later provided guitar for different artists including Max Merritt and Jimmy Barnes. Pealing formed his own band Mick Pealing and the Ideals (1980–1981), they were also a backing band for Renée Geyer, he then formed The Spaniards (1983–1986) and worked with other artists including Eastick. McLachlan toured with Cliff Richard in 1978, worked with John Farnham (1987–1988), briefly rejoined Little River Band (1998–1999) and was a member of Mighty Oz Rock with Pealing in 2004.

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Jumpin' Jimmy Taylor..former Aztecs piano man from 1965-66...request for information

Jumpin' Jimmy Taylor or James the "Boogie Man" Taylor played slammin' piano with Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs from 1965-66 and also for Ray Hoff and The Off Beats. He went on to have a distinguished career as a backup musician and even played with rock and roll greats Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. Jimmy kept playing well into his 60's but sadly passed away over 2 years ago.

Unfortunately Jimmy's fan club site was taken down and there is little information available about him. A follower of this blog, who was fortunate enough to know Jimmy personally and had also worked up a song with him, has asked if anyone out there may have any information they can share or point out where we can find some. Anything would be appreciated. Just leave a message below this post or send through the CONTACT page on this blog.

Jimmy with Bo Diddley

Jimmy with Chuck Berry

                                          

                                           

Mighty Kong...successor to Daddy Cool...All I Wanna Do Is Rock..1973

Mighty Kong was the 'supergroup' successor to the legendary Daddy Cool, which broke up in August 1972. It was also the fifth (and technically the last) in the line of groups that featured Ross "The Boss" Wilson and Ross Hannaford, which began with Pink Finks in 1965. Despite its all-star lineup, culled from three of the top groups of the time, the band was short lived and never really achieved its considerable potential, effectively relegated to being a footnote in the larger story of Daddy Cool. The main relic of this period was their excellent (and greatly underrated) LP, All I Wanna Do Is Rock.

Personnel:
Ross Wilson - chief vocals, pignose guitar (09)
Ross Hannaford - guitar, deep throat
Russell Smith - guitar, lead vocals (03)
Tim Partridge - bass guitar
Ray Arnott – drums
+
John Fishbach - producer, engineer

Tracks:
01. All Through The Day (Into The Night We Play) – 6:02
02. Callin’ All Cats (The Cats Are Callin’) – 4:01
03. Some Other New Address – 4:05
04. Hard Drugs (Are Bad For You) – 2:57
05. All I Wanna Do Is Rock!! #1 – 4:15
06. Jungle In My Blood – 5:57
07. Got My Beliefs – 4:34
08. With A Smile Like That (How Could We Refuse) – 7:30
09. Homesick & Horny – 4:18
Bonuses:
10. Callin' All Cats (The Cats Are Callin') [Single Version] – 3:28
11. All I Wanna Do Is Rock [Unreleased Studio Jam] – 8:40

Mighty Kong

Johnny Rebb and His Rebels - Pathway To Paradise (The Leedon Anthology 1958 - 1960)

Johnny Rebb (born John Delbridge, 1939) was a mild mannered Sydney butcher's apprentice who got caught up in the swirling high tide of rock 'n' roll attention which followed his win of a theatre talent quest.

Crafty manager, Syd McDonagh, kept Johnny busy with club, suburban dance and private functions work, while he pursued a recording deal with the aid of an acetate disc bearing a primitive version of Bobby Helm's "MY SPECIAL ANGEL", EMI took him on for one single (Johnny B Goode/Rebel Rock) but lost interest when it failed to leap into the charts. Late in 1958, McDonagh approached the young Leedon Records; operated by flamboyant entrepreneur Lee Gordon to carry releases from indie American labels. They took Rebb on as their first local artist and a cover of Dough & Rusty Kershaw's "HEY SHERIFF" was rushed out for the Christmas market. It hit #15 in Sydney and #28 in Melbourne, earning Johnny a spot on Six O'Clock Rock and generating a strong female following.

From the outset, Johnny's image and recordings were at odds. Shy, well mannered and conservatively dressed, he was dubbed the 'Gentleman of Rock' by press and DJ's, and to cater to this, Leedon deliberately split the contents of his records between energetic rock and mellow ballads. However, in a live situation, he could get on with the best of them, ably abetted by his fiery young backing unit "The Rebels", Comprising Johnny Burns (drums), Johnny Charters (piano), Sonny Neville (guitar), Keith Williams (bass) and the highly regarded Jimmy Slogget (sax).

Johnny Rebb was the first Australian artist to be signed by Lee Gordon's Leedon label in 1958. (N.B. — Leedon released more hits by Australian artists than any other label in the late fifties and early sixties.) Johnny's immense Sydney popularity was reflected by the top thirty charting of "COME ON LET'S GO" before the first hit even begun to dip. By the time "PATHWAY TO PARADISE" (an original) was issued in June (a national top ten) he was off on tour through the virtually uncharted regions of Victoria and Queensland. Lee Gordon cross-promoted the records by giving Rebb the support stint to TOMMY SANDS. His popularity grew to such a high point that he was chosen to compare episodes of "Six O'clock Rock' while Johnny O'Keefe was in America.

At the very end of 1959 Johnny scored his final national hit with "HIGHWAY OF LOVE" (on the Lee Gordon rather than Leedon label). By the time he moved over to CDB/Cornet, Gordon's two labels had issued 5 singles. 3 EPs (Come On Let's Go, Highway Of Love, Hit It For Six) and an album (Some Swing, Some Sweet). His second Coronet (CBS) single, "THINK ME A KISS" in 1960 (backed with Carl Perkins' L-O-V-E-V-I-LL-E) made top ten in Sydney. Shortly after, he tried his hand in America and one single for Dot (BILLY BLUE SHOES). Returning home in 1963 he continued recording for CBS under producer Sven Libaek, his first effort being a fine version of Ronnie Self's AINT I'M A DOG. By 1964 he had joined forces with surf instrumental kings (turned R'n'B powerhouse) The Atlantics. 

By 1966-67, Johnny was singing unaccredited on The Atlantics extraordinary 'punk' singles for Festival. He finished the decade off with some moderately interesting Ramrod label issues under his own name and spent most of the early seventies overseas. Johhny Rebb died on July 28, 2014.

1 Hey Sherriff 3:06

2 Noeline 2:14

3 Come On Lets Go 2:00

4 Lucky Old Sun 3:02

5 Ring A Rocking' 2:55

6 The Lone Ranger Gonna Get Married 2:49

7 Pathway To Paradise 3:10

8 Rock On 2:36

9 Bluebirds Over The Mountain 1:49

10 Say Yeah 2:29

11 Highway Of Love 3:11

12 It Might Have Been 2:16

13 Valley Of Tears 1:52

14 Lonesome Whistle 2:29

15 We Belong Together 2:43

16 Lonesome Road 2:04

17 Maybellene 2:30

18 Setting The Woods On Fire 1:49

19 All For The Love Of A Girl 2:45

20 You Got What It Takes 2:38

21 Ladder Of Love 2:34

22 Right Here On Earth 2:25

23 Cry Baby 1:48

24 Walk The Be Bop Walk 1:50

25 Radio Interview 4:52

26 Hey Sherriff 3:04

Johnny Rebb and His Rebels - Pathway To Paradise

Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs...Don't You Dig This Kind of Beat..2 albums from 1965 and 1966

This is a double treat for fans of the original Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs. These 2 albums were released at the height of their popularity in the mid 1960's. They show why they became so big, so fast. The tracks on these albums were a combination of beat, pop, rock 'n'roll and rhythm'n'blues, which highlight the versatility and talent within the group. 

They covered numbers from the likes of The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Ray Charles and capitalised on the beat boom from Great Britain. Listening to these again after nearly 50 years of their original release, you can see what the excitement was all about.

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See also 2 other previous posts from this blog on The Aztecs:
http://theaussiemusicblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/billy-thorpe-and-aztecs-1964-75its-all.html
http://theaussiemusicblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/billy-thorpe-and-aztecsmore-arse-than.html

Merv Benton..very popular Melbourne rock and roller from the mid 1960's

The Merv Benton story is a fascinating chapter of the Beat Boom in Australia. From his base on the Melbourne dance circuit, Merv gained national attention and quickly became one of the most popular male singers in the country. In early 1964 he signed with Melbourne's W&G Records and became one of their most prolific artists, releasing seventeen singles, six EPs, and three LPs between 1964 and 1967, and scoring an impressive run of fifteen Top 40 singles in his hometown (several of which also charted in other cities). But in 1967, at the height of his popularity, Merv was struck down by throat problems that ended his singing career.

Merv (real name Mervyn Bonson. b. 12 August 1942) grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir and went to school at Preston High. Merv's first year as a pop star was frantic -- in just nine months he had released four singles, one EP and one LP By the end of '64, the 19-year-old singer had appeared on appeared on national television shows such as Brian Henderson's Bandstand and Johnny O'Keefe's Sing Sing Sing, and W&G released his debut album, Come On And Get Me, by which time he had become a regular on national and local TV pop shows; and had toured the country supporting Merseybeat star Billy J. Kramer.

Merv's look has been described as being in contrast to the new wave of long-haired, Liverpool-sound groups of the era, but this is something of a misnomer. Films and photos of the period will reveal that Merv's style was actually fairly typical of the time -- take a look at an old Aztecs clip, for example -- and with his clean-cut image and matinee-idol good looks, immaculately coiffed hair and sharply tailored clothes. he undoubtedly won the hearts of young fans all over Australia.

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Daddy Who Daddy Cool...all time classic best selling Aussie album

Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan (bass, Vocals), Ross Hannaford (lead guitar, bass, vocals), Ross Wilson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica) and Gary Young (drums, vocals) . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks. Their debut July 1971 LP Daddy Who? Daddy Cool also reached number 1 and became the first Australian album to sell more than 100,000 copies. Their name comes from the 1957 song "Daddy Cool" by US rock group The Rays, Daddy Cool included their version on Daddy Who? Daddy Cool.

The album was originally issued in a textured cover and featured a cartoon rendering of band members by Melbourne artist Ian McCausland which became the group's logo. While Daddy Cool's guitarist, Ross Hannaford, was responsible for overall album cover design, McCausland created the band's graphics and much of their visual image. Most of the original songs were written by guitarist, vocalist Ross Wilson except "Bom Bom", which was co-written with Hannaford. The rest of the album contained 1950s R&B covers - The Rivals' "Guided Missiles", Etta James' "Good Rockin' Daddy", Marvin & Johnny's "Cherry Pie", The Rays' "Daddy Cool" and Chuck Berry's "School Days".

Daddy Cool's music featured 1950s Doo-wop style rock cover versions and originals which were mostly written by Wilson. On stage they provided a danceable sound which was accessible and fun. Their second album was Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven from January 1972 and reached the Top Ten. Breaking up in August 1972, Daddy Cool briefly reformed during 1974–1975 before disbanding again, they reformed with the band's original line-up in 2005. Their iconic status was confirmed when they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame on 16 August 2006.

Daddy Who?... Daddy Cool was also released in the US on the Warner/Reprise label and the band toured in support of its release. Two singles were lifted from the album: "Eagle Rock" #1 on the Australian national singles chart and "Come Back Again" which reached #3.

The album was re-issued in 1975 (with different sleeve under the title Daddy Who? Daddy Gold!) on Wizard Records (also owned by Porter) and in 1982, with the original artwork but non-gatefold sleeve.

The Australian release on Sparmac Records contains different tracks than the US Release on Reprise Records five months later. The Australian release includes the tracks "Good Rockin' Daddy" and "Cherry Pie" not found on the Reprise Records edition. The US release includes the tracks "Flip", "Lollipop" and "Just As Long As We're Together" not found on the Sparmac Records edition.

In October 2010, it was listed at No. 14 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums

1. "Daddy Cool" (Frank Slay/Bob Crewe) - 2:31
2. "School Days" (Chuck Berry) - 3:03
3. "Come Back Again" - 4:51
4. "At The Rockhouse" - 3:42
5. "Guided Missile" (Alfred Gaitwood) - 3:02
6. "Good Rockin' Daddy" (Richard Berry/Joseph Bihari as "Joe Josea") - 2:21
7. "Eagle Rock" - 4:07
8. "Zoop Bop Gold Cadillac" - 3:56
9. "Blind Date" - 4:12
10. "Bom Bom" (Ross Wilson/Ross Hannaford) - 2:34
11. "Cherry Pie" (Joseph Bihari as "Joe Josea"/Marvin Phillips) - 3:40
12. "Flip" (Carl Green) - 2:26 (bonus track from US release)
13. "Lollipop" (Beverly Ross/Julius Dixon) - 1:36 (bonus track from US release)
14. "Just As Long As We're Together" - 2:32 (bonus track from US release)

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Great John Himself...roots rock from Melbourne..combining blues, ska and reggae

Great John Himself are a roots rock band, combining blues, ska, reggae and rock styles to develop a sound dedicated entirely to getting a crowd dancing and having a good time. 2013 has seen Great John Himself perform extensively at venues such as The Esplanade Hotel Front Bar and The Brunswick Hotel, develop a live show that has won them the Melbourne University Battle of the Bands and a position in the grand final of the FReeZA Push Start Battle Of The Bands at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl for Pushover 2014 and most recently, produce and record their debut EP which was launched at The Cornish Arms on December 7th 2013.

It has never been established who 'John' is, or what it is that makes him so particularly great. All that is for certain is that an ensemble of five males have emerged from Melbourne, Australia in his legacy to preach his message of good times and partying down, whilst refusing to conform to even the slightest of trends or expectations.

Marty's review: GJH have a unique sound that combines many elements of blues and roots music, with a few original features added in that make them stand out on their own. Soaring harmonica, tight and funky bass lines,chucka-wucka guitar licks, cool saxophone, sonic and spacey keyboards, quirky and sometimes amusing lyrics, a rollocking drum beat and vocals by all members that round out their combined talents. One thing these guys sound like they're doing is having lots of fun! Take some time out and listen to and/or download their debut EP.

listen to their 5 track EP here: http://greatjohnhimself.bandcamp.com/album/great-john-himself
...and find out more on Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatjohnhimself

Great John Himself  are:

Edward Williams - Vocals, Saxophone 
Francis Tait - Harmonica, Guitar, Vocals 
Damon Perillo - Bass Guitar, Guitar, Vocals 
William Fleming - Keys, Vocals 
Benjamin Borrelli - Drum Kit, Vocals

Aussie Gems and Rarebits...various artists...52 tracks..B-Sides, Little Known Songs and Artists

There are 52 sensational tracks here from the 60s and early 70s. As the cover says: "Little known songs, hard to find B-sides and bands you may not have heard of". From Beat, Garage, Surf, Instrumental, Pop, Rock and everything in between. The download comes with all artwork too.

I've played it through a few times and just about every track is good if not great. Some artists you may know (or at least I do) are The Strangers, Python Lee Jackson, The Rondells, The Cherokees, Ian Turpie, Johnny Young, Marcie and The Cookies and Patsy Ann Noble. It will take you back to those TV shows of the 60s like Go! and Kommotion and have you groovin', stompin', rockin' and whatever other dance you care to remember!

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Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Parts 1 and 2) by Johnny O'Keefe

This song was made famous by Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs at Sunbury'72. Johnny O'Keefe recorded it before Thorpie in 1967. I've always loved Thorpie's version, but JO'K's version is worth a listen and, in my opinion, a real rocker!

Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Parts 1 and 2) was originally released in 1967 on the Leedon label (LK-1653). It was written by Jessie Hill, an American R&B and Louisiana blues singer and songwriter. The origins of "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" were apparently created from a tune played by a local pianist, who was known only as Big Four. Hill wrote the lyrics and melody, later expanding the work with an intro taken from Dave Bartholomew. It was further honed on stage, before Hill recorded a demo that he shopped to local record labels, finally recording a session at Cosimo Matassa's studio produced by Allen Toussaint. Upon its early 1960 release, it emerged as a favourite at Mardi Gras, selling 800,000 copies and reaching the Top 5 in the US Billboard R&B chart and a Top 30 slot in the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

It has been recorded by many artists including Wilson Pickett, Taj Mahal, Etta James, Ike and Tina Turner, Dr Hook and most famously by Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs. This JO'K version was taken from the 3CD set "Johnny O'Keefe...The Birth of Australian Rock and Roll".

download more Johnny O'Keefe here

..and here is one of Thorpie's versions..(from 1998 with Lobby Lloyde)

Bobby and Laurie...Hitch Hiker

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Dynamic vocal duo Bobby and Laurie was one of the leading acts in the first wave of Australian 'beat pop' 1964-67. They cut a series of fine recordings which rank alongside those of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Ray Brown & The Whispers, The Easybeats, Normie Rowe and MPD Ltd as milestones of Australian pop in the mid-60s.

Although perhaps not as well remembered today as some of their contemporaries, they were one of the most popular and successful acts of their day, and deserve a lot more recognition for their contributions. Bobby, Laurie and the members of their regular backing band, The Rondells, were all important figures in the development of the Melbourne rock scene, and their History is also a great illustration of the intricate (and sometimes confusing) interconnections between the many groups of the '60s and '70s.

This album "Hitch Hiker" was released in 1966 and showcases both their songwriting and vocal abilities. More in a pop format than their earlier beat sound with The Rondells, this had similarities to other vocal duos like The Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel, but still had a uniqueness that identified with their own sound. A good mix of rockers and ballads too.

See also earlier post: I Belong With You

1. No Next Time
2. Jump Back
3. Sweet And Tender Romance
4. Not My Girl
5. Fallin'
6. You'll Come Round
7. Hitch Hiker
8. Tonight When I Come Home
9. Bless You
10. I've Learned
11. Down In The Valley
12. Trouble With A Woman

                                          

Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs..More Arse Than Class..1974

"Gonna create a disturbance in your mind..."

Thorpie's message in 1973 was without doubt loud and clear! He and the ever-changing personnel of The Aztecs commanded a pre-eminent position in Aussie rock. While artists such as Ross Wilson, Mike Rudd, Lindsay Bjerre and Gulliver Smith strove to push out and pull down boundaries in their music, Thorpie and friends continued to provide high-octane, no-nonsense rock for the masses.

In August , Billy switched record labels from the independent Havoc to the newly-opened local division of Atlantic Records, which was by then a subsidiary of the Warner group. Atlantic released the singles "Movie Queen" and "Don't You Know You're Changing?" in quick succession. Although the later singles of 1973 were ostensibly solo releases, they nonetheless featured most of the extant Aztecs line-up (with help from Chain pals Phil Manning and Barry Sullivan).


Before disbanding, the Aztecs recorded one more album for Atlantic. Right at the beginning of 1974, the More Arse Than Class LP came out, provoking predictable cries of protest from conservatives about the title and its 'disgusting' gatefold cover, which opened out to show the naked, hairy posteriors of the four band members! The music on the record was where the true arse was though -- and it kicked it!

It remains the Aztecs most successful studio album, and apart from the undiluted power of its music, is a strong testament to the skills of erstwhile Aztec drummer/producer/engineer/archivist Gil Matthews. Also notable was the return on bass duties of Billy's old cohort Teddy Toi. 

1 Boogie Woogie
2 Walking Down The Street
3 Don't You Know You're Changing
4 No More War
5 I Wanna Know
6 Back On The Road Again
7 Slowly Learning How
8 A Little Bit Of Lunacy, Maestro Please
9 I Wanna Know
10 Pig's Blues
11 Mame
12 Movie Queen
13 Kawasaki
14 Kawasaki (Long Version)
15 Slowly Learning How (Demo Instrumental)

Vocals, Bass – Teddy Toi
Vocals, Drums, Percussion – Gil Matthews
Vocals, Guitar – Billy Thorpe
Vocals, Piano, Organ, Harpsichord – Warren Morgan

Tracks 1-7 reissue of 1974 Album
Bonus tracks
8-10 Live At Bill Armstrong Studios, 1973
11-12 Singles 1973
13-14 Ads 1973
15 Demo 1973

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Johnny O'Keefe - Rocker.Legend.Wild One...new book release by Jeff Apter

JOHNNY O’KEEFE: Rocker. Legend. Wild One. by Jeff Apter 

The colourful, warts and all biography of the Australian musical icon.

Johnny O’Keefe was a human dynamo, a rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse whose influence still looms large on the Australia musical landscape. He was brilliantly talented, but possessed a self-destructive streak, and suffered as many breakdowns as he did breakthroughs. Yet he played a huge role in establishing the Australian entertainment industry as we know it today.

O’Keefe may have been short in stature, but he was big on ego. ‘You can boo me and you can make fun of me,’ he once told a hostile audience, ‘but you all paid your money to see me because you love me.’ He was the ultimate performer, and thrived on being on stage, giving the music, and the fans, everything he had. O’Keefe died way too young, from a heart attack, at the age of 43, leaving behind a legacy of timeless hits, including ‘She Wears My Ring’, ‘She’s My Baby’ and ‘Shout’. He recorded 33 Top 40 hits during his lifetime.

Written with the active cooperation of the O’Keefe family and the JO’K Trust, Jeff Apter tells the colourful and evocative story of the life and times of one of Australia’s best ever performers. 

•         The definitive story of Australia’s first king of rock ‘n’ roll, a man simply known as JO’K.

•         The writer had the full support of the JO’K Trust and the O’Keefe family.

•         Colourful and nostalgic evocation of the life and times of an icon.

•         Perfect for Father’s Day promotions!

•         Did you know there is a Johnny O’Keefe statue in Coolangatta? Also that Andrew ‘Deal or No        Deal’ O’Keefe is Johnny’s nephew?

Jeff Apter is a freelance journalist and author (and co-author) of a number of books, including A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME (with Kasey Chambers) and SHIRL: THE LIFE OF GRAEME ‘SHIRLY’ STRACHAN.

 For any further information or to arrange an interview/extract please contact Jaki Arthur at Hachette publicity on jaki.arthur@hachette.com.au or 02-8248 0864

Division:    ORION

Imprint:     Hachette Australia

Pub. Date : 30 July 2013

ISBN:        9780733629341

Price:         $35.00 

Format:     Paperback - C Format

Extent:      352 pages

Tuesday 6 August

6 – 7pm                CONFIRMED EVENT: An evening with Jeff Apter

National Biography Week

Host of event: State Library NSW - Tuesdays at the Library program

Venue: State Library NSW

Venue name and address: State Library NSW

Venue capacity: 70

Ticket price: free

Event organiser: Samantha Hagan (9273 1766)