Bobby Bright

Just 2 weeks ago I was at Chermside looking at my phone when I saw the news about the passing of Bobby Bright from the iconic Australian singing duo in the 60's and 70's Bobby and Laurie which was sad to see that as I was aware that he had health issues in the last few years. He was born in England in Watford February 3rd 1945, emigrated to Australia in the early 50's with his mother, settled in Adelaide, began performing in the late 50's when he won an talent quest which the judge was Johnny O'Keefe which he performed Johnny Be Goode and he played with Doug Ashdown (Winter In America) in an band called the Bowmen as well as performing on the Adelaide TV Music Show Woodies Teen Time, went to Melbourne in the early 60's at the recommendation of Ivan Dayman who was running the dances in Melbourne, began recording for W&G which he released 2 singles Girls Never Notice Me backed by the Strangers and Defeated By His Heart which Laurie Allen who was playing with the Blue Jays and Malcolm Arthur and the Knights did the backing vocals and they formed the Duo Bobby and Laurie in 1964 which would last for 3 years. They were one of the regulars on the Australian music show the Go Show which was on Channel 0 (Now Channel 10) and they began recording for the Go label which was connected with the show which their very first single was I Belong with You that was an huge hit all around Australia including number 1 in Melbourne as well as other singles Someone an cover of the Doris Troy song, Judy Green and Crazy Country Hop. They also appeared on the Magic Circle Club TV show as well as Teen Scene, Kommotion and Saturday Date and toured Australia in May/June with the Dave Clark Five, Tommy Quickly and the Seekers including Brisbane June 3rd and PJ Proby which also including Brisbane September 3rd. In 1966 they signed up with Alberts which their first single with the label was their version of the Roger Miller song Hitch Hiker which was an number 1 in Australia as well as in all the Australian cities as well as having singles Sweet and Tender Romance, High Noon and Every Second Day as well as the releasing 2 albums for Alberts Hitch Hiker and Exposaic as their only album for the Go label was the self titled album and in early 1966 they were on the bill of the All Australian tour that included Brisbane March 3rd with Normie Rowe, The Easybeats, MPD Limited and the Rondells who backed up Bobby and Laurie on the recordings as well as live which there was 2 members of the Rondells who would go on form the iconic 70's Australian band Daddy Cool drummer Gary Young and Bass player Wayne Duncan. On August 26th 1966 the duo hosted their own show It's a Gas which would become Dig We Must which would last till the end of that year and there is only 1 episode that still exists which is the December 21st 1966 episode which was shown on Rage in 2011. Bobby and Laurie split up in early 1967 which Bobby did acting on iconic Australian shows Homicide, Division 4 and Hunter as well as doing radio and releasing the single on CBS Would You Believe Love and Laurie formed the Laurie Allen Revue that included Colleen Hewett. The duo got back together in 1969 which they had 2 more singles Carroll County Accident (an cover of the Porter Wagoner song) in 1969 and Through The Eyes Of Love in 1970 an cover of the Allen Reynolds song and toured around including Queensland in December 1969 that had Brisbane shows at Cloudland on December 11th and at Festival Hall on December 20th on the Pop Revolution show with the Masters Apprentices who actually Bobby Bright told the record company to check them out when they were starting out 3 years before, Russell Morris and Jonne Sands as well as shows at Toowoomba, the Gold Coast and Helidon and on March 25th 1970 playd at the Lands Office (Swinger) in Brisbane. Bobby and Laurie ended again in 1971 and Bobby then went on to do more solo work which including Who Will Bring the Rain that was from the movie version of the Australian TV Show Bellbird called Country Town as well as playing in Brisbane in August 1971 with his group the Bobby Bright Connection working with Johnny O'Keefe which they played at Easts Leagues Club in Stones Corner, Redcliffe Leagues Club, the Lands Office in the city and the Glen Hotel in Eight Miles Plains. Bobby released an self titled album in 1975 and also did voice over work as well as acting on TV as well as reuniting with Laurie over the years which sadly ended on June 13th 2002 when Laurie Allen passed away after playing an show at Moorabin Town Hall an few weeks before. Bobby continued to perform and record over the years including releasing the EP Child Of Rock and Roll as well as performing on the Go Show Gold tour which included Brisbane on Thursday May 2nd 2019 until recent years. I first heard of Bobby and Laurie due to 4KQ which they use to play I Belong With You on Jukebox Saturday Night as I first heard it in 1994 and then Hitch Hiker in 1995 when they played it on the Easter Weekend of 1,000 hits that would last until 2022 as well as playing Someone on Jukebox Saturday Night in January 2022 and since last year on Sunday morning 60's played Hitch Hiker on 4BH. I bought the I Belong To You CD which had the Go Recordings as well the Bobby Bright W & G recordings as well as the Laurie allen recordings at Rockaway Records Ashgrove Thursday September 30th 2004 which it was great and still is great. I got to see Bobby Bright at the Go Show May 2nd 2019 which he performed with Normie Rowe doing I Belong With You, Through the Eyes of Love and Hitch Hiker and was friends with him on Facebook which I use to message asking him about Ted Albert as well as the Bee Gees as well as emailing him a few times too. I never got to meet him but I am glad that I got to see Bobby live and it's sad that he has passed away but he has left us with great music from the Bobby and Laurie era as well as solo recordings which will live on forever so let's hope for a compilation of Bobby and Laurie's music as well as Bobby Bright's solo work over the years and also it's sad that Bobby and Laurie have never been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame which it's a shame really as they were one of the pioneers of our rock and Roll era in the 60's so let's hope for a induction to know that they are not forgotten. Thank You Bobby Bright for the music and the legacy and you are not forgotten.