Brian Cadd | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Brian George Cadd |
| Born | (1946-11-29)29 November 1946 (age 78) Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Country rock,[1]Rock,folk rock,folk music |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1965–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | briancadd.com |
Brian George CaddAM[2] (born 29 November 1946) is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist, producer and record label founder, a staple of Australian entertainment for over 50 years. As well as working internationally throughout Europe and the United States, he has performed as a member of numerous bands includingthe Groop,Axiom,the Bootleg Family Band and in America withthe Flying Burrito Brothers before carving out a solo career in 1972.[3] He briefly went under the pseudonym ofBrian Caine in late 1966, when first joining the Groop.[4]
Cadd produced fellow Australian acts Robin Jolley,Ronnie Burns,Broderick Smith,Tina Arena andGlenn Shorrock;[3] and established his own record label called Bootleg Records.[4] He also composed or performed music for the filmsAlvin Purple,Alvin Purple Rides Again,Fatal Vision,The Return of the Living Dead,Vampires on Bikini Beach,Morning of the Earth andThe Heartbreak Kid and for televisionClass of 74,The Midnight Special andDon Kirshner'sRock Concert.[4][5] His songwriting for other acts includesthe Masters Apprentices,the Bootleg Family Band, Ronnie Burns,the Pointer Sisters,Little River Band andJohn Farnham.[6]
In 2007, Cadd was inducted into theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)Hall of Fame.[7][8] He was awarded in theQueens Birthday Honours in 2018, along with late musicianPhil Emmanuel for his 50-year service to the music industry as a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, mentor and producer and his work in production.
Cadd was born and raised inPerth, Western Australia, and was achild prodigy: winning a TV talent quest when 12 and being offered his first professional job as a pianist for a children's TV program.[6] His family relocated toTasmania and thenMelbourne, where Cadd became involved in jazz music of the early 1960s, playing with the Beale Street Jazz Band [Rick Mabin on trumpet; Frank Turner on drums] and the Castaways. He was also recognised for his zany hats.[3][4][6] By 1965 the Castaways became the Jackson Kings playingR&B, with Cadd on piano and Ronnie Charles on vocals they recorded two singles "Watch Your Step" and "Watermelon Man" by April 1966.[4][6]
The Groop formed in Melbourne in 1964 and had recorded singles, anEP and anLP, before Cadd and Charles were asked to join in October 1966 along with guitarist Don Mudie.[4][6][9] On advice from pop magazineGo-Set writerIan "Molly" Meldrum Cadd changed his surname to Caine, before changing it back after his family protested.[4][6] The new line-up was: Cadd, Charles, Mudie and Max Ross on bass and Richard Wright on drums.[3][6]
The first single for this line-up was "Woman You're Breaking Me" (written by Cadd and Wright)[10] which reached No. 6 in Melbourne[11] and No. 12 in Sydney in July 1967.It was also a hit in parts of the US. Melbourne singerRonnie Burns had a local hit with "When I Was Six Years Old"[11] written by Cadd (who also produced)[3] and Ross.[10] The band won a trip to UK from the 1967Hoadley's National Battle of the Sounds;[9] publishers sent "When I Was Six Years Old" to England where it was recorded byManfred Mann's lead vocalistPaul Jones.[6]
The Groop arrived in UK as the single was released and managed to get a deal withCBS, then they toured there and in Germany.[9] 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,[9] they released two more singles, including "Such A Lovely Way" before disbanding in May 1969.[9] Their last recorded work was an uncredited appearance as instrumental support onRussell Morris' No. 1 single "The Real Thing".[3][6][9][12]
Following the break-up of The Groop, Cadd and Mudie formedAxiom in May 1969 withGlenn Shorrock (ex-The Twilights) on vocals, Doug Lavery (ex-The Valentines) on drums and Chris Stockley (ex-Cam-Pact) on guitar.[3][4][6] Cadd and Mudie were the primary songwriters for Axiom including their three hit singles.[6][10] They signed withEMI and released their debut single "Arkansas Grass" which reached No. 7 in December 1969, followed by "A Little Ray of Sunshine" at No. 5 in April 1970.[12] Axiom travelled to England and attempted to enter the UK market but had no chart success.[4] Then, relocating to the US, they released their single "My Baby's Gone" in January 1971, this was followed by their second albumIf Only... in September.[4] However, Axiom had already disbanded by March and Cadd returned to Australia.[4] Shorrock later became the lead singer forLittle River Band and Stockley joinedthe Dingoes.[3]
Cadd and Mudie, as a duet, released "Show Me the Way" which reached No. 15 in early 1972.[4] Cadd turned to producing other acts and recording solo material on his own Bootleg Records label which was set up underRon Tudor's Fable Records.[6] "Ginger Man" was the first single from Cadd's self-titled debut album, released in November 1972 on Bootleg Records.[6] Bootleg was based along similar lines to US pianistLeon Russell'sShelter Records – signed artists recorded and toured together as aThe Bootleg Family Band.[13] Studio musicians used by Cadd became the Bootleg Family Band and had their own hit single by coveringLoggins and Messina's "Your Mama Don't Dance", where Cadd provided lead vocals.[13][14] Cadd also won the composer's section of Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds for 1972 with his song, "Don't You Know It's Magic", this became a top 20 hit for John Farnham (known then as "Johnny" Farnham).[12] The song also won the 'Most Outstanding Composition' award at the Tokyo World Popular Song Festival, with Cadd performing there live. Cadd released a second album,Parabrahm, in 1973, and followed with the theme song and score for the 1973 movieAlvin Purple (Australia's firstR-rated comedy)[15] and its sequelAlvin Purple Rides Again in 1975.[16] After releasing his third solo album,Moonshine in 1974, Cadd left Australia for the US.[6]Moonshine was certified gold in Australia by November 1974.[17]
Cadd arrived inLos Angeles in 1975 and began working on a record withChelsea Records. The label was forced into bankruptcy and ultimately ceased. Cadd then signed withCapitol Records and released his fourth studio album,White On White, in 1976. The album was mixed and produced to have a "pop sound" along the lines ofElton John andBilly Joel, but performed poorly in the US. In 1978, Cadd releasedYesterdaydreams which also performed poorly and his contract with Capitol Records ceased. The track "Yesterdaydreams" was covered byBonnie Tyler.
Early in 1980, Cadd toured France with the "French Elvis",Johnny Hallyday. He recorded solo albums for Interfusion, his songs were also recorded byGene Pitney,Glen Campbell,Dobie Gray,Cilla Black,Wayne Newton,Bonnie Tyler,Joe Cocker andRingo Starr.[4] His biggest success occurred whenthe Pointer Sisters covered "Love is Like a Rolling Stone" as a B-side for their version of "Fire" which reached No. 2 on the US pop singles charts. In the mid-1980s, Cadd ran a small label called Graffiti Records and worked withDaryl Somers and was the first person to signTina Arena.
He released a 1985 album titledNo Stone Unturned. TheCharlie Daniels Band covered his song "Still Hurting Me" from that album on their October 1985 album,Me and the Boys.
Cadd travelled to Nashville in 1989, joined theFlying Burrito Brothers in 1991 and toured with them for two years,[18] returning to Australia in 1993.[4]
In 1993, Cadd teamed up with fellow Axiom member,Shorrock and released an album under the titleThe Blazing Salads and completed a two-year tour.[6]The Blazing Salads peaked at number 130 in May 1993, while lead single "When It All Comes Down" peaked at number 135.[19]
In 1997, Cadd built a recording studio Ginger Man Sound. In March 1998 he took over as CEO of The Streetwise Music Group in Brisbane, eventually becoming a co-owner. The company, which is distributed throughWarner Music, now has some 20 acts spread over three labels (Streetwise, Stallion and Belly Laugh).
Cadd is the chairman of the Music Industry Advisory Council (Australia),[20] President of theAustralian Music Foundation[20] and on the board of the musicians' benevolent organisation, Support Act.[21] Cadd lectures at universities as well as continuing to record and perform, he independently released an album of new materialQuietly Rusting in 2005[22] featuring musicians like Mark Meyer, Tony Naylor,Wilbur Wilde andRoss Hannaford together with some of Australia's hottest new players including Paul White, Damien Steele-Scott andJames Meston.[23]
In 2007, Cadd was inducted into theARIA Hall of Fame, his acceptance speech included:
"I've had forty incredible years in this world of music. During that time I have had the honour to write and record with many fabulous creative people and to perform in front of many wonderful audiences. I can't really imagine how it could have been much better or any more fun. Now being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame absolutely puts the icing on the cake for me. I truly appreciate this honour so very much".[24]
— Brian Cadd, 2007
Also in 2007, Cadd was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) Songwriters Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifetime of songwriting achievements.[25]
In November 2010, Cadd released his autobiography,From This Side of Things.[26] In the book Cadd tells the stories of his upbringing in Western Australia where he won a TV talent quest at the age of 12 and worked on a children's TV program as a pianist, about his time in Tasmania and Melbourne where he played jazz with the Beale Street Jazz Band and the Castaways who would become the Jackson Kings. Having success with both the Groop and Axiom as well as his solo success in Australia, working in the United States and Europe for over 20 years and being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 byJimmy Barnes.[26]
In 2011, Cadd released a country album,Wild Bulls and Horses, with his longtime friendRussell Morris.
In November 2016, Cadd released a new studio album withthe Bootleg Family Band,Bulletproof,[27] which was credited to Cadd and t he Bootleg Family Band. Cadd issued a solo studio album,Silver City (January 2019).[28] He followed in April 2024, with a country music album,Dream Train.[29]
Cadd, his then partner, and her daughter, were caught in theflash flood of theMudgeeraba River (Gold Coast, Queensland) in February 1999, when their car was washed off a causeway.[30] All three escaped the sinking car through its windows, but Cadd and his wife were swept away before they could get ashore. They were subsequently rescued by a local resident.[30]
During the 2002Long Way to the Top Tour, Cadd developed a relationship with one of the promoters, Amanda Pelman, .[31] Pelman was a judge onIt Takes Two between 2006 and 2008, and is a producer, director and TV personality.[32]
TheARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres ofAustralian music. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | himself | ARIA Hall of Fame | inductee | [33] |
| 2014 | The Story of Sharky and The Caddman (withGlenn Shorrock) | Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album | Nominated | [34] |
Cadd won Best Male Vocal Album three years in a row between 1972 and 1974.[35]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Brian Cadd | Best Male Vocal Album | Won |
| 1973 | Parabrahm | Best Male Vocal Album | Won |
| 1974 | Moonshine | Best Male Vocal Album | Won |
The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honour the lifetime achievements of some of Australia's greatest songwriters.[36]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | himself | Australian Songwriter's Hall of Fame | inducted |
The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper,Go-Set and was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.[37]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | himself | Songwriter | 1st |
The King and Queen of Pop Awards were voted by the readers ofTV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978.[37]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | himself | Best Songwriter | Won |
| Most Popular Australian Musician | Won | ||
| Contribution to Australian Pop Industry | Won | ||
| 1974 | himself | Most Popular Australian Musician | Won |
| Contribution to Australian Pop Industry | Won |
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as theMo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Brian Cadd won one award in that time.[38]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Brian Cadd | Rock Performer of the Year | Won |
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| International | |
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