Brian Cadd

In the early Seventies Brian Cadd established himself as one of Australia's first "album artists”.

The family moved to Melbourne, where Brian embarked on his music career, first with the Beale Street Jazz Club and then with the Castaways who he left in 1965 to join R&B group the Jackson Kings. Brian and the Jackson Kings' singer joined the second version of the Groop. He joined as Brian Caine. A close associate of the band, Ian Meldrum convinced him that Cadd was no name for a pop musician. When his family objected to the change Brian quickly changed back.

In 1969 Brian and his Groop song-writing partner Don Mudie left to join "super" group Axiom, and stayed in Australia only long enough to record and release an album before embarking to try their luck overseas. Brian had already enjoyed a little recognition in England with Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones recording his 'When I Was Six Years Old'. Axiom hoped to build on that, but broke up two years later, back in Australia.

Brian now provided some of the backing on Russell Morris’ 'Bloodstone' album, acted as his musical director for a tour supporting the Bee Gees, and wrote Russell's 'Live With Friends' single. Brian's own recording comeback came in the shape of his December 1971 hit single in partnership with Don Mudie, 'Show Me The Way', released on the Fable label. Brian released one more single with Don ('Rolling And Tumbling Down') and then offered three solo recordings for the soundtrack to the surf movie soundtrack 'Morning Of The Earth'.

Robin Jolley's 'Marshall's Portable Music Machine' was as near to a Brian Cadd solo single as you could get. It was his song, his sound, but Robin's voice and name on the record. His "official" solo career was launched with the release of the single 'Ginger Man' in October 1972. The song was based on the JP Donleavy book of the same name. Brian had convinced Fable Label boss Ron Tudor to bankroll Brian's own label, Bootleg, along the lines of Leon Russell's Shelter label, where Bootleg's house band would back Brian and all the other artists on the label - singer songwriter Stephen Foster, jazz singer Kerrie Biddell, and the harmony group Mississippi.

The Bootleg Family toured together, and even released its own singles, having hits with their versions of 'Your Mama Don't Dance' and 'The Shoop Shoop Song'. However it was Brian Cadd's own records which were most spectacularly successful, the first time an Australian singer-songwriter had managed a major breakthrough. In a music scene depending almost solely on live work, it was hard going for that kind of performer.

With the Bootleg concept behind him Brian was able to transcend all that and see his albums into the top ten, \headlining his own concerts, having TV specials made to feature his music, writing a TV theme ('Class Of 74'), a movie soundtrack ('Alvin Purple') and hits for others ( Johnny Farnham's 'Don't You Know It's Magic).

After three hit albums in a row, 'Brian Cadd', 'Parabrahm', and 'Moonshine', once again Brian Cadd was tempted to leave everything ]behind for an all-out attempt on international success, this time aiming at America. There had been earlier forays into America under the Bootleg banner, but this was "serious". Brian planned to live and stay until he cracked it.

In America Brian achieved recognition as a songwriter rather than for his own recordings. He lived in the states for 15 years and wrote for artists like Joe Cocker The Pointer Sisters, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Tyler and Charlie Daniels and in 1991 he was invited to join The Flying Burrito Bros who he toured with for a number of years.

In 1995 Brian produced the first Chinese Country album recorded in Mainland China. During his six years in Nashville from 1989, Brian started to make regular performing trips back to Australia. He released an album and toured as the Blazing Salads with Glenn Shorrock. He formed a performing partnership with another Australian living in America, Max Merritt, writing many jingles together for the advertising giant MOJO. In the Nineties Brian decided to move back to Australia to live, and settled in Queensland, still performing regularly, but concentrating on independent production.

Now based in Sydney, on the recording front he issued the album Live at Crown in 1998. In 2004 came the stunning acoustic set "Cleanskin" recorded as the last performance at the legendary Capers in Melbourne. In 2005 he released his first new studio album in almost 20 years titled “Quietly Rusting”.

Now celebrating more than 40 years on the road, this giant of the Australian Music Industry continues to write, tour and perform with no signs of slowing down.

In 2007 Brian Cadd was inducted into The ARIA Hall Of Fame.