by Graeme Brown
Please scroll to bottom of blog pages to comment.
Press Release by Alan Manning
The punk/new wave musical revolution that hit Australia in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s saw the proliferation of independent record labels. But another, earlier musical revolution a decade and a half earlier gave rise to one of the first independent record labels in Australia.
The visit to Australia by The Beatles in mid 1964 was the spark that led to an unprecedented explosion of music in this country. Within months the Sunshine label was formed to capture on vinyl the exciting new beat group sounds. The story of Sunshine has now been documented in an informative and profusely illustrated book.
Parallel to the story of Sunshine Records is the profile of its founder, the colourful Ivan Dayman, a larger than life character without equal in the history of Australian show business before or since.
SUNSHINE SECRETS has been written by Townsville based author and record collector Graeme Brown and is published by Moonlight Publications (Colac, Victoria)
Ivan Dayman was born in Adelaide in 1920 and was already in his mid 30’s by the time the rock and roll revolution arrived in Australia. However he noted with enthusiasm how young people flocked to suburban dances to enjoy the new style of music, often included as an afterthought by staid big bands. Over the ensuing years he built up a network of live music venues which stretched from Mount Isa to Perth.
In the mid 1960’s he started a record label which took its name from a travel poster advertising Queensland as a holiday destination. After a few modest sellers he hit pay dirt with a good looking teenage singer from Melbourne, Normie Rowe.
Apart from Ivan Dayman’s colourful story, SUNSHINE SECRETS contains a complete discography of the Sunshine label – invaluable for music historians – but also goes on to profile every act that recorded for the label.
Apart from Normie Rowe many other well known Australian based acts recorded for Sunshine – John Rowles, Frankie Davidson, Ross D. Wylie, Bill and Boyd, Lonnie Lee as well as Brisbane’s legendary proto punks, The Purple Hearts.
There’s plenty of West Australian interest with in depth profiles of The Troubadores, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Show and Kalgoorlie band Karma who worked for several years on the east coast.
Graeme Brown will be in Perth and available for interview between September 15th and September 25th. To arrange an interview contact Wendell Parnell on 0407 470470 or Alan Mannings on 0438 490 061.
Press Release by Alan Manning
The punk/new wave musical revolution that hit Australia in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s saw the proliferation of independent record labels. But another, earlier musical revolution a decade and a half earlier gave rise to one of the first independent record labels in Australia.
The visit to Australia by The Beatles in mid 1964 was the spark that led to an unprecedented explosion of music in this country. Within months the Sunshine label was formed to capture on vinyl the exciting new beat group sounds. The story of Sunshine has now been documented in an informative and profusely illustrated book.
Parallel to the story of Sunshine Records is the profile of its founder, the colourful Ivan Dayman, a larger than life character without equal in the history of Australian show business before or since.
SUNSHINE SECRETS has been written by Townsville based author and record collector Graeme Brown and is published by Moonlight Publications (Colac, Victoria)
Ivan Dayman was born in Adelaide in 1920 and was already in his mid 30’s by the time the rock and roll revolution arrived in Australia. However he noted with enthusiasm how young people flocked to suburban dances to enjoy the new style of music, often included as an afterthought by staid big bands. Over the ensuing years he built up a network of live music venues which stretched from Mount Isa to Perth.
In the mid 1960’s he started a record label which took its name from a travel poster advertising Queensland as a holiday destination. After a few modest sellers he hit pay dirt with a good looking teenage singer from Melbourne, Normie Rowe.
Apart from Ivan Dayman’s colourful story, SUNSHINE SECRETS contains a complete discography of the Sunshine label – invaluable for music historians – but also goes on to profile every act that recorded for the label.
Apart from Normie Rowe many other well known Australian based acts recorded for Sunshine – John Rowles, Frankie Davidson, Ross D. Wylie, Bill and Boyd, Lonnie Lee as well as Brisbane’s legendary proto punks, The Purple Hearts.
There’s plenty of West Australian interest with in depth profiles of The Troubadores, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Show and Kalgoorlie band Karma who worked for several years on the east coast.
Graeme Brown will be in Perth and available for interview between September 15th and September 25th. To arrange an interview contact Wendell Parnell on 0407 470470 or Alan Mannings on 0438 490 061.
REVIEW BY
Paul McHenry co-author of THE WHO'S WHO OF AUSTRALIAN ROCK AND POP
Graeme tells an important story of one of Australian’s most important, most popular record labels …… Sunshine Records [1964-1974] that covered the east coast as well as Perth. It was supported by live venues and television shows run by Ivan Dayman. All with highly regarded record producer Pat Aulton. His passion for the music shines through in the thorough research and many interviews from the well-known Normie Rowe to the lesser known like The Jelly Roll Big Band. The author has previously written booklets on Australian pop artists Toni McCann & Little Pattie.
I must go now and play my Purple Hearts EP while I read this excellent slice of Australian pop history.
Comments by Gary Hunn
I absolutely loved the book. your Ivan Dayman stuff was excellent and some the quotes on the sunshine artists were fantastic,
you really captured not only the events and artists of the time but you managed to take me back to a wonderful time period of Queensland music that if you haven’t have put pin such a mighty effort over the long period of gestation you persevered with, this important part of our history might have disappeared forever.
So a big thank you for not giving up, although it must have seemed like a monumental task you were undertaking at times.
Congratulations mate. you’ve truly done an outstanding job. I’m sincerely very proud of you and the wonderful work you’ve done.
From Letter - Steve Berry-Porter
Hi Graeme,
I've just gotten back from a holiday break during which time I read your latest book from cover to cover and enjoyed it immensely. So, congratulations on having your book "Sunshine Secrets" published, and thank you for sending me a copy.
I found it a thoroughly entertaining and engrossing read, and was surprised at how much I didn't know about Ivan Dayman and other events and bands/acts of that era, despite having worked for him on the 'Swinger' circuit with my band Jelly Roll Big Band in the early Seventies and touring with some of his bigger name stars as backing and support band.
I was also surprised to read about so many other musicians that I have both known and worked with professionally over the years, but had no prior knowledge of their 'Ivan connection' before reading your book.
"Sunshine Secrets" is a testament to your patience, persistence and determination to document the accomplishments of a successful and revered old-school-type music entrepreneur/ promoter, from an almost forgotten era at the birth of Australian Rock'n'Roll, and to also shine a light on all the artists and bands that, over the span of 20 years or so were fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to be managed by him, and to record on the "Sunshine" label.
Your book draws these distant and fading memories into sharp focus and puts smiles on faces.
What a wonderful record of that piece of Australian rock music history for those who were involved in its making, and a rich resource for students of and those others who are interested in discovering and understanding it.
Thanks again Graeme and well done. It is not only Sunshine artists who salute you.
It was a pleasure meeting you and witnessing your dedication.
I hope we can stay in touch. I'm looking forward to reading your next book.
Best wishes and kind regards
Steve Berry-Porter