Brian Cadd (b.1946), singer/songwriter, had been a member of 1960s Melbourne band The Groop before forming Axiom, the band for which he wrote the hits 'Arkansas Grass' and 'A Little Ray of Sunshine' at the dawn of the 1970s. In 1972, the year he founded record label Bootleg Records, three of his solo recordings were included on the soundtrack of the cult surf movie Morning of the Earth. That year also saw Cadd take out the composer's sections of the Hoadley's National Battle of the Sounds competition and the Tokyo World Popular Song Festival with 'Don't You Know it's Magic', later released as a single by John Farnham. In 1973 Cadd penned the music score for the film Alvin Purple, reprising the effort for the sequel Alvin Rides Again; he is shown here recording the soundtrack for the first film. In 1974 he became the first Australian artist to perform on the American music show Midnight Special. He remained in the USA until 1981, during which period his songs were covered by the likes of Glen Campbell and Gene Pitney and the Pointer Sisters. Back in Australia he continues to work as a singer songwriter and producer.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2005
© Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
www.RennieEllis.com.au
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Bon Scott and Angus Young photographed by Rennie Ellis are part of a display celebrating summer and images of the shirtless male.
Rennie Ellis photographs the self-proclaimed 'Witch of Kings Cross'.
