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Ross D Wylie (surname is actually spelt Wyllie) was born in 1948 and grew up in Brisbane. As a young child he suffered polio that left him with a limp. Ross turned to music and by the time he was 16 he was singing in local band The Kodiaks before releasing his first single Short Skirts followed by A Bit of Love.
Ross was later offered the job of compere for a new pop show called ‘Uptight’ and moved to Melbourne. ‘Uptight’ was then born in October 1967.
Two years later Ross recorded the Ray Stevens song Funny Man which became Ross’ first national hit. It was followed by a Johnny Young composition The Star (arranged by John Farrar) which became a No.1 hit and was also recorded by Herman’s Hermits.
Ross later left the television series and teamed up with Fable Records in 1971 and recorded He Gives Us all His Love (a Randy Newman song) and It Takes Time. In 1972 he released Sweet White Dove produced by Brian Cadd.
Earlier this year Ross appeared at a concert at Crown Casino and received a standing ovation and was invited to appear on the Gold Go Show! In August and once again Ross received a very rousing standing ovation. Finally now available on CD for the first time is Ross D. Wylie The Complete Collection (Festival/Aztec Records) featuring all the classic hits including Funny Man, The Star, My Little Girl, Smile, Uptight Party Medley, Short Skirts and many more tracks including tracks live from Festival Hall Melbourne in 1994.
Ross, his wife of 47 years Eileen, and their two sons Kristian 43 and Ross Wyllie Jr 42 still live in Melbourne.
The album has been remastered by former Aztecs drummer Gil Matthews and liner notes by Ian McFarlane and rare photos from Ross’ own collection. This album is a must for any serious Australian music collector. www.aztecrecords.com.au
Foreigner will rock into Melbourne for a concert at the Palais Theatre on January 29th. Mick Jones teamed up with Lou Gramm, thus making Foreigner one of the biggest successes of the 70s and 80s. Early hits ‘Cold as Ice’, ‘Hot Blooded’ featured Gramm’s soaring vocals before moving into the 80s with hits like ‘Urgent’ and the power ballad ‘Waiting for a Girl Like You’. This song, a hit in its own right, provided the template for what would become Foreigner’s biggest success. Australia’s Tina Arena and US singer Mariah Carey both covered ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’. www.chuggentertainment.com
A nearly flawless copy of Superman’s comic book debut has sold for a record $3.46 million. A New York comics dealer submitted the record setting bid in the eBay auction for Action Comics No.1, first published in 1938. About 100 copies are believed to exist.
Opera Australia celebrates all things Italian, with opera on stage and romantic, themed dining off stage at the Arts Centre Melbourne this season.
The season begins with a new production by John Bell of Puccini's heartbreaking classic, Tosca (12 November - 13 December). Featuring one of the most spectacular opera sets in recent years, the Tosca set includes glittering gold leaf and ornate paintings recreated from the famous Sant'Andrea della Valle cathedral in Italy. The glorious set by Michael Scott-Mitchell has been extended to make the most of the spacious stage in the State Theatre.
Humour and whimsy collide in Donizetti’s comic opera, Don Pasquale (19 November - 12 December). Set in the colourful streets of Italy in the 1950s, this is a bright tale of merriment and misadventure, starring opera's favourite comedic couple, Rachelle Durkin and Conal Coad.
The laughs are set to continue in Simon Phillips' fluid and passionate production of Verdi's Falstaff (1 -11 December) starring baritone Warwick Fyfe in the title role as the mischievous old rogue. It’s a keenly-observed portrait of a middle-aged man trying to recapture his youth through attempted sexual liaisons. www.opera.org.au
Jerry Herman’s Tony Award winning La Cage Aux Folles starring Todd McKenney, Simon Burke, Rhonda Burchmore and Marg Downey will show from November 22 – December 7 at the Arts Centre. Tickets www.theproductioncompany.com.au
Pieces is the second single from 2014 Star Maker Jared Porter’s debut album East to West. Jared duets with the beautiful Kaylee Bell, 2013 Star Maker. Kaylee was announced Female Artist of the Year for the second time at the New Zealand Country Music Awards. Entries are now open for the 2015 Toyota Star Maker competition www.starmaker.com.au/entryform
TOP TEN ALBUMS
1. The Complete Collection – Ross D.Wylie (Aztec)
2. Family Life – Adam Harvey (Sony)
3. Sing You Up – Luke O’Shea
4. 40 Years of Rock – The Angels (Liberation)
5. Nightlight – Rachel Collis
6. Somewhere Better To Be – Doug Bruce
7. One Day at a Time – Swanee (MGM)
8. Travelling – Brothers 3
9. Nothin’ But Trouble – The Wolfe Brothers (ABC)
10. Sometimes When You Lose You Win – Allan Caswell