Mar
April Byron
Posted in Adelaide, April Byron, Australia, CBS, Downunder, Leedon, South Australia | 2 Comments »
April Byron c.1965-66
Record Releases:-
He’s My Bobby/Make The World Go Away (Leedon LK-606) ?05-64
Listen Closely/What’s A Girl To Do (Leedon LK-905) ??-65
He’s A Thief/A Long Time Ago (Downunder UK-1513) 10-66
You Go Ahead Baby/See You Sam (CBS BA-221463) ??-67
The Ultimate Biography of the Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb by Hector Cook, Melinda Bilyeu, Andrew Mon Hughes, Joseph Brennan, Mark Crohan was extensively referenced for the article. Published by Omnibus Press, 2004.
Born in Adelaide, April Elizabeth Potts was discovered by no other than Johnny O’Keefe who persuaded her to leave school early and take up her hobby as a full-time career in Melbourne. Her new manager, Horrie Dargie, patiently groomed her for stardom, and was rewarded when as April Byron, she had a big hit in May 1964 with Make The World Go Away, an Eddie Cochran cover. By the way the B side, He’s My Bobby was written by April herself. She became much in demand for television appearances, as well as live performances at discotheque dances and hotels. Her follow-up Leedon single, Listen Closely, was backed with What’s A Girl To Do which was co-written by April herself with Bill Shepherd. It was likely that it was Shepherd who introduced her to the Gibb brothers at the Hurtsville Studios.
He's A Thief
The next release was He’s A Thief backed with A Long Time Ago on the Downunder label. Produced by Ossie Byrne and Nat Kipner, side A’s He’s A Thief was co-written by Maurice Gibb & Nat Kipner, whilst side B’s A Long Time Ago was written by Barry Gibb. As with all Downunder records it sold poorly and the artists cut (which was small) probably went to Ossie Byrne to help him recover the costs in producing the record.
I don’t know much about April’s last 45 on CBS, if you know please email me. The address is on the about page.