Song:Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport
Album:The Best Of Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris is a legend in his native Australia and in England. In North America, he is known mainly for the 1963 novelty song Tie Me Kangaroo, Sport which was a top five hit. He is also an artist and has produced kids TV shows and music for years. He was born Mar. 30, 1930 in Bassendean, Australia which is a suburb of Perth. As a teen, he was a championship swimmer. He was the 1946 Australian Junior Backstroke Champion. He studied art first at the University Of Western Australia and then at the City and Guilds Art School in London, England. He appeared on TV usually giving drawing demonstrations. He also started performing in a local club playing his accordion for homesick Aussies. In 1960, he moved back to Perth to star in his own TV variety show and produce children's TV. Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport became a big hit in Australia and England. Then he moved back to England in 1962 and EMI had George Martin produce re-recordings of all his songs including Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport. Epic Records picked it up for the US and the song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. A couple of his other songs charted and the album Sun Arise sold very well. But Harris had no illusions about his music and knew Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport was a fluke. You'll notice at the start of the video his wobble board which is a piece of masonite. This comp is a good intro to Harris' music. Harris continues to record today. He mostly records children's music. But he had a hit single in England with his 1993 cover of Stairway To Heaven which started as a gag. He still produces TV including the BBC reality series Animal Hospital, plenty of kid's TV and shows like Rolf On Art. Like I said, he's a legend in England and Australia. In North America, he's a one hit novelty song wonder. Here's Rolf Harris performing Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport on the British TV show Brian Henderson's Bandstand 1960.
No comments:
Post a Comment