Jump to content

Barry Crocker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barry Crocker
AM
Born(1935-11-04)4 November 1935(age 88)
Geelong,Victoria,Australia
Occupations
  • Singer
  • television personality
  • actor (theatre, television and film)
  • variety entertainer
Years active1955−present
Known forThe Adventures of Barry McKenzie
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
Notable workHost ofThe Sound of Music
Singer of original version theme song to soap operaNeighbours
PartnerKaty Manning(1990–present)
Children5
Websitebarrycrocker.net

Barry Hugh CrockerAM(born 4 November 1935[1]) is an AustralianGold Logie-winning character actor, television personality, singer, and variety entertainer with acrooningvocal style.

Crocker is known for his iconicAustralian filmsduring the 1970s, includingThe Adventures of Barry McKenzie(1972) and its sequel,Barry McKenzie Holds His Own(1974). Crocker was also the presenter and leading performer on the TV seriesThe Sound of Music,[2]taking over from entertainerBobby Limb.

His singing talents eventually earned him over 30Gold records.In 1971,Sound of Musicwas the 11th-most-popular show in the country.[3]Crocker sang the theme tune to the Australian soap operaNeighboursbetween 1985 and 1992. Crocker published an autobiography calledBazza – The Adventures of Barry Crockerin 2003. In 2023, he publishedLast of the Entertainers: A Star-Studded Story Across Sixty-Five Years of Television, Stage, Screen and in Recording.[4]

Early life[edit]

Crocker was born inGeelong,Victoria.[1]After doingNational Servicewith theRAAFin 1955, he toured with a theatre group and performed on the club circuit in Melbourne, followed by a partnership with David Clark (aka Dave Nelson), and performed in the UK and the United States.

Career[edit]

Crocker returned to Australia to star in a TV musical comedy show called66 And All Thatin 1966, hence the title, which becameThe Barry Crocker Show(1966–67)[5]on Channel 10 Sydney (nowNetwork Ten). That was followed by the musical variety showSay It with Music(1967–1969), also broadcast on Ten.

Acting[edit]

Crocker made his acting debut on a 1969 episode ofSkippy the Bush Kangaroo.He has also had a successful career as a stage, television and motion picture actor, most notably starring alongsideBarry Humphriesin the title role ofBruce Beresford's 1972 movie,The Adventures of Barry McKenzieand its 1974 sequel,Barry McKenzie Holds His Own.The "bogan" character ofBarry McKenziegave rise to Crocker recording such ribald songs as "My One Eyed Trouser Snake" and other "off-colour"songs.

Crocker was Beresford's first choice as lead actor when it came to the filming ofDavid Williamson's popular playDon's Party,but serious back problems curtailed Crocker's screen career at that point, opening the way forJohn Hargreavesto achieve film success in the coveted title role.[6]

Nevertheless, in 1976 Crocker was crownedKing of Moomba,the annual entertainment festival inMelbourne.[7]

He had the lead role as Governor Alan Smith in the short-lived prison dramaPunishment(1981), and guest-starred in two episodes of the Australian satirical black comedy seriesReview with Myles Barlow.Later TV roles included parts inPizza,Swift and Shift Couriers,andHousosforSBS,andThe Strange Calls,anABC2comedy series.

In 1994, Crocker appeared as himself in the worldwide record-breaking filmMuriel's Wedding.he proved his acting and comedy credentials once again as the retro-disco host Donny Destry in the 2007 movieRazzle Dazzle.

Crocker appeared as Charles "Hoot" Russell, Greg Russell's father in theHey Dad..!episode "Hoot's Boots". It was the second last episode of the show, which spanned 14 seasons. A DVD box set ofHey Dad..!has had to be abandoned, following the conviction of the original "Dad" –Robert Hughes– on several sex offences.

In 2005, Crocker was featured on theNine NetworkprogramThis Is Your Life.It was a rare accolade, because Crocker had already been the subject of this prestigious TV program thirty years earlier, in 1975, when the show was hosted byRoger Climpson.Crocker was caught by surprise when hostMike Munroand the TV production team arrived, after a lot of careful planning by his long-term partner, Katy Manning, the English actress.

Crocker was chosen byChaim Topolto co-star as his nemesis Lazer Wolfe in a long-running Australian season of the musicalFiddler on the Roof.He also featured in the role of The Lecturer in the 2008 Australian premiere of the stage musicalReefer Madness.

Crocker presented the Australian version ofBehind Mansion Wallson theCrime and Investigation NetworkonFoxtelin Australia.

Music career[edit]

In 1959, after successfully touring and a number of television appearances, he convinced Cyril Stevens, of Spotlight Records inThornbury,[8]to audition him and his musical partner. Stevens, who was a photographer by trade, had set up a recording studio in the early 1950s. He recorded mainly jazz and musical events around Victoria. Stevens wasn't impressed, and Crocker and Dave Clark were about to leave when Stevens' son entered the room, recognised the pair from television and concerts, and convinced his father to record the team. TwoEPswere recorded, totalling eight tracks. The records were Spotlight's highest sellers.[9]

In May 1973, Crocker released the albumMusic Makes My Day,onFestival Records,featuring an updated version of American rockabilly singerRobin Luke's "Susie Darlin'".The recording featuredOlivia Newton-JohnandPat Carrollon backup vocals, and enjoyed chart success, peaking at number 7.[10][11][12][13]

He sang the original recording of the theme song for the 1977Reg Grundysoap opera,The Restless Years(later a hit forRenée Geyer), and also the original theme to the long-running soap operaNeighbours,another Reg Grundy production. His version was used from 1985 to 1992, and it was also played during the series' final episode, which aired in July 2022.

Crocker wrote and recorded an unofficial theme song for theAustralian rules footballteam,Geelong,entitledCome on the Cats.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Crocker married Doreen (Dene), with whom he had five children. In the 1970s, he was in a relationship with Christine Platel, which lasted five years, and resulted in his divorce from his wife.[14]Since 1990, he has been in a relationship with English actressKaty Manning,whom he met in Australia, although she moved back to the UK in 2010 and they maintain along-distance relationship.[15][16]

Discography[edit]

Charting albums[edit]

List of albums which had a chart position within a national top 100
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[17]
Barry Crocker Sings "The Hits"
(with The Tony Hatch Orchestra)
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: Astor
 73
Sings the Hits Volume 2
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: Astor
 82
You're My World
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: J & B Records
 81

Charting singles[edit]

List of singles which had a chart position within a national top 100
Title Year Chart peak positions Album
AUS
[17] 		UK
[18]
"Please Don't Go" 1969 39 — I've Gotta Be Me
"The Pensioner" 1970 93 —
"Love Is a Beautiful Song" 1971 31 — Barry Crocker in London
"Susie Darlin'" 1973 7 — Golden Hits
"Love, Where Are You Now?" 1975 45 —
"Neighbours" 1988 — 83

Awards[edit]

Mo Awards[edit]

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as theMo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Barry Crocker won two awards in that time and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.[19]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1976 Barry Crocker Entertainer of the Year Won
1981 Barry Crocker Entertainer of the Year Won
2013 Barry Crocker Hall of Fame inductee

In popular culture[edit]

During the 1980s, therhyming slangexpression "Barry Crocker", or simply "Barry" or "Baz", emerged inAustralian Englishto mean a "shocker", as in "very poor".[20]

A notable public use of the expression was on the front page of the Sydney newspaperThe Daily Telegraphon 17 April 2014 whenBarry O'FarrellthePremier of New South Wales,was forced to resign, allegedly for accepting a gift of an expensive bottle of wine without declaring it, and then later denying in court that he had even received the gift.[citation needed]The headline, consisting of almost half the front page, read "A Barry Crocker".

In February 2022, news of the cancellation ofNeighboursin the British press prompted fans of the TV show to download the theme song. It reached No. 1 on UKiTunesand at No. 11 on theUK Singles Sales Chartsales and downloads chart ending 17 February 2022.[21]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Title Year Role
Squeeze a Flower 1970 Waiter
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie 1972 Barry McKenzie
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own 1974 Barry McKenzie – Rev Kevin McKenzie
Shotgun Wedding 1993 Voice
Muriel's Wedding 1994 Himself
Twitch(short) 2000 Quiz Show Host
Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance 2007 Donnie Dusty
The Strange Calls(short) 2011 Gregor
The Advisor(short) 2012 Gerhard
Houses vs. Authority 2012 Federal Judge

Television[edit]

Title Year Role
66 and All That 1966 Presenter
The Barry Crocker Show 1966–67 Presenter
Say It with Music 1966–67 Presenter
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo 1969 Alfred Aloysius Mortimer
This Is Your Life 1975 Guest
The Sound of Music Presenter & Leading Performer
Punishment 1981 Governor Alan Smith
Heartbreak High 1994 Compere
Hey Dad..!(episode: "Hoots Boots" ) 1994 Charles 'Hoot' Russell
Twisted 1997 Sir Barry Doyle
Variety Show at the End of the World 2000 Death
Pizza 2000 Clarence Bumpkin
This Is Your Life 2005 Guest
Magical Tales 2010 Whirly Wizard
Legend of Enyo 2010 Shamani (voice)
Rake 2010 Errol Greene
Behind Mansion Walls 2011 Joe Pikul
Swift and Shift Couriers 2011 Reg Jones CEO
Housos 2011 Premier
The Strange Calls(miniseries) 2012 Gregor

References[edit]

  1. ^abcAboutArchived3 March 2019 at theWayback MachineOfficial Barry Crocker website
  2. ^'The Sound of Music' – Entertainment Legend, Barry Crocker Pt2,retrieved25 June2022
  3. ^"Television Ratings".The Canberra Times.Vol. 45, no. 12, 803. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 May 1971. p. 8.Retrieved9 November2023– viaTrove.
  4. ^Crocker, Barry (2023).Last of the Entertainers: A Star-Studded Story Across Sixty-Five Years of Television, Stage, Screen and in Recording.New Holland.ISBN9781760795542.
  5. ^"The Barry Crocker Show".IMDb.
  6. ^Vagg, Stephen (14 July 2019)."Australian Singers Turned Actors".Filmink.
  7. ^Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm, Hilary Eriksen (17 February 2006)Moomba: A festival for the peopleArchived29 October 2009 at theWayback MachinePDF pp 17–22
  8. ^"Spotlight".Majestic Compilations.Andrew Renaut.Retrieved9 September2023.
  9. ^Barry Crocker:Bazza – The Adventures of Barry Crocker,pp. 167–168
  10. ^"Susie Darlin' – Barry Crocker 1973Pop Archives
  11. ^Albums by Barry CrockerRate Your Music
  12. ^Music Makes My Day by Barry Crocker: Reviews and RatingRate Your Music
  13. ^Barry Crocker DiscographyBarryCrocker.net
  14. ^Woolford, Lisa (8 September 2023)."'I wasn't the first man, and I won't be the last to think he could have it all': Barry Crocker tells all on his five-year-long affair ".The Advertiser.Adelaide.Retrieved9 September2023.
  15. ^Padman, Tony (9 September 2017)."Where is he now?Doctor Who's Katy Manning ".Daily Express.London.Retrieved11 February2019.
  16. ^"'I've been a naughty girl' –Doctor Whocompanion Katy Manning interviewed ".Radio Times.Retrieved11 February2019.
  17. ^abKent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 77.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  18. ^"Barry Crocker Full Official Chart History".Official Charts Company.Retrieved11 February2022.
  19. ^"MO Award Winners".Mo Awards.Retrieved14 March2022.
  20. ^"OzWords: When People Become Words"(PDF).Australian National Dictionary Centre,Australian National University.October 2005. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 9 April 2011.Retrieved20 February2010.
  21. ^"Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100".Official Singles Charts.11 February 2022.Retrieved30 July2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barry_Crocker&oldid=1230065110"