Ted Mulry
Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Martin Albert Mulry (2 September 1947Template:Spaced ndash1 September 2001), known professionally as Ted Mulry, was an English-born Australian singer, songwriter, bass player and guitarist. As a solo artist, his second single, "Falling in Love Again" (February 1971), reached No. 11 on the Go-Set National Top 60. From September 1972 he led his own band, Ted Mulry Gang, which were also credited as TMG. They had a number-one hit single on the Kent Music Report with "Jump in My Car" (September 1975) and top ten appearances with a cover version of "Darktown Strutters' Ball" (February 1976), and with "Jamaica Rum" (January 1977) and "My Little Girl" (May). Their second album, StruttinTemplate:' (May 1976), also reached the top ten. The group disbanded in 1986, although periodically reformed. Mulry announced in February 2001 that he had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. In the next month numerous music artists responded with Gimme Ted, a series of benefit concerts, which were recorded for a 2×DVD video tribute album, Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts (May 2003). Mulry died of his brain tumour in September 2001.
Early career
Martin Albert Mulry was born on 2 September 1947 in Oldham, Lancashire, England.[1][2][3] His younger brother, Steve Mulry, was also a musician. Mulry started learning guitar from the age of ten. On 5 April 1966 Mulry arrived in Sydney as a cotton weaver intending to work at Carinya Farm, Bargo.[3] By 1969 he was working for the Department of Main Roads, driving a bulldozer.[4][5]
He sent a demo tape of his own compositions to Albert Productions in Sydney and intended to gain work as a songwriter.[6] The company persuaded him to release his own recordings.[5] He gained notice as a solo singer-songwriter with his pop ballad, "Julia" (February 1970), which reached the Go-Set National Top 40 in mid-May.[4][7][8] However, the single's airplay and charting was adversely affected by the 1970 radio ban, which was a "pay for play" dispute and prevented commercial radio from playing some works (including Mulry's).[9] Mulry's next single, "Falling in Love Again" (February 1971), was written by Vanda & Young (ex-the Easybeats), which reached No. 11.[10]
During his solo career Mulry was typically backed by ad hoc groups.[6] For the Canberra Day Pop Concert, in March 1971, the line-up was local musicians Russ Corkhill on piano and organ, Bob Martin on guitar, Paul Reynolds on bass guitar, and Tony Simon on drums.[11][12] In June of that year he supported visiting English pop group, the Kinks at a performance in Canberra.[13] He used the same backing musicians, who The Canberra TimesTemplate:' Michael Foster described as "very good Canberra musicians."[13] He also felt that "Best of his presentations were probably 'Julia' and 'Louisa', with everyone happy to hear 'Falling in Love Again'. I would have enjoyed 'Take Me Back', if it had finished when the statement had been made."[14]
Mulry released his debut solo album, Falling in Love Again (September 1971), and returned to England in the following month. While there he issued a single, "Ain't It Nice" (May 1972), as Steve Ryder for the Blue Mountain label.[4] It did not chart and he returned to Sydney by mid-1972. Mulry was a prolific songwriter and provided material for other artists, including John Farnham and Alison MacCallum. Pop band Sherbet had a top 20 hit with a cover version of his song, "You're All Woman" (August 1972).[4][15] He issued his second solo album, I Won't Look Back (February 1973).[4][8] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described how "[it] featured a rockier sound than heard on [his] early singles, and augured well for the future."[4]
Ted Mulry Gang
Mulry, on lead vocals and, initially, on rhythm guitar, formed his own backing group in Sydney, which became Ted Mulry Gang (TMG), in September 1972.[4] Other founders were Les Hall on lead guitar, Steve Hart on bass guitar and Herman Kovacs on drums.[4][5] Hall and Kovacs had been members of a "popular suburban dance band", the Velvet Underground (not the US band of the same name), which had formed in Newcastle in 1967 and had relocated to Sydney in 1969.[4][6] They had previously included Malcolm Young (later of AC/DC) on rhythm guitar.[4][6] One of TMG's first performances was in September 1972 at the Mattara Festival, Newcastle.[16] Hall, Hart and Kovacs backed Mulry on ABC-TV's popular music series, GTK, in 1973 to promote his own version of "You're All Woman".[5]
During a 1974 gig Hart stormed out leaving his bass guitar behind, Mulry picked up the instrument and finished the show on vocals and bass guitar.[5][6] Ted Mulry Gang signed with Albert Productions in that year and released their first album, Here We Are (November 1974).[4][8] Before the album appeared they recruited Gary Dixon on rhythm guitar (ex-Fat Harry).[4][8][17] It reached the Kent Music Report top 100 albums chart.[18] Its first single, "Sunday Evenings" (March 1975), also appeared in the lower reaches of the singles chart top 100.[18] Due to low sales the record company wanted Mulry to go back to his solo career,[17] however, with his band's support he adopted a harder rocking style.
Their first major hit, and the biggest of their career, was the next single, "Jump in My Car" (September 1975), which spent six weeks at No. 1.[18] According to McFarlane, "[it] set the tone for subsequent releases with its simplistic, 12-bar boogie guitar riffs, thumping beat, Mulry's gravelly, gregarious vocals and tongue-in-cheek lyrics."[4] Over the next two years they achieved a string of top ten singles including a rocked up version of an old jazz song, "Darktown Strutters' Ball" (February 1976); followed by "Jamaica Rum" (January 1977) and "My Little Girl" (May).[18]
Many of TMG's songs, including "Jump in My Car", were co-written by Mulry and Hall. By late in 1980 their chart success had ended but they remained popular performers on the Australian pub circuit until they disbanded in 1986.[19] With his music career side-lined he started a business with his mechanic.[19] In 1989 Ted Mulry Gang briefly reformed, with Mulry, Hall and Kovacs joined by sometime Rose Tattoo guitarist Mick Cocks.[19][20] They released an album, Re-Union for Albert, on Sony. This marked their first on compact disc. Other CD reissues followed in the early 1990s. In 1998 Mulry, as a solo artist issued a CD, This Time, featuring songs co-written by himself and his brother, Steve.
Death
In February 2001, Mulry announced that he had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. Gimme Ted, two tribute concerts were organised for the following month, with numerous Australian musicians paying homage.[21][22] Included was a reunion of the Ted Mulry Gang with Steve as lead vocalist. A double-DVD, Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts, was released in 2003.[22] Mulry died of his brain tumour on 1 September 2001 in Sydney, one day away from his 54th birthday.[23] Steve later fronted a rock band, Black Label,[24] which performed in New South Wales and Victoria, including supporting the Angels.
David Hasselhoff recording
In January 2006 actor David Hasselhoff recorded a cover version of "Jump in My Car", whilst in Australia. Hasselhoff's version was released in the UK and went to No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart in October. It also went No. 24 in Ireland.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [18] | |||
| Falling in Love Again |
|
— | |
| I Won't Look Back |
|
— | |
| Here We Are (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
69 | |
| Struttin' (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
8 |
|
| Steppin' Out (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
23 |
|
| The T.M.G. Album (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
24 | |
| Disturbing the Peace (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
72 | |
| Locked In (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
— | |
| This Time |
|
— |
Live albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| TMG Live (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [18] | ||
| Greatest Hits (as Ted Mulry, TMG) |
|
90 |
| Backtracks Eighteen All Time Favourites (as TMG) |
|
— |
| Reunion (as TMG) |
|
— |
| The Essential The Essential Ted Mulry & TMG (as Ted Mulry, TMG) |
|
— |
| The Very Best of Ted Mulry Gang: 40th Anniversary |
|
— |
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Julia |
|
| Live on Tour (as Ted Mulry Gang) |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [18] |
US [26] | |||
| 1970 | "Julia" / "So Much in Love" | 24 | — | Julia / Falling in Love Again |
| 1971 | "Falling in Love Again" / "Louisa" | 7 | — | |
| "Marcia" / "Love You" | 48 | — | Julia | |
| "Memories" / "Remember Me" | 25 | — | Falling in Love Again | |
| 1972 | "Ain't It Nice" / "If You Should Change My Mind" | — | — | I Won't Look Back |
| "I Won't Look Back" / "Just Another Day" | 83 | — | ||
| 1975 | "Sunday Evenings" / "Here We Are" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 87 | — | Here We Are |
| "Jump in My Car" / "I'm On Fire" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 1 | — | ||
| 1976 | "Darktown Strutters' Ball" / "She's for Me" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 3 | — | Struttin' |
| "Crazy" / "Help Me Out" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 11 | — | ||
| "Stepping Out" / "It's All Over Now" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 42 | — | Steppin' Out | |
| "Jamaica Rum" / "Wanted Man" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 10 | — | ||
| 1977 | "My Little Girl" / "You've Got It" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 8 | — | The T.M.G. Album |
| "Naturally" / "Sha La La Lee" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 37 | — | ||
| 1978 | "Lazy Eyes" / "Set Me Free" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 33 | 91 | Disturbing the Peace |
| "Heart of Stone" / "I Miss You" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 37 | — | ||
| "You've Got the Devil in You" / "Disturbing the Peace" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | 69 | — | ||
| 1980 | "Save Me" / "How Long" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | — | — | Locked In |
| "Can't Take It All" / "Home to You" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | — | — | ||
| "Captured" / "I'm Down" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | — | — | ||
| 1981 | "Take a Look Inside" (as Ted Mulry and friends) | — | — | |
| 1990 | "Old Habits" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | — | — | |
Awards and nominations
Go-Set Pop Poll
The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set which had been established in February 1966. It conducted an annual poll from 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.[27]
Template:Awards table |- | 1971 | himself | Best Male Vocal | 4th |-
|}Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Notes
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ted Mulry entries:
- First edition (Ted Mulry): Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Note: birth year is incorrectly given as 1949.
- First edition (Ted Mulry Gang): Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Second edition: Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Note: birth year is incorrectly given as 1951.
- ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Template:CbignoreNote: birth year is incorrectly given as 1951. First name incorrectly shown as Edward.
- ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Template:CbignoreNote: first name incorrectly shown as Edward.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Note: includes a photo of Mulry playing a guitar and singing.
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Pop Scene – Australia's International Pop Magazine, issue No. 2, Gordon and Gotch, 1977.
- ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Ted's Official Facebook Page
- Ted Mulry Gang Feature Pop Archives Site
- Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata
- Ted Mulry Gang discography at Discogs
- Pages with script errors
- 1947 births
- 2001 deaths
- Australian pop singers
- Australian bass guitarists
- Musicians from Oldham
- Musicians from Sydney
- Australian rock bass guitarists
- Australian male bass guitarists
- Australian rock guitarists
- English emigrants to Australia
- Deaths from brain cancer in Australia
- Deaths from cancer in New South Wales
- 20th-century bass guitarists
- Acoustic guitarists
- 20th-century Australian male singers
- Australian male singer-songwriters
- 20th-century Australian singer-songwriters