Brian Cadd

Brian George Cadd AM (born 29 November 1946) is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist, producer and record label founder, a staple of Australian entertainment for over 50 years. As well as working internationally throughout Europe and the United States, he has performed as a member of numerous bands including The Groop, Axiom, The Bootleg Family Band and in America with The Flying Burrito Brothers before carving out a solo career in 1972. He briefly went under the pseudonym of Brian Caine in late 1966, when first joining the Groop.

Cadd produced fellow Australian acts Robin Jolley, Ronnie Burns, Broderick Smith, Tina Arena and Glenn Shorrock; His songwriting for other acts includes The Masters Apprentices, The Bootleg Family Band, Ronnie Burns, The Pointer Sisters, Little River Band and John Farnham. He was awarded in the Queens Birthday Honours in 2018, along with late musician Phil Emmanuel for his 50-year service to the music industry as a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, mentor and producer and his work in production.

Early years Cadd was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, and was a child prodigy: winning a TV talent quest when 12 and being offered his first professional job as a pianist for a children's TV program. His family relocated to Tasmania and then Melbourne, where Cadd became involved in jazz music of the early 1960s, playing with The Beale Street Jazz Band [Rick Mabin on trumpet; Frank Turner on drums] and The Castaways. He was also recognised for his zany hats. On advice from pop magazine Go-Set writer Ian "Molly" Meldrum Cadd changed his surname to Caine, before changing it back after his family protested. which reached No. 6 in Melbourne and No. 12 in Sydney in July 1967.It was also a hit in parts of the US. Melbourne singer Ronnie Burns had a local hit with "When I Was Six Years Old"

1969–1971: Axiom

Following the break-up of The Groop, Cadd and Mudie formed Axiom in May 1969 with Glenn Shorrock (ex-The Twilights) on vocals, Doug Lavery (ex-The Valentines) on drums and Chris Stockley (ex-Cam-Pact) on guitar. Studio musicians used by Cadd became the Bootleg Family Band and had their own hit single by covering Loggins and Messina's "Your Mama Don't Dance", where Cadd provided lead vocals. Cadd also won the composer's section of Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds for 1972 with his song, "Don't You Know It's Magic", this became a top 20 hit for John Farnham (known then as "Johnny" Farnham). and its sequel Alvin Purple Rides Again in 1975. After releasing his third solo album, Moonshine, in 1974, Cadd left Australia for the US.

1975–1979: United States

Cadd arrived in Los Angeles in 1975 and began working on a record with Chelsea Records. The label was forced into bankruptcy and ultimately ceased. Cadd then signed with Capitol Records and released his fourth studio album, White On White, in 1976. The album was mixed and produced to have a "pop sound" along the lines of Elton John and Billy Joel, but performed poorly in the US. In 1978, Cadd released Yesterdaydreams which also performed poorly and his contract with Capitol Records ceased. The track "Yesterdaydreams" was covered by Bonnie Tyler.

1980–1993: The Flying Burrito Brothers and Graffiti Records

Early in 1980, Cadd toured France with the "French Elvis", Johnny Hallyday. He recorded solo albums for Interfusion, his songs were also recorded by Gene Pitney, Glen Campbell, Dobie Gray, Cilla Black, Wayne Newton, Bonnie Tyler, Joe Cocker and Ringo Starr. returning to Australia in 1993.

In 1997, Cadd built a recording studio Ginger Man Sound. In March 1998 he took over as CEO of The Streetwise Music Group in Brisbane, eventually becoming a co-owner. The company, which is distributed through Warner Music, now has some 20 acts spread over three labels (Streetwise, Stallion and Belly Laugh).

Cadd is the chairman of the Music Industry Advisory Council (Australia), President of the Australian Music Foundation Cadd lectures at universities as well as continuing to record and perform, he independently released an album of new material Quietly Rusting in 2005 featuring musicians like Mark Meyer, Tony Naylor, Wilbur Wilde and Ross Hannaford together with some of Australia's hottest new players including Paul White, Damien Steele-Scott and James Meston.

In 2007, Cadd was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, his acceptance speech included:

Also in 2007, Cadd was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) Songwriters Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifetime of songwriting achievements.

In November 2010, Cadd released his autobiography, From This Side of Things.

In 2011, Cadd released a country album, Wild Bulls and Horses, with his longtime friend Russell Morris.

2016–present: Bulletproof and Silver City In November 2016, Cadd released a new studio album with the Bootleg Family Band, Bulletproof, which was credited to Cadd and The Bootleg Family Band. Cadd issued a solo studio album, Silver City (January 2019). He followed in April 2024, with a country music album, Dream Train.

Personal life Cadd, his then partner, and her daughter, were caught in the flash flood of the Mudgeeraba River (Gold Coast, Queensland) in February 1999, when their car was washed off a causeway. All three escaped the sinking car through its windows, but Cadd and his wife were swept away before they could get ashore. They were subsequently rescued by a local resident. Pelman was a judge on It Takes Two between 2006 and 2008, and is a producer, director and TV personality.

Discography

Albums Brian Cadd (1972) Parabrahm (1973) Moonshine (1974) The Magic of Brian Cadd (1975) White on White (1976) Yesterdaydreams – (1978) No Stone Unturned (1985) Cleanskin (2003) Quietly Rusting (2005) Wild Bulls and Horses (with Russell Morris) (2011) The Story of Sharky and the Caddman (with Glenn Shorrock) (2013) Bulletproof (with The Bootleg Family Band) (2016) Silver City (2019) Dream Train (2024)