Geoff Harvey

Geoffrey John Harvey (6 August 1935 – 30 March 2019 ) was an English-Australian musician, pianist, conductor, musical director and television personality who worked at the Australian Nine Network for 38 years. Known primarily for his appearances on The Mike Walsh Show and Midday, Harvey also composed a number of the theme songs for the network's programs.

Early life Harvey was born on 6 August 1935 in London, England, and lived through the Blitz during the Second World War. He was born into a musical family: his father played the fiddle while his mother was a piano player. Harvey began playing piano and the organ at the age of six and when he was eight he began playing at his local Catholic church. By age 14, he was playing in Westminster Cathedral. After completing his education and national service he began playing in jazz clubs across Europe. He was only due to stay in the country for a year but decided to remain, finding work in the new medium of television. His most prominent role was as the musical director of The Mike Walsh Show. the latter being originally composed for the wedding of his first wife's cousin.

Post television career Following the cancellation of Midday, Harvey was sacked from Nine after 38 years on 6 May 1999. He appeared briefly on Sydney radio station 2GB alongside Kerri-Anne Kennerley in 2000.

Harvey returned to studying in 2002, receiving his Associate in Music, Australia in organ in 2004 from the Australian Music Examinations Board and four years later his licentiate from Trinity College London.

In 2017, Harvey still performed in live theatre, taking to the stage to play piano in his comedy revue Senior Moments with Lex Marinos, Benita Collings and John Derum.

Awards Harvey was a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia during the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours for "service to the community as a musician and entertainer, and through support for charitable organisations". Harvey was a patron for ConnecTeD (Friends of the Connective Tissue Dysplasia, Children's Hospital at Westmead), from 1992.

Personal life Known as a practical joker and for making "wild bets", he grew a beard as a result of losing a 1965 bet to Don Lane on a football match. and Charlotte two years later. They lived together in the Sydney suburb of Epping. He lived in the village of Berrima in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales with his second wife of years, Katrina. Katrina also worked at Nine as the long-time personal assistant to executive Sam Chisholm.

He died on the Gold Coast in March 2019, aged 83.

Released: 1987 Format: LP, CD Label: Priority (RML-53246)

Released: 1997 Format: CD Label: BMG (74321-56290-2)