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Bruce Woodley

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Not to be confused with Bruce Woolley.

Bruce Woodley
AO
The Seekers in 1965 – Woodley at right
The Seekers in 1965 – Woodley at right
Background information
Birth nameBruce William Woodley
Born (1942-07-25) 25 July 1942 (age 82)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresJazz, folk-pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, banjo
Years active1959–present

Bruce William Woodley[1] AO[2] (born 25 July 1942) is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician.[3][4] He was a founding member of the successful folk-pop group the Seekers,[3] and co-composer of the songs "I Am Australian," "Red Rubber Ball," and Simon & Garfunkel's "Cloudy."[5] At the National Day of Mourning on 22 February 2009 for the victims of the Victoria bushfires, Woodley unveiled two new verses for "I am Australian".[6]

Bruce Woodley was born on 25 July 1942 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He attended Melbourne High School with fellow Seekers, Athol Guy and Keith Potger.[3]

The Seekers

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Main article: The Seekers

Woodley had a 'residency' performing at the Treble Clef restaurant in Prahran. With former schoolmates, Athol Guy and Keith Potger, he formed a folk music trio, The Escorts, in the early 1960s.[3] Soon before the arrival of vocalist Judith Durham in 1962 they became The Seekers, and had some success in Australia before travelling to London in 1964 and recording four international hit singles written and produced by Tom Springfield.[3] Woodley played guitar, banjo, and mandolin, as well as one of the four-part vocal harmony, and was the chief songwriter.[3] While Durham sang the majority of lead vocals for the group, Woodley usually handled the male lead vocals, including a number of album tracks. The Seekers first disbanded in 1968.[3]

Work with Paul Simon

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During 1965, while in London, Woodley met Paul Simon, following the poor performance of Wednesday Morning 3 A.M. and just prior to the success of Simon and Garfunkel.[3] Simon and Woodley co-wrote the million-selling "Red Rubber Ball"[7]—later a Top Five hit for US group The Cyrkle.[3] The Simon and Woodley collaboration also provided "I Wish You Could Be Here"[8] and "Cloudy".[9] The Seekers later recorded these three songs, and "Cloudy" became an album track on Simon and Garfunkel's hit 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme—the only Simon and Woodley song to appear on both groups' album.[3] However, Woodley's relationship with Simon had deteriorated and Woodley later struggled to get his share of the royalties—his songwriting credit on "Cloudy" was omitted from the release of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.[3]

Discography

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Main article: The Seekers discography

References

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General
Books
  • Kruger, Debbie; Songwriters Speak, Limelight Press, Australia, August 2005.
  • Simpson, Graham; Colours of my life : the Judith Durham Story, Random House, Australia, 1994, 1998, 2005.
  • Woodley, Bruce; Friday Street Fantasy and Other Stories, Paul Hamlyn & Pennywheel, Australia, 1969.
  • Woodley, Bruce; I am Australian Songbook, Australia: np., 1987.
Articles
  • The Weekend Australian, The Australian magazine, 11–12 April 1992. pp. 32–35 and cover. – Bruce's involvement with IAA (I am Australian) Foundation
  • The Age, Property, 14 August 1982. – Interview with Sally Woodley about sale of Brighton residence
Specific
  1. ^ ""Two Summers" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. ^ "The Australian" - Hey There, it's the Seekers AO
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Duncan Kimball, ed. (2002). "THE SEEKERS". MILESAGO: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. ICE Productions. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  4. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Seekers'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  5. ^ ""I Am Australian" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 12 May 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Promising to remember". Melbourne Herald Sun. 23 February 2009.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ ""Red Rubber Ball" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  8. ^ ""I Wish You Could Be Here" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  9. ^ ""Cloudy" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
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