Gavin Wood's Podcast

John Swan OAM (born 15 March 1952), better known as Swanee, is an Australian rock singer.

He was born John Archibold Dixon Swan in Glasgow, Scotland in 1952. He is the older brother of singer-songwriter Jimmy Barnes, and an uncle of stage performer David Campbell.

In 2015, Swan was announced as South Australia's Senior Australian of the Year. and in 2017, was appointed an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Mark Ronald Holden (born 27 April 1954) is an Australian singer, actor, TV personality, record producer, songwriter, and barrister. He was a pop star in the 1970s and had four top 20 hit singles, "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "I Wanna Make You My Lady", "Last Romance" and "Reach Out for the One Who Loves You. Holden is remembered for his clean-cut image, his white dinner suit and his penchant for handing out carnations to girls on the set of the popular television show Countdown. In the 1980s he worked as a songwriter in Los Angeles providing material recorded by Meat Loaf, Joe Cocker, Gladys Knight, Bob Welch and Steve Jones. He was one of three original judges on the TV series Australian Idol and the first season of The X Factor.

Grant Rule has a very impressive career working in television, both in the commercial space and for the ABC. For the ABC Grant was responsible as Producer/Director - Drama and Countdown. He was EP for Award shows, Rock Arena, Oz for Africa - which was Australia's contribution to Live Aid and the list goes on. Some titles for Commercial Television include Ten Network - Head of Entertainment & Victorian Head of Production as well as Seven Network - Network Executive Producer Entertainment. Grant has worked with the best and it is a pleasure to chat with him.

Grant Rule has a very impressive career working in television, both in the commercial space and for the ABC. For the ABC Grant was responsible as Producer/Director - Drama and Countdown. He was EP for Award shows, Rock Arena, Oz for Africa - which was Australia's contribution to Live Aid and the list goes on. Some titles for Commercial Television include Ten Network - Head of Entertainment & Victorian Head of Production as well as Seven Network - Network Executive Producer Entertainment. Grant has worked with the best and it is a pleasure to chat with him.

Ivor Arthur Davies, AM, known professionally as Iva Davies is an Australian singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his distinctive singing voice, which was influenced by contemporary glam rock singers.

Davies' music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the early 1980s as co-founder and lead singer of rock band Icehouse, becoming one of Australia's top rock stars of that decade. He is the only member who has been with Icehouse throughout its entire history.

In addition to his work with Icehouse, Davies has made music for television series and films, most notably as the composer for the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. He has also had a solo career which included work on the soundtrack album The Berlin Tapes with Icehouse

Grace Ethel Knight is an English-born Australian vocalist, saxophone player and songwriter. During the 1980s she was a mainstay of Indie pop group Eurogliders. Knight later became a solo jazz singer and musician based in Sydney.

Since Eurogliders disbanded in 1989, Knight has had a successful career as a jazz singer. Knight made a cameo appearance in the 1990 TV series Come In Spinner and sang on its soundtrack. This launched a new career for Knight, with her first solo album, Stormy Weather. Knight returned to her solo career and released Willow in 2008.

Joe Camilleri is a Maltese Australian singer-songwriter and musician. Joe has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons and The Black Sorrows. The biggest hit for Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons was 'Hit and Run' and the biggest hit for The Black sorrows was 'Chained to the Wheel'. Listen how Joe describes the journey from Malta to the top of the charts. The many different bands that he matured in and his advice to young musicians.

Sharon O'Neill is a self-taught guitarist who started putting chords to her poetry

whilst in her teens in her native New Zealand.

Sharon crossed the pond with her music in Australia, securing herself in the industry

where she won the APRA Top Female Vocalist Award in 1978, 1979 and 1980. She

also won the Countdown Rock Awards three times between 1980 and 1985 and the

Sounds Pop Poll in 1983 and 1984.

Her 1983 song Maxine won hearts and minds of music lovers in Australia & NZ.

Sharon supported Boz Scaggs and provided vocals for the late British popstar Robert

Palmer. Sharon spoke to us from NZ.

We bring Doug Parkinson in Focus. Doug Parkinson conveyed considerable charisma with his imposing presence; his voice was sweet and soulful resonating in a way that few of his contemporaries could match. Doug Parkinson is a friend, this is an insight into his beginnings into Australian Music Industry. His career began is the 60' when he had a massive hit with a cover of The Beatles 'Dear Prudence'. He came to the fore in the 1970's and 1980's appearing in stage musicals Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wizard of Oz. Doug cemented his reputation as an exceptional actor/singer, this chat with Doug was 2 weeks prior to his sad and sudden departure.

"These Here Are Crazy Times" sings Dale Ryder of Boom Crash Opera.

In this Countdown Podcast, Dale talks about his early childhood in India

and living the simple life. He then had to adjust moving countries to Melbourne

Australia. The struggle of fitting into a new society and how to overcome

bullying at an early age and his deep shyness. This is a fascinating chat

with one of the most charismatic singers this country has produced.

Let's get chatting to Dale Ryder.