Kevin Hocking

Kevin William hocking was born in Melbourne on the 17 May 1932. When he was about two years, his parents Ethel and Richard Hocking, moved with him and his older brother, Raymond, to a new home in the suburb of Bentleigh. A weatherboard, classic Californian bungalow home, which was a very popular house style of the 1920s and 1930s.

Two more boys were added to the family over the next few years, firstly Norman and then Neville. Their home was directly opposite the local Catholic convent where the Hocking boys all attended the small building where one of the nuns taught some of the school’s children how to learn to play the piano. The Hocking boys were all enrolled to be taught. Kevin however, was the one who was captivated by the instrument. He was a late starter at 14 years of age but made up for it by his enthusiasm and love of the instrument. The nuns were happy to find a laddie who would eventually be available to play the organ in the church when required. 

Where it all began at 23 Robert Street, Bentleigh, the family home built in the 1920s and the historic St. Paul’s Church and school in Jasper Road, Bentleigh, Kevin’s first school.

Kevin was also fascinated by the films out of Hollywood and Great Britain and the music scores that accompanied them. His memory was prodigious, and he was able to memorise a piece of music he had heard in a film and take it home in his head, then play it on the piano which his parents had bought for him. If the music hadn’t quite ‘stuck’, he would follow the music score he had heard at its next showing, just to listen again and perfect his skills. Next time round, it was perfect.

Eventually, his school days were over, and he had a job working in the office of a local bus company. For a while he took piano lessons in his spare time from the great Ron Rosenberg, a brilliant pianist whose career began in the war years on Ray Chapman’s 3XY radio program “Youth Parade”. Both men would become lifelong friends from that moment. By this time in his late teens, Kevin had developed a reputation as a pianist and was getting good gigs with high-quality bands. His passion and love of music was very broad, from jazz, which was his favourite, to a wide variety of other musical types.

In his infancy as a pianist, Kevin set about establishing his name in the entertainment world. He recorded two songs as a demonstration for his friend, Maurie Service. This was about 1950, so the young Kevin Hocking was an eighteen-year-old virtuoso pianist. Mr. Service was something of a sports legend, educated at Melbourne Boys’ High School, attended Lee Murray School of Broadcasting, advertising and sales experience at 3DB and 3XY, before adding sports broadcaster and umpiring roles for the Australian rules football association in the Ovens and Murray League. Maurie moved to the Gold Coast in the 1960s as an umpire in AFL Rules, as well as for the 3GG radio station as a radio broadcaster. The double-sided acetate recording, which Kevin was an important part of, added prestige for his own early entree to the ever-growing Melbourne music scene. Maurie Service was quite a sports draw card, but not so much as a pop singer, despite the fact he was a competent acoustic bass player. And so, Kevin worked for private employers starting with some casual engagements which built his reputation as reliable, calm and a more than competent person as a musician. 

Kevin’s first recording was an acetate disc as a demonstration of his work and for musician and commentator on radio, Maurie Service.
It was “September In The Rain” which was a most popular opus in 1937 and an evergreen by 1950.
The effort for both men enabled their careers to start getting noticed. Talent and determination certainly helped.

As time passed, Kevin was wanting to try more adventurous pursuits. He was listening to music which was played in other countries by bands he admired and felt an urge to go exploring. And a suggestion in the early 1950s to go overseas was put to several of his friends, and four of them agreed to join him. They all set off together by ship, to England. This was quite common for Australians to seek fame and fortune in the UK, with whatever their trade or profession. On their arrival in London, all the lads had to split up to find jobs and they were quickly separated. Kevin had answered a call for a piano player, and having been accepted, found he had to travel to Ireland to join a dance band. The band, which was based in a small county town, Drumshambo, travelled in their little bus playing many one-night stands all around the country. Many years later, in 1989, on holiday in the UK, Kevin was able to catch up again with the Irishman, and leader of the band and hear news of the various band members. One of the musicians he remembered was described as having been “a martyr to the drink”. The others lived out their lives quietly.

After six months or so working in Ireland, he returned to England, where he responded to a request for a replacement pianist with a husband-and-wife act, whose third member, was the trio’s pianist who had died. From this, Kevin Hocking was to work comfortably with the Peter Groves Trio for several years. Peter Groves was a drummer, and his wife Billie, part Sioux Indian, had come from New Zealand. Billie was a star dancer and played bass, and now they had their much-needed pianist. The trio had good and steady bookings in the UK, including seasons in local clubs, theatres, BBC television appearances and hotels. Under her maiden name, Billie Ponds was quite a sensation in this act as she danced as well as being a musician. Her nickname was “Atom Billie” and “Billie Sputnik”. A high point was a six-week season at the old Windmill Theatre, famous for remaining open during the Blitz of the Second World War and also for the nude show girls who posed, motionless, in their various staged productions. This was a time when television had begun making its full-on appearance and, in England, Kevin had been gaining experience at the BBC, where he was often asked to write music and arrangements, further expanding his musical skills. This link to the BBC was a direct result of him playing in the Peter and Billie Groves Trio. His reply to any request was “yes!” and then if it was necessary, he would swiftly find out how to do it.

Two photographs with Kevin; at right, the Peter Groves Trio with Peter’s wife in the act, Billie Groves, aka “Atom Billie”. She also played bass.
They worked extensively at the BBC and in Germany at US Army Camps. At right, is a Federal-Pacific Hotel’s cocktail music combo, with Margaret Becker, vocalist, Peter Martin, alto saxophone; Don Osmond, drums; Fred Godfrey, bass;
Kevin Hocking, playing the white upright piano.

Kevin returned home to Bentleigh, back to his parent’s home in 1958, and with his recent new experiences of television, quickly found work in the orchestra at HSV7. In that same year, he moved to GTV9 where he also played piano and xylophone for Graham Kennedy’s enormously popular TV show “In Melbourne Tonight”. He wrote arrangements for the band and the singers and was chorus master at both HSV7 and GTV9.

Kevin worked for private employers starting with casual engagements which built his reputation as reliable and more than competent. One such booking created frequent employment within the Federal-Pacific Hotel’s Group. One combo playing cocktail music at venues such as Menzies, Scott’s, Chevron and Federal hotels in Melbourne with Garry Hyde, drums and probably Ivan Videky or Ron Terry playing bass. Within a short time, these young lads had rallied up nice accolades for their work and this included fun musician antics that audiences loved. In turn, these compliments were passed on to the Federal Pacific Hotel’s management. The result was the trio were offered employment as the replacement of the dated group in the many venues under the Federal Pacific banner. Those cheeky antics attracted attention for their own entertainment value, and thus more employment would become available in other places in the Melbourne CBD. Added to this, there was a move into the media of television studio work which was new and begging for talented people to be part of the new entertainment revolution.

A couple of years later, Kevin was back in England where he rejoined the Peter Groves Trio, now playing at American Army bases in Germany, and followed by a season at the Victoria Falls Hotel, where the trio stayed and performed, next to the famous waterfalls, in Rhodesia in what is now known as Zimbabwe, in Africa. It was here that a young English woman who had become friendly with Kevin in the UK, arrived for a visit, which led on to their marriage in Cape Town, South Africa. However, the band bookings in Africa were cancelled when a local war erupted, which was too close for comfort. The band packed up their mini-van and drove off quickly, back to the UK, where Kevin and his wife, Lena Verne, moved in with her parents. A year later they were parents of a baby girl, named Tracey. But here, he was living some distance from the city of London, and work was difficult to find. This was of a major concern. What to do?

Some of GTV9 talents in the 1960s were Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton, Rosie Sturgess, Joff Ellen, Freddy Thomas, Evie Hayes, Dorothy Baker and the Four Debs which was a Ron Rosenberg vocal quartet; and at the right is the Kevin Hocking vocal combination, Kevin Kidney, far right; Gail Esler, Lynn Gough, Sue Hathaway, Rodney Vincent, James Burnet, John Varley, Adrienne Russell and others of the Unisounds, created by Kevin at Television City, a subsidiary of GTV9 also based in Richmond.

Early in 1969, the little family sailed back to Australia, where Kevin was to find work straight away. He re-joined the GTV9 television orchestra and worked with the creation of some vocal groups. One was the group known as the Unisounds, which made an album for Television City at Nine. The Unisounds’ style reflected the harmonies popularised by the arrival of groups from the USA such as the Fifth Dimension. They comprised Gail Esler, Lynne Gough, Adrienne Russell, Sue Hathaway, James Burnet, John Varley, Rodney Vincent and Kevin Kidney. Kevin Kidney was a member of the highly celebrated Dominoes. He auditioned and was successful to join the newly styled vocal combination which replaced GTV9’s previous vocal groups, that being the Dominoes and the Four Debs. These two ensembles were the creation of the talented Ron Rosenberg, and featured on late night television presentations in the early to mid-1960s. And Ron had moved to work at the ABC where he created the Ron Rosenberg Singers. Channel Nine’s luck was that they had a new vocal combination named The Unisounds and a star pianist in Kevin. The group then recorded an album for Generation Records, a new subsidiary of the television station. Kevin’s little family was growing and after daughter Tracey, who was born overseas, then came James, a respected rhythm and blues guitar player known as Jimi Hocking and often associated with the Screaming Jets and Suzi Quatro. Then came Keely, followed by adopted son, Tom.

In Kevin’s agenda of work at this time, was his regular nightly work with Bert Newton’s “In Melbourne Tonight”. In video footage of the show’s 13th Anniversary performance held at the Southern Cross Hotel, Kevin is the pianist and is on screen accompanying artists such as Bert Newton’s soon wife-to-be, Pattie McGrath, who sang “Happy Days Are Here Again” in a Kevin Hocking arrangement. Both Kevin’s accompaniment and Pattie McGrath’s vocal were first class. Two others who were excellent on this very special show were Kamahl who sang Cole Porter’s “So in Love” from the show Kiss Me Kate and who received a standing ovation for his performance. English pop singer Helen Shapiro sang some of her big hit songs from the UK pop charts. Jimmy Hannan and Lenore Somerset were there too, and Brian Rangott conducted the GTV9 orchestra. Graham Kennedy, the star former host made a cameo appearance. Perfect.

13th Anniversary of IMT hosted by Bert Newton in 1970. At left, is Helen Shapiro and at right is Kamahl.
Kevin can be seen with headphones as their piano accompanist.

At this time, Kevin had additional work as pianist, with his friend Geoff Kitchen who was President of the Australian Music Arrangers Guild and offered a position to be his 2IC, co-member of the Guild. There was a job expressly for the Australian Army Directorate, to be produced by the legendary Monty Maizels and to create the musical background for a recruitment drive for personnel in the armed forces at the time. The era was the fracas of the Vietnam War. This was during the autumn months of 1968 when Broadcast Exchange producer Monty Maizels was creating major works at his studios. Monty had successfully made a series called “Army Concert Party” with Pat Carroll, Doug Owen and the Strangers. This had good recruitment activity during 1968, as Monty was asked to produce the next Army recruitment product for radio broadcasting across the country. This was “Army Showtime” recorded during 1969–1970. This was a daring idea which featured the Geoff Kitchen Orchestra, and the star musicians of the GTV9 Orchestra who had been sacked by Station Manager, Nigel Dick in a cost cutting measure. This included actors and all their regular singing artists. This production of fifty-two episodes had included Kevin Hocking playing piano, and other instruments. Celebrity casting included Terry McDermott as narrator, Jo Muhrer, Idris Jones, Johnny Ardley, Phil Lanham, Buddy England, Hilary Henshaw and the pop groups The Graduate, The Iguana and Happy Together. But more was to come. As an extra, Jo Muhrer described to me in an interview, that these sound recordings of the music made at the BEA sessions, were later used by Australian airline, TAA as easy music listening for the passengers to enjoy on their flights. This was through the use of personal headphones. So, it was the Australian government’s funding for Army recruitment which certainly got its money’s worth in spin offs to other government units.

Above is Monty Maizels’ cast members for “Army Showtime” with L-R: Johnny Ardley, as a young singer and guitarist/Phil Lanham,
vocalist (aged 21 years) and Hilary Henshaw, opera singer and later children’s music composer and performer.

This was a prelude to Monty Maizels’ next super-sized masterpiece. Kevin was there again. Monty Maizels excelled for making carefully thought-out decisions and the Australian Government, on behalf of the Army Directorate of Public Relations gave Monty carte blanche to hire many of the personnel for yet another recruitment series. This was to be seventy-eight episodes in the series after the success of the previous two BEA productions. This extravaganza was to be called “This Man’s Army”. Each episode was of thirty minutes, and to be made over the middle months of 1971 and into the year 1972 at the studios of Broadcast Exchange in Melbourne. With Geoff Kitchen in charge of the orchestra and musical arrangements, Kevin Hocking’s responsibilities were piano and xylophone in the orchestra, which included his expert piano accompaniments for the vocalists. Kevin probably gave some assistance with the arranging of the music for the story line, alongside his friend Geoff Kitchen. This was an enormous Monty Maizels undertaking over the years 1971 and 1972. With popular songs from Tin Pan Alley, included into the story line, new songs had to be composed to fit situations in the “soap opera” style of production. It was Monty Maizels and the 18-year-old Keith Moore who wrote new compositions for the seventy-eight episodes recorded which were of thirty minutes per show. This meant each episode could include at least three new songs, plus the old hit parade favourites and evergreens that filled the rest of the balance. It was part of the genius of Mr. Monty Maizels and his creative BEA Productions. 

The stars of “This Man’s Army” at left, Dennis Miller seen with Gerda Nicholson in a still from television, and the master of recording, music and lyrics at the BEA, Broadcast Exchange Australia controls, Monty Maizels, now aged 103 years. Kevin Hocking was accompanist to countless sessions, especially if he had the time and Geoff Kitchen was MD.

The orchestra of at least twelve or more instrumentalists were the alumni of stars who had worked with Kevin Hocking in the early 1960s and had included the great Freddy Thomas, playing the trumpet, Eddie Oxley, clarinet and saxophone, Geoff Kitchen, conducting and also doubling on clarinet and alto saxophone. Jack Westmore played guitar, Ron Terry, on bass and Billy Hyde played drums. The stars of the acting cast included Rosie Sturgess, Frank Wilson, Dennis Miller, Frank Rich, Pat Parker (singing and acting roles), and the singers of note, Phil Lanham, Johnny Ardley, Ted Hamilton, Beverley Hay and Hilary Henshaw. The narrator, and an additional singer, was the great Terry McDermott. This endeavour, when finished, would hold its own as the longest musical production of all time. Thirty-nine hours in playing time with the actors and musicians and the voice-over personnel creating the magic. The Australian War Memorial is custodian of this massively expensive production and isn’t easy to access. However, copies of twenty-four episodes came into my possession from the former NFSA Director, the late, Peter Burgis and the late David Crisp. These vinyl 12-inch (30 cm) records with the Australian Army Directorate label only tells us the man who produced the recruitment discs. Little else, so when my own suspicions were aroused concerning the show, I became curious to ask the man, in person, and took samples of the recordings I had and gave them to Kevin Hocking to listen and audition. He had the revelation that this was one of the larger contracted works created at a time when another new job was beckoning with his full time commitment. The ABC executives had viewed Kevin Hocking’s talents from many years earlier, plus his involvement in more recent music endeavours. They had urgently needed him. From midway through the “This Man’s Army” dates, Monty was able to hire Ivan Hutchinson as pianist to replace Kevin.

The label of the “Army Showtime” BEA transcription discs and famed actor, voice-over for the series, Terry McDermott

It was when former Adelaide ABC Orchestra conductor and arranger, Brian May had come to Melbourne that a major shake-up was to occur. In their wisdom, the ABC heads of management chose him as the leader of the new ABC Melbourne Show Band. And swiftly, May took to making a new orchestra of experienced classical musicians with some of the new talent in the percussion, brass and reeds. May had disliked some of the old-style musicians who had been in various orchestras that were of the ABC for decades and were still in this new band.  He was to target the pianist Bernie Duggan who had been a member of the 3LO Jazz Band created in 1924, and many other bands over a fifty-year period. Bernie Duggan resisted and even drew on his buddy Ron Rosenberg to come to his aid. However, ultimately Bernie had to go. Immediately, out of the sacking came a surprise entry. The ABC knew of the talented GTV9 man, Kevin Hocking and his abilities and he took the position as pianist, and xylophonist, other keyboard instruments, choral ensemble master, and arranger and added additional song writing duties. Plus becoming Brian May’s second in charge, thus 2IC, of the ABC Melbourne Showband. 

The world-renowned ABC Melbourne Showband headed by Brian May in the centre; at the white grand piano is 2IC and pianist, arranger, vocal director, Kevin Hocking. There are star musicians seen with Keith McDonald, and John Buckley, Peter de Visser, trombones/Peter Martin, alto saxophone/ Roy Hosking, trumpet/ Garry Hyde, drums/Charlie Gauld, guitar.

Once Kevin was ensconced in his work at the ABC, the workload grew, but was primarily focussed on writing, playing and arranging music for the regular TV shows. Added to this would be the singing group whom Kevin arranged and had put together, named the Kevin Hocking Singers. Hammard TV Productions, owned by Sino Guzzardi recorded the ABC Melbourne Showband in several album releases. These sold very well and as the popularity of the band increased, the ABC decided to make a series of music programs called “The Saturday Show” which ran for four seasons into the 1980s. A music sensation of the time in the early days of colour television. This program was a stunning example of the theatre, operetta, big band favourites, musical comedy and old and new stars in the best production values the ABC could afford. It had a huge budget. The first season starred John MacNally, Suzanne Steele and bass Lyndon Terracini. Also, regulars were Debra Byrne and Phillip Gould, plus the vocal group The Natural Seven, created and arranged by Kevin Hocking, and coached for dance and movement for television by Vicki Charleston. It had everything of the best with superlative costumes, stage settings, make-up and excellent production values. The first season alone of 1978, athletic baritone, John Lidgerwood was the operetta magnum in full flight in three of the eight episodes. And just imagine, the golden voices of Suzanne Steele and John MacNally, and the magnificent Lyndon Terracini. Kevin’s work excelled in all the various moods of the show. The variety of the musical offerings gave opportunity to display youth and the older star artists of decades before, which gave this show, real first-class values. Entertainment for the whole family. And, as the next season’s screenings of 1980, 1981 and 1982 rolled on, leader Brian May would become more in demand for his film score works that included the “Mad Max” franchise. And so, Kevin’s role, in reality, became the actual leader of the ABC Melbourne Showband. The three other TV seasons when they were screened were hosted by Michael Cole with Louetta Farrar, Jane Scali, Darryl Stewart and the Natural Seven.

“The Saturday Show” stars from Season One on ABC were Suzanne Steele with John Lidgerwood in three appearances, plus the much-adored Irish tenor, John MacNally. Opera’s great talent Lyndon Terracini was also a huge attraction on the show.
Later, he was Artistic Director for Opera Australia.

Some of the other television series that Kevin Hocking created the magic and the music was ”Something Special”. Kevin even purchased an early video recorder from USA and copied many of the programs in the series. Thank goodness, because that series has survived due to Kevin’s forward thinking of saving these treasures. It was this thoughtfulness that saved “The Santa Caper” which starred Rolf Harris, Rod McLennan, Ron Shand, Maurie Fields, Val Jellay, Simon Gallaher, plus a star supporting cast. Another was “Shoobie Doo” which had the rock n’ rollers of the 1960s in a fun presentation. Stars were Glenn Shorrock, Angela Ayres, Stephen Blackburn, Collette Mann, Darryl Cotton, Col Joye, Little Patti and many others of Australia’s rock and pop music legends.

To be continued 

Kevin  was full steam ahead with the ABC Melbourne Showband in 1981 when the orchestra played at the Palais Theatre, St. Kilda with a star of celebrities for an Australia Day Concert. The show was recorded at the time by the ABC and has now returned back in their collection thanks to Kevin Hocking’s forward thinking of saving the show’s video tapes.

Kevin created the music for the James Pegler Show at this time. The maestro also included his own Kevin Hocking Singers in the TV production and James Pegler’s guests in the six episode series were Pattie Newton, Jan Adele, Simon Gallaher, Kamahl, Louetta Farrer and Moira. The Kevin Hocking Singers were created, arranged and chosen by Kevin. His own arrangements were excellent and elegant for the usually eight to twelve voice combination. Here’s a collective personnel of the voices, firstly with the women singers. Judy Pummeroy, Wendy and Margaret Cooke, Lena Verne, Linda George, Cheryl Webb, Neva Phillips, Sandy Weekes, Helen Cornish and Julie McKenna. These were all trained sight readers, and some were popular soloists as well. The boys were Kevin Kidney, David Belcher, Ian Mason, Mike Grabowsky, David Langton, Leon Heale and Peter Watsford. At the conclusion of the Saturday Show series in 1981, ABC funding was cut and all personnel sacked. Kevin had worked on for the term of his contract until 1982, so ending his tenure at the national broadcaster.

One other significant achievement that Kevin Hocking made as the co-leader to Brian May were the ABC-FM radio broadcasts, and that superlative orchestra of stars who made studio recordings for their regular radio broadcasts. Plus, the many personal appearances for the fans and the general public. These ABC recordings were made at the old Waverley Theatre in Malvern featured more non-commercial content and truly great, new performances for the orchestra as most times, Kevin was the conductor. Imagine star players such as Peter de Visser, Peter Martin, Bob Venier, John Buckley and Garry Hyde, plus the tour de force strings and concert master, the great Bert Pettifer, cellists Alex Sutherland and wife Betty. This was pure talent unleashed in a catalogue of new and old material. Classical, jazz and popular. Fortunately, these broadcasts were privately recorded on reel-to-reel magnetic tapes requested by John Buckley of the audio engineers. John was bass trombonist, arranger, and one of the ABC staff composers in the band. These tapes survived and have been now returned back in the ABC archives in digital format.

Kevin in “cool” mode, leading his orchestra at the Showgrounds, with Keith Johnstone, alto saxophone, seen in the background left, and trumpeter Arthur Smith, trumpet to the right

A lovely, smiling KH in a photograph much loved by Wendy Hocking

This period of Kevin’s creative working life was drawing to a close by 1982. His marriage to Lena had also come to an end, and she moved to Queensland with three of the children, leaving Jimi with his father. Later, Keely and Tom moved back to Melbourne. Tom Hocking would excel in the physical and sporting worlds, after opening a gym in Perth as well as holding a position with the Australian Army, based in that capital city and Townsville plus other locations. Tom would continue his career later in life instructing the Ukrainian Army during the Russian invasion of the 2020s.

Three personal family photographs from the Wendy Hocking folio are an early time when she was a favourite model for art and magazine covers of the 1950s and 1960s before she took up teaching and yoga disciplines, Kevin’s beloved son, Tom as an Australian Army soldier in the Middle East, and Jimi Hocking, the famed rhythm and blues musician par excellence.

From the time spent at the ABC, Kevin’s friendship with Agnes Wall, who was a violinist in the ABC Showband, was asked by Kevin if she knew anything about Indonesian music, as he had been commissioned to write music for an overseas broadcast. Agnes Wall said she knew of someone who could help. A meeting was arranged and Kevin met Wendy Lynne who was a school teacher, yoga instructor, plus a former artists’ and photographic model. They both clicked and a new revitalised man was into a serious relationship. But a little more later, as the achievements in the Kevin Hocking story need to be mentioned further.

So, Kevin’s role at the ABC didn’t just include the glittering television and radio presentations. He added to his skills, as he was asked to write the music scores to several television series. Firstly, Patchwork Hero filmed in 1981, screened during 1982, had the ABC Melbourne Showband with Kevin conducting and composing the score, was of a nine episode series. Kevin wrote music for the Alan Marshall life story, I Can Jump Puddles (1981) which Kevin met the great Alan Marshall in person to get the feel of the man’s stature and characteristics. This was a nine episode ABC-TV series which was highly acclaimed by renowned critics. Kevin also wrote many other film scores and themes for the ABC, plus other commissioned works. For example, The Oracle (1979); Come Midnight Monday (1982) with Stephen Comey as the star and the Puffing Billy steam train featured. Rod Quontock’s Australia, You’re Standing In It (1983-1984); and the ABC forerunner to Dancing With The Stars hosted by the gifted Paul McDermott, which was That’s Dancing (1989-1990); plus the Seven network’s Talk To The Animals (1992). the ABC series the James Pegler Show (1981), Shoobie Doo (1982), The Santa Caper (1981), and a film score for the Nature Of Australia (1988) series which was a winner of Australian film awards in several categories. Kevin was prolific with his music scores for several animated, colour television specials, such as The Black Planet (1982), plus The Phantom Treehouse (1984) and the very delightful Steam-Driven Adventures Of Riverboat Bill (1986).

The closure of the ABC contract by 1982 meant Kevin was able to create his own Kevin Hocking Showband and hire former ABC musicians to be part of the entourage. With his popularity, he was able to accompany singers, write arrangements, compose music and freely give of his time and experience to assist others in the music world. In a surprise in 1983, Kevin was asked to bring his orchestra to the Annual Footlighter Awards Night, so he was shocked when he was awarded the annual trophy on the night. The trophy being a table cigarette lighter designed from the foot of daughter Haydie Newman, whose parents were John Newman and Tikki Taylor. All sorts of different and new assignments were begging for Kevin Hocking and his coterie of connections were now asking for his time and creative abilities. Some were merely ‘love jobs’ paying it’s usual zero fee. Others paid money. Handsomely.

An annual event of the Footlighter’s Award Night with the host, John Newman really celebrating his great pal, “Kevan” Hocking. Note the new spelling. One of many gags that the comedian theatre owner revelled in. The award trophy was a table cigarette lighter modelled from his own daughter Haydie’s foot. Two gags for the one megastar. Kevin...

Early examples of work for Kevin’s friend was for the actor and writer Alan Hopgood which were the musical presentation of Italian-American tenor, Mario Lanza. Alan narrated the story and had tenor Ron Lees play the part of Mario Lanza with various sopranos over many performances. Kevin played the appropriate piano accompaniments that was the icing on the cake. Alan also wrote a script for a play about a country boy with freakish athleticism, who became a sporting hero in the Australian Rules Football arena. The successful play was named And The Big Men Fly, and it became a television series and a book. The book written by Alan Hopgood actually came first and the ideas grew from there. Around the year 2003, Alan suggested to Kevin that it could become a real musical version. They played around with it for a number of years and despite the good idea, their work schedules never got it off the ground. However, sound recordings were made which starred Kevin’s son Jimi in a leading role, and the entire score privately recorded for posterity.

Two associations for Kevin Hocking with Alan Hopgood are with the Mario Lanza Show and tenor, Ron Lees. And at right, a still from the 1974 television production of And The Big Men Fly. In this photo, Alan Hopgood shakes hands with the new footballing star, Achilles Jones, played by John Hargreaves, and fellow thespian clasping the dual handshake by actor Reg Evans. The six-part television series was reworked into a full musical by creator and buddy, Kevin Hocking in c.1998-2002. Kevin’s son Jimi Hocking also assisted in the finishing of the the project to make it a full demonstration audio disc for potential investors. However, time ran out and these official one-only sound recordings are all that is extant of the entire theatrical experiment.

Kevin had another long life association with the pianist, singer and heart throb, Simon Gallaher. This was from Simon’s early days as a teenager. An early CD success was with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, which was conducted by Tommy Tycho and produced for the ABC Record Shop, called Unforgettable, which was a good seller. The CD release oddly coincided with the American Natalie Cole album release dedicated to her father, Nat ‘King’ Cole. Both men were to work again professionally in a series of updated versions of Gilbert & Sullivan operas.

The earliest years in the professional careers of Simon Gallaher and Kevin Hocking when the young singer/pianist was a regular guest on the Midday Show prior to working with Kevin Hocking. The magic created in music in the theatre was absolutely meant to be and it produced years of fun and joy for everyone involved at Essgee Productions created by the astute businessman, Simon Gallaher.

Kevin was responsible for the successful Summer Music Programmes at the Melbourne Concert Hall, now Hamer Hall starting back in 1988. Its existence over many seasons were so popular they became huge sell-out concerts. The last of these concerts was a salute to the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers legacy created for the senior ballet dancers and teachers at the Australian Ballet School. Again, Kevin drew on his reliable mates from the ABC Orchestra days to provide the accompaniments. It was just superb! Kevin was also Musical Director for the successful and original season of Nunsense which audiences and Kevin himself, loved.

On the 14 March 1992, Kevin and Wendy quietly married, and a week later Kevin embarked on a tour across Australia with star singer Shirley Bassey. Wendy had realised from an early stage what Kevin’s life on the Australian stage was all about as a senior musician’s wife. After all, the two had moved in together in the old family home in Bentleigh and had enjoyed many years in a steady relationship. However, to Shirley and her Australian 1992 tour. Kevin was one who was pivotal in the star backing band alongside old friend, alto saxophone player, Keith Johnstone from GTV9 television orchestra days. All were seasoned and responsible band musicians. And, Shirley loved every moment, but was mildly amused with Wendy’s cute comment, that her newly-wed husband had run off with yet another woman. Both Kevin Hocking and wife Wendy Hocking, became very much part of Australia’s musical world and the arts of entertainment and the musical theatre. It was indeed a marriage made in heaven.

The famed 1992 visit by Shirley Bassey, one of the many she made coming to Australia. The musicians all ABC personnel at one time or other, gave the great Shirley Bassey the best of band accompaniments. Kevin Hocking is far right, with his buddy from GTV9 days, Keith Johnstone, next to him. Keith was a virtuoso saxophone player since the young age of 11 years. The location photograph is in Perth, Western Australia.

At this time, Kevin worked at a regular piano engagement at Tikki and John’s Theatre Restaurant in the city of Melbourne for many years. Then the Newman family created another success, with a move to the Gold Coast, Queensland and “Dracula’s Restaurant”. About this time, Kevin decided he would create new orchestrations for a proposed Gilbert & Sullivan season working with friend and associate, Simon Gallaher. And, the Newman family’s new venture would be organised by John’s sons who would capably run their new business. In fact, that strong friendship of a lifetime of the Hocking and Newman families had early tributes to their successful Tikki and John Theatre Restaurant business going back to the 1960s. So, in 1982 the ABC decided to re-create a musical special of the famous couple’s dining and showtime restaurant with Kevin Hocking as Musical Director. This was recorded at the ABC’s Ripponlea Studios, now demolished in Gordon Street during 2024. Of course, Kevin saved a video copy, now on DVD for his library, and a copy returned back to the ABC Archives at Southbank in 2018.

ABC studios at Ripponlea had re-created for the television special Tikki & John’s Theatre Restaurant and the talented people that featured at that popular venue. Kevin is far left, and seen in the picture are Maurie Fields and wife, Val Jellay with Tikki Taylor and John Newman, plus other cast members from the original theatre restaurant days.

For years at the Carols By Candlelight concerts originally created by Norman Banks back in the 1940s, Kevin joined the orchestra as the group’s percussionist. Kevin wrote arrangements for the orchestra. He also played piano accompaniments for artists such as Danny La Rue, Kamahl, Jill Perryman, Marina Prior, Barry Crocker, Toni Lamond, Chelsea Brown, Judith Durham, Rhonda Burchmore, the Four Kingsmen, Julie Anthony and many more. And in that time, Santa Claus was played by actor/singer, Terry Gill. This musical activity had to be let go eventually due to Kevin’s new commitment to collaboration with Simon Gallaher’s new productions.

A video still from a 1990s television coverage of the annual Carols By Candlelight which was hosted back then by Ray Martin

Actor/singer, Terry Gill played Santa Claus, yes he did “ho, ho, ho!”

It was during the 1990s, this collaboration began with Simon Gallaher who had decided on a Gilbert and Sullivan musical in a new, revitalised production of Pirates of Penzance. This was a big winner and opened in Brisbane in 1994. It was a new and lively version of the classic Savoy opera. Kevin was asked to write new music, plus re-orchestrate and re-arrange it as well as conduct. And, Kevin suggested a fun finale with the band continuing to play, plus adding a pre-recorded segment of music overlaying the background. In reality, the audience spontaneously decided to surround the orchestra pit in a sing-a-long and stamping romp that took the theatre ushers by surprise. This was enjoyment for everyone and having such fun with the whole company. It was a rage at the time and that success enabled more to come in following performances.

Some of the cover designs for the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas that were recorded by the ABC for customer purchase by the Essgee Productions. All highly successful shows that were commercial successes at the time. Great productions and highly acclaimed versions.

This success commenced of an almost eight year run with the Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operettas. They toured across Australia and New Zealand with enormous popularity. A travelling season could be two weeks to two months, depending on the city or town the show played in. Those in the cast who were not local were accommodated in apartments, and Kevin who was accompanied by his wife Wendy, for her supporting role. Boy, did they have a workload! Of the band going with the tour were first keyboard and bass players, and a drummmer. The rest were of local musicians picked up at the time in the new locations. Kevin had only two to three days with the local musicians to teach them the score for each show. It was some challenge, but that’s the super “wow” factor of the Kevin Hocking brilliance.

Sometimes, Kevin and Wendy needed to fly on to the next city where the company would play. There would be a noisy, bumping and banging commotion happening straight after the last performance of the show. It was the packing up of the pantechnicons with sets, costumes, props, office necessities and the musical instruments, which could last right through till morning. Kevin’s responsibilities would be to set up the musicians for the rehearsals in the next theatre and prepare them for the next series of shows. And behind the scenes, Wendy was busy at organising things like the hairdressers, the supermarkets, cafes and dry cleaners. That was so pivotal to maintaining the calm for Mr. Hocking in his rest times. This was essential for sanity, to be on an even keel, far away from the pirates!

Talking of pirates, young Jon English, a favourite pop stud on records and television shows in the 1970s and 1980s created a sensation whenever he appeared. As the Pirate King, he was a real drawcard. He was quite fearless and insisted on doing his own stunts which by today’s standards of safety (OHAS) would be not permitted. He would insist on doing his own stage pratfalls and swinging out on a rope over the audience, and doing some sword fighting as a duel with Kevin. Kevin had his conductor’s baton and Jon the sword, which brought tumultuous response, applause and laughter from a captivated audience. Kevin won the duel each time with his conductor’s baton. And, the stage show toured Australia and New Zealand for over a year. What an absolute success!

Not long afterwards, it was followed by another Gilbert & Sullivan Savoy opera production, which was The Mikado. This starred the beautiful Helen Donaldson as the heroine, and Nanki Poo, which was played by Simon Gallaher, and Pooh Bah by Jon English. It was another enormous success with the devotees and converts screaming for more please.

On a final night in Perth, Tim Tyler who played the Sergeant in Pirates of Penzance accidently broke his foot as he left the stage after Act 1. He was hurriedly replaced by his understudy who was a lot shorter in height than Timothy. This left the audience a bit puzzled as the second Act unfolded. The Company flew to Melbourne the next day, while the huge pantechnicon drove across Australia to get everything ready for the next opening. Happily, the American Director, Craig Schaefer, who was the conductor of a season of Pirates of Penzance in America not long before, was able to secure their Sergeant cast member for the part.

He was flown out from America, which was a coup, because the man had just married and was on his honeymoon. Each of the G&S productions ran for more than a year and the cast were happy together and worked as a team in what could be described as a family affair. These were happy times and each show would often play a revival where the entire company crossed Australia and into New Zealand many times.

In 1995, Kevin received the Green Room Award that year for his Musical Direction of The Mikado, as well as other members of the cast for their roles. At the time, Kevin was in New Zealand with the show on tour, so it was Wendy Hocking who accepted the award on her husband’s behalf.

Except, there was one award for Kevin’s work, and four more for the production company. It was Wendy who accepted the other awards and she felt embarrassment walking back and forth across the stage, but those in the audience loved every second. There was much merriment.

Two Simon Gallaher goodies, firstly at left with the lovely Helen Donaldson and at right with the talented drawcard, actor/singer/stunt man/composer, Jon English. Both men were equally at home in theatre, comedy and musical performance.

HMS Pinafore was the next G&S production and the talented star of ATV0 television soapie Prisoner, Amanda Muggleton played the very cheeky role as Buttercup. And, Jon English played the part of villainous Dick Deadeye. It was a triumph and the show was on the road again.

The cast included Simon Gallaher and Helen Donaldson who played the usual roles as lovers. It toured and as is often the case, over a long run across Australia and New Zealand there would be some cast personnel changes. The big names luckily, were bullet proof and lasted the entire production runs. Kevin, of course did all the arrangements and conducted the orchestra, right through till the end of the century.

Then, a revived version of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum which was produced by Simon Gallaher, and included all the big names who had been in the G&S productions previously. Kevin did his usual music duties and many of the cast members from the previous years of G&S musicals were also involved. Star attraction was Jon English. Who else?

Two more successful Essgee Productions with Marina Prior as The Merry Widow in its second run, and the hilarious A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum with Jon English.

Then, Simon followed up with The Merry Widow which again was a super production with a stellar cast. Playing Brisbane, Adelaide and then Melbourne. The Widow’s lead was played by Helen Donaldson who had been in all the Gilbert & Sullivan productions as well as A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. In the Adelaide and Melbourne perfomances the role was played by Marina Prior. Again, both Kevin and Simon worked as a team in perfect harmony. They were wonderful times.

Kevin had for years wanted to own a grand piano, but had managed on the family upright piano given to him when he was a youngster by his parents. As it got to be really old and difficult to keep in tune, Kevin lashed out and purchased a Kawai mid sized grand piano. And he loved it. After his death is was given to Jimi Hocking for the purpose of his own use and an instrument for his two children to learn from.

In this time of life’s reflections, Kevin and Wendy enjoyed some holidays on overseas trips. One such ocean cruise they went on was across to the coast of Norway, where they enjoyed the company of former ABC band percussionist Garry Hyde and his wife Charmaine. It was a wonderful time because Garry has developed a penchant for travelling the world every year and visiting different countries with Charmaine.

Jon English, who had starred in so many of Simon’s productions, had in the 1970’s written a musical work called Paris (a Rock Opera) based on the lives of Helen of Troy and Paris. It was recorded for album release at that time and Festival Records had issued it in this country around 1977. Its accompaniment was with the London Symphony Orchestra, but was never staged. Now the chance came to perform it. Two semi-professional companies of renown wanted to present the premiere of the production. However, the original music score sheets had been lost. So, what to do?

Jon asked Kevin if he could give some assistance and the brilliant Kevin Hocking listened to the vinyl discs and transcribed the entire score and the orchestrations over a period. Of course, since then more productions have been performed of Paris due to Kevin’s own diligence in helping others.

Kevin had a gift like many superlative musicians, such as the great Bob Gibson of watching and listening to a television drama and be able to hear when a musician in the score may have played a wrong note. He could listen to a sporting game coverage on radio or TV and also write a score of music simultaneously. Few can do that.

In 2004, Kevin was commissioned by the Western Australia Ballet to write and re-arrange the music of Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Boheme for a staged ballet of the story. Choreographer, Simon Dow had a vision of a scene in which he wished to emphasise the story. He asked Kevin to write the music for the scene with respect to the style of Puccini’s opera and of course, Kevin provided stunning results that paid hommage to the man who was an opera master in his lifetime. Some months later after the first season of the ballet, the ABC asked Kevin whether they could use a music selection from the sound recording for a Christmas CD earmarked for the end of the year. He approved and discovered the piece chosen was not written by Puccini, but by himself, the maestro Hocking.

The exquisite music score written by opera composer Giacomo Puccini and newly arranged and given adaptations and new “Puccini-esque” melodies for the Simon Dow choreography. Dobbs Franks conducted the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra for the successful seasons of the ballet.

In 2006, Kevin was awarded an OAM medal for “services as composer, arranger, conductor and pianist”. Wendy had known it was coming, and for Kevin when the medal was offered he was absolutely thrilled. The Governor of Victoria, David de Kretser presented it.

About this time, Julie Anthony and Simon Gallaher asked Kevin to be the accompanist for them at a concert booked for Norfolk Island. The plan was to leave Brisbane by plane and reach the location in advance of the concert. However, bad weather precluded the trio flying to Norfolk Island after three attempts and only at the last minute were they able to fly to the engagement with a little time left before the nighly performance.

They had to dress and prepare for the concert in only a short time. The concert was a success, and the next morning when they were arriving at the airport to depart, they found the audience living on the island who had attended the previous night, were out in full to says thanks and to farewell the celebrities.

Morning Melodies still from the DVD of Kevin Hocking, piano Simon Gallaher and Julie Anthony, Twin Towns Services Club, 2005

This style of show was a winner and Simon decided to do the series of Morning Melodies using the trio as centrepiece. It was Julie’s husband Eddie who became the driver for the shows which then toured Australia to small towns, capital cities from Coolangatta, to Perth. Occasionally, Wendy would go with them and help sell the CDs of the group, which had been recorded in a studio setting. Sadly, Julie had to stop singing as she suffered from a chest ailment which had no cure. Simon and Kevin continued with the Morning Melodies Show which still was successful until at age 82 Kevin decided to retire, which similarly, Simon had stated he would retire when Kevin did. And that was that.

It became apparent after this that, Kevin had developed dementia and although he never complained and was cheerful as ever, the decline did continue. His long term memory suffered as well as his present time of recollections. Kevin and Wendy decided to fly over to Perth to visit his son Tom and his wife Anna, and a decision was made to return by train and then evaluate the situation on the journey, as what to do back at Bentleigh. Kevin had realised change was necessary and suggested to Wendy the best thing to do was to move to an assisted living residence. They looked at the recently built “Classic Apartments” in Brewer Road, West Bentleigh, now known as East Brighton. The land had not been built on, as originally the clay base of the terrain had been an Army Camp Training Centre during World War Two for infantry soldiers learning of trench warfare. This location was near where I attended my first school as a primary student and later across Point Nepean Road at the secondary college, Brighton High School in Marriage Road. This is very close to where their opera buddy, Greg Dempsey, still lives. Kevin liked this new location and agreed the grand piano could easily stand comfortably in the front room of the floor plan. That was in the time frame of about 2012. The downsizing to a new home was an enormous job, but it had to be done. Sadly, Kevin Hocking died on the 4 October, 2019, at home in the early hours of the morning. His last wish was respected.

Special “thank yous”

I must acknowledge the following people for their contributions to this biography...

Mrs. Wendy Hocking, Garry Hyde, Patti Lewis, Johnny Fordham, Pete Smith, OAM, Ian Hellings, Hilary Henshaw, Monty Maizels, Judy Kidney, Marianne Young, Pat Parker, Heather Horwood, Ted Hamilton, Elisabeth Kumm, Tom Hocking and Jimi Hocking, and many others.

Also, the late and greats: Terry Gill, Doug Owen, Philip Brady, Denis Farrington OAM, and most of all, Kevin Hocking OAM. Added material and some photographs via the internet.

Most photographs from the Hocking Estate and stills from video/DVD loaned from the Kevin & Wendy Hocking Collection, John Buckley estate and Pete Smith and John Lander (ex-GTV9).