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
