Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 1, 2012
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Darryl Cotton September 4, 1949-July 27, 2012
● A publicity photo of Darryl Cotton from the late 1960s
● Cotton Keays Morris: Darryl with Jim Keays and Russell Morris
● Performing in the black-and-white days of Australian television
● Darryl Cotton with Marty Monster and Marie Van Maaren, Early Bird Show
● Rick Brewer, Darryl Cotton, Beeb Birtles and Rick Springfield in Zoot ■ A Memorial Service for Darryl Cotton will be held at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne.
● With Feur Long at the Observer Overnighters Christmas party at Grovedale
● With Brendan Scott at the Observer Overnighters party at Doncaster in 2010
■ The Australian entertainment industry lost one of its stars on Friday with the news of the passing of Darryl Cotton, 62. Born in Adelaide, Darryl was a rock and pop singer, best known as a founding member of Zoot with Beeb Birtles, Rick Brewer and, later, Rick Springfield. He won widespread popularity as host of Channel 10’s Early Bird Show on Saturday mornings. And his acting prowess was seen on The Young Doctors, and in the lead role of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Darryl Cotton worked for some time in Los Angeles, performing with artists including Olivia Newton-John, Shaun Cassidy and Cliff Richard. His songwriting credits include Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond, Engelbert Humperdink and The New Seekers. His own music success included Same Old Girl and Don’t Let It Get To You, winning a Countdown award for Best Solo Male Performance in 1980. In the mid-1980s Darryl Cotton cohosted a five-hour TV marathon every Saturday with Marie Van Maaren and Marty Monster (David Triscott). Melbourne entertainer Brendan Scott said: “I have known Darryl Cotton since I was about 11 or 12 years old when he would regularly allow me to perform on his TV show The Early Bird Show. “I continued to work with him in more recent times and, to say that it was always a joy, is an understatement. “I got to sing duets with him, trade onstage insults with him (always in great fun of course) and work very closely with him on many projects. “It is so sad to learn of his passing and I know he will be very sadly missed by many many people. The memories, however, will always live on!” Darryl Cotton won an Advance Australia Award for hi services to the community, acknowledging his keen support for numerous charities. He performed regularly with Jim Keays and Russell Morris. Earlier this year, Darryl Cotton performed at the Go!! Show Gold reunion spectacular at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda. Melbourne radio man Craig Huggins described Darryl as a “ripping bloke with the kindest heart and time for everyone”. Dermott Brereton: “What a truly nice man and gentleman he was.” Max Merritt: “We lost one of the great ones!” Entertainer Don Crawford: “This is a sad sad day, a great loss not just to the Australian Entertainment Industry but to all of us. Derryn Hinch: “He was a fit, zealous, health-conscious, non-drinker and nonsmoker.” Marcie Jones: “We are all so very sad at the passing of Darryl. We had long conversations about life after death. He was a gentle-man and very kind. I know he is at rest, and he will always be in our hearts.” Long-time friend Jeff Joseph said: “Darryl was much loved and highly respected by men and women alike, both in and out of the entertainment industry.” Also sending condolences from Cape Tribulation in Far North Queensland were long-time friends Keith and Angela McGowan. Darryl had often appeared on Keith’s Overnighters radio show on 3AW. Darryl Cotton is survived by wife Chez (Cheryl), and children Amy and Tim.