Phill Raymond ~ Bio

"You won't make any money from music" quote June Ireland, my mum.

Joined my first band at age 15 as lead singer in 1967. Singing Hendrix, Cream, Beatles, Stones, Chuck and Jerry songs. That lasted about four gigs.

Sang with a couple of other bands and by 1969 I had taught myself to play rythmn guitar, with a few pointers thrown in by other guitarist friends, and started writing my own songs. It was also around this time that I was performing at a restaurant in the back streets of Kings X in Sydney."The Ball Pants" was a little cramped 12x24 smokey coffee house behind the Southern X Hotel in the lane way. The host Jean Pierre, had it set up like a Paris beat joint.

Poets, authors, musicians, actors, working girls, yankies on RN'R from Nam, cross overs from beatniks to hippies, and your average Joe freak all frequented.

An electric acoustic gig with no room for drums. The stage was right next to the servery entrance where we'd stack the speaker boxes, which became the stage, and then sit on them to perform. In between sets, I used to wander down to the folk club at the Wayside Chapel and do a set there, then back to the coffee house for another set. Sometimes I'd hang out at the El Alamein fountain with a another singer friend and we'd alternate, playing and singing songs in turn. We'd look up occasoinally and see a crowd of 60 or so sitting and standing around and listening. Some Fri and Sat nights we'd walk away with about 60 or 80 bucks......each. Back in the day when busking in Sydney was a novelty and a rarity.

Hey man, you want a gig tonight? (shoot forward circa mid 70's)

I was sitting at home one Friday night, looking forward to an evening in, when there was a knock at the door. Eric Gyors, a bass player friend, was standing there an asked.
"Hey mate, you working tonight?
To which I answered, 'No'.
"Do you want a gig?", was the next question.
"Yeah, sure", I replied.
"Good, come on, you're on in 40 minutes".
That was how I got to meet and do two nights support with my mate Andy Gibb at Whiskey A Go Go in Sydney. We met a few times after that and he was even considering taking on a couple of my songs. Unfortunately that wasn't to be. A true gentle man, sadly missed.

Mo' Solo (circa early 70's)
Did an extended solo gig in a Sydney nightclub called Josephs Coat 'the House of Many Colours' on the waterfront of Darling Harbour in Sydney. Playing and singing every Friday and Saturday Night doing solo spots between prominet Australian bands of the time, such as Blackfeather, Daddy Cool, Country Radio, Chain, Galadriel, Gutbucket and many more. That party lasted for about four years.

Duo and Band lineups
1974 formed the Kaye and Kyffin duo and band, with Kaye Taylor, performing together for around two years. Two notable performances arose when we were the opening act at the Sydney Town Hall for songwriter Ralph McTell (Streets of London) on his first tour of Australia. Then later support act to Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul and Mary) on an Australian solo tour.

TIN SOLDIER
1979 I formed a four piece band 'Tin Soldier'. Playing a blend of original songs and covers. This band lasted for around four years and was mainly a pub band playing in the bars and night clubs around Sydney. Made it into the 'Whos Who of Australian Rock' by Chris Spencer. Check out the line up changes., reads like half the oz rock industry.
the original 'Tin Soldier' line up
Me ~ vocals / guitar
John Robinson ~ lead guitar (formerly Blackfeather, Dave Miller Set,)
Warren Ward ~ bass ( formerly Flying Circus, Flake)
Vince Cusumano ~ drums / backing vocal (aka 'the Italian Stallion')
2006 Released
Jul'06. 'The Last Pie Van' epcd ~ 8 tracks
Aug'06. 'Caravans & Violins' epcd ~ 6 tracks
Opening track 'Deceitful Eyes' listed in the 30 HOT PICKS at the 2006 Pacific Songwriting Competition.