TUFF TALK

JOHNNY CARR'S STORY

JOHN CARR 

A HISTORY OF JOHN CARR’S MUSICAL CAREER.

Born in Randwick, Sydney in 1945 . Moved to Tuncurry in 1950.

First paid music job as drummer with old Time dance band at age 12.

Moved onto guitar at age 14. 

First band – the “Tellmen”. Played at Lakes and Ocean Hotel , Forster , the Bellevue Hotel ,Tuncurry and the Manning Hotel, Taree. The band moved to Newcastle in the early 1960s and played the Belmont Hotel for three years. John then left his first band  and went to Sydney and joined the “ Ghostwahs ” with Dave Ovenden ( who runs the BilambilBluesClub on alternative nights to John ) . The band  moved to Surfers’ Paradise and worked the Cha-Cha Niteclub for 6 months – 6 nights a week.

Then back to Sydney and a new band called Prussian Blue with Russ Hinton ( Bullamakanka)  playing Sydney’s  Northern Beaches ho tels and clubs.

Then John and Russ  joined Ray Brown and Moonstone  doing three national tours and one album at Festival Records. John and Russell kept Moonstone together and moved back to the GoldCoast’s Coolangatta  and the famous Cabbage Patch Hotel for three years , then settling on the Coast.

The Call of the city again , back to Sydney and joined Lindsay Bjeere from “Taman Shud “ on his solo project , toured all capital cities in Australia supporting American band Manhattan Transfer – a great experience.

Next came the Richard Clapton Band , national tours and lots of good times.

Back to the Coast and Ray Burton’s  “ 4 Wheel Drive”  band. Ray, a prolific songwriter and singer had returned from U.S.A. after co-writing with Helen Reddy .

Then the “ Deves” with Robyn Banks and Al Britten ( Bondi Cigars) for local GoldCoast work and 6 weeks as band for the “Drifters” from the U.S.A.

Numerous local bands John formed include 

To name a few. John worked with his son Martin in the Vicars.

BilambilBluesClub was started by John and Dave Ovenden nearly 6 years ago and is still going strong. John formed Dark Shades as his next working band for the next 3 years and his current band is TUFF  , Australian Rock and Roll with Jordie Leach (Rose Tattoo) , Nigel Steele-Boyce and old drumming mate Robin Walsh. 

International acts John supported include

MUSICAL INFLUENCES- Bob Dylan , JJ Cale, and all rock , Soul , blues, guitar players. John has never had a lesson in music , completely self-taught but has been inspired by all the musicians He has worked with.

John with Digger Revell at Bilambil Sports Club 2007.