- Colin Hay
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This article is about the musician. For the political scientist, see Colin Hay (political scientist).
Colin Hay Birth name Colin James Hay Born 29 June 1953
Kilwinning, ScotlandGenres Rock, Pop, New Wave, Acoustic, Country Occupations Singer, Actor Instruments Vocals, Guitar Years active 1978–present Labels CBS, MCA, Compass Associated acts Men at Work
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr BandWebsite Official MySpace Official Site Colin James Hay[1][2] (born 29 June 1953) is a Scottish-Australian musician, who made his mark during the 1980s as lead vocalist of the Australian band Men at Work, and later as a solo artist.
Contents
Early life and Men at Work
Hay was born in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland, but moved to Australia at the age of 14 with his family.[3]
In 1978, Hay met Ron Strykert and the men began playing acoustic music as a duo. Hay and Strykert formed the band Men at Work, adding Jerry Speiser (drums), John Rees (bassist) and Greg Ham (flautist/saxophonist). The group released their debut album Business as Usual in 1981.
Hay joined as guest vocalist with The Incredible Penguins in 1985, for a cover of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", a charity project for research on Fairy penguins, which peaked at #10 on the Australian Kent Music Report in December.[4][5]
Later career
Following the breakup of Men at Work in 1985, Hay released several major label solo albums, including Looking for Jack (Columbia) and Wayfaring Sons (MCA), to some commercial success. In 2002 Hay appeared as the Troubadour in the Scrubs episode, "My Overkill", and in 2004 he contributed to the Garden State soundtrack with his solo song, "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You".
In addition to recording, Hay also established his own recording label, Lazy Eye Records,[6] named for his own strabismus (lazy eye) condition, and has made appearances in cult movies such as Cosi and television shows, such as The Larry Sanders Show, JAG, and The Mick Molloy Show. Hay also appeared on television in the NBC show Scrubs, which along with episodes of ABC's What About Brian, NBC's The Black Donnellys, CBS's Cane, and the BBC hospital drama Casualty, have included performances of some of his previous songs.
In December 2005, Hay and Heather Mills digitally re-released "My Brilliant Feat" as a charity single as a tribute to the late football (soccer) player George Best, who died on 25 November of that year. Proceeds were forwarded to the Donor Family Network, supporting organ donor families and promoting organ and tissue donation. The single is available on iTunes with a bonus music video tribute to Best.[7][8]
In 2006 he provided his voice for one of the characters in animated movie The Wild. Hay has also been a member of Ringo Starr's eighth and tenth All-Starr Bands. He continues to perform regularly, including playing some folk venues.
On 13 February 2009, former Men at Work band member, Ron Strykert, was arrested for allegedly making death threats against Hay.[9][10]
Hay contributed music to the TV series Scrubs in the course of a number of episodes, including on-camera performances. In episode 1 of season 2 he performs an acoustic version of the Men at Work-hit "Overkill", and he also makes appearances in "My Hard Labor"
Hay released his 10th album, "American Sunshine", on 18 August 2009 by Compass Records.
In 2009, Colin Hay's former group, Men at Work, were named in a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement by Larrikin Music, who owns the rights to the Kookaburra song. Larrikin Music claims that part of a flute riff from the band's 1981 single "Down Under" was copied from "Kookaburra" originally written by music teacher, Marion Sinclair, who died in 1988. In February 2010, a court ruled in favor of Larrikin Music. Although the petition from Larrikin Music requested 40 to 60% of royalties dating back to 1981 and future royalties, in July 2010 a judge awarded the plaintiff only 5% of royalties dating back to 2002 and the same amount of future royalties.[11]
In May 2009, Colin Hay performed at the Artist for the Arts Foundation benefit at Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, CA. Performing live, along side Curt Smith (Tears for Fears) Fee Waybill (Tubes) & Venice and over 70 members of the Santa Monica High School (SaMoHi) Orchestra and Girls Choir,the benefit helped to provide funds for the continuation of Music Education in public schools. The event was filmed and recorded by Harry Rabin of On the WAVE Productions and can be seen on the AFTA Foundation website. In August 2010, Hay performed in Missoula, Montana with a Los Angeles Roots rock band named Patrolled By Radar.[12]
Acting
After Men at Work Hay has also performed in a number of films and tv shows, usually in small roles.
- Episode – My Overkill as Troubador
- The Country Bears (2002) (singing voice - uncredited)
- The Mick Molloy Show (TV series)
- Episode #1.4 (1999) as Gay Builder
- Episode #1.2 (1999) as Artist
- The Craic (1999) as Barry
- Heaven's Burning (1997) as Jonah
- JAG: Judge Advocate General (TV series)
- Episode - Trinity (1997) as Miles
- Cosi (1996) as Zac
- Blue Heelers (TV series)
- Episode - Shadow Man (1995) as Brad Fielding
- Episode - Theft (1994) as George Patterson
- Raw Silk (TV movie) (1988) as Parker
- Wills & Burke (1985) as Publican
Personal life
Hay is married to singer Cecilia Noël, who often provides backup vocals at Hay's shows.
Solo discography
- Albums (release year / re-release)
- Looking for Jack (1987)
- Wayfaring Sons (1990)
- Peaks & Valleys (1992 / 2009)
- Topanga (1994 /2009)
- Transcendental Highway (1998 / 2009)
- Going Somewhere (2000 / 2005)
- Company of Strangers (2002 / 2010)
- Man @ Work (2003)
- Are You Lookin' at Me? (2007)
- American Sunshine (2009)
- Gathering Mercury (2011)
References
- ^ "Hay, Colin James". ASCAP / ACE Title Search. http://www.ascap.org/ace/search.cfm?mode=results&searchstr=1502401&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ Denton, Andrew (15 October 2007). "Colin Hay". Enough Rope (ABC Television). http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s2058289.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ "Colin Hay". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p85265/biography. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
- ^ Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by Ed Nimmervoll (2002) [1987]. "Incredible Penguins". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1. http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=103300. Retrieved 2 January 2010. Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
- ^ Contributed By Sue Kiesewetter. "Singer Colin Hay comes to Fairfield Community Arts Center April 24 - Butler County News at Cincinnati.com". Rodeo.cincinnati.com. http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100224&sid=146365. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
- ^ "BBC Breakfast — December's Information". BBC News. 20 December 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/4665402.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
- ^ Nix, David. "Donor Family Network". Heather Mills. http://www.heathermills.org/charity_donor.php. Retrieved 2009-06-14.[dead link]
- ^ "Men At Work star arrested for threats". Digital Spy. 19 February 2009. http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a147205/men-at-work-star-arrested-for-threats.html. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
- ^ "Men At Work Death Threat". Triple M Network. 24 February 2009. http://www.triplem.com.au/music/news//blog/men-at-work-death-threat/20090224-2vbq.html. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
- ^ "Kookaburra gets last laugh in Men At Work case". http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/06/2945781.htm.
- ^ "Colin Hay with Patrolled by Radar". Missoula Independent. August 2, 2010. http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/colin-hay-with-patrolled-by-radar/Event?oid=1284434. Retrieved 2011-05-19. "when Colin Hay—formerly of the group Men at Work—plays the Wilma Theatre with Patrolled by Radar"
External links
- Official website
- Brazilian fan site
- Colin Hay at the Internet Movie Database
- Colin Hay at Allmusic.com
- Colin Hay on Myspace
- Interview with and performance by Hay on public radio program and podcast The Sound of Young America
Categories:- 1953 births
- Living people
- Australian musicians
- Australian pop singers
- Australian television actors
- Australian people of Scottish descent
- People from Kilwinning
- Scottish expatriates in Australia
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