Harry Vanda

Harry Vanda (born Johannes Hendricus Jacob Vandenberg, 22 March 1946, in The Hague, The Netherlands), is a Dutch-Australian popular music singer, guitarist, songwriter and record producer.

Career

His family migrated to Australia in 1963, and settled in Sydney. Vanda came to fame there in 1964-65 as the lead guitarist in Australia's most popular and successful group of the 1960s, The Easybeats.

In 1966 he began a successful and enduring writing partnership with rhythm guitarist George Young; together they penned all of The Easybeats' late 1960s recordings, including their major international hit, "Friday On My Mind".

After returning to Australia in 1973, Vanda & Young took over as the house producers for leading Australian independent record production company, Albert Productions, and publisher J. Albert & Son. From 1974 onwards they enjoyed huge success in Australia and elsewhere, writing and producing hits for a number of popular Australian groups and solo singers, including John Paul Young, Cheetah, Stevie Wright, Ted Mulry, Rose Tattoo, The Angels, William Shakespeare, Mark Williams and, most notably, AC/DC, producing landmark albums such as "Let There Be Rock", "Powerage", "If You Want Blood You've Got It", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "High Voltage/TNT", amongst others.

Vanda and Young also had major international success with their own studio-only project Flash and the Pan, scoring many hits round the world over a 15-year run, particularly in Europe where they had many chart topping records.

Most recently Vanda has left the long time partnership with Albert, and started Flashpoint Music with his producer/engineer son, Daniel, setting up Australia's premier private studio.

For those interested in guitars, Harry Vanda used a 1964 Hofner Verithin 1574 with Bigsby tremolo and 511 pickups, before switching in 1965 to a Gibson 345 which it is believed he proudly uses to this day. In The Easybeats Vanda also often played a cherry-red Maton [http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/objectsthroughtime/objects/vandaguitar/ 12-string electric guitar] , which he donated to the collection of Powerhouse Museum in Sydney in 1999.

elected list of songs written by Vanda and Young

*"Friday On My Mind" - The Easybeats, David Bowie, London, Gary Moore (1987), Richard Thompson
*"Good Times" - The Easybeats, INXS & Jimmy Barnes (1986), Australian Idol - The Final 10 (2004)
*"Evie, Parts 1, 2 & 3" - Stevie Wright (1974), The Wrights (2004), Suzi Quatro
*"Hard Road - Stevie Wright, Rod Stewart
*"Black Eyed Bruiser - Stevie Wright (1975), Rose Tattoo (2007)
*"Love is in the Air" - John Paul Young (1978)/(1992)
*"Standing In The Rain" - John Paul Young (1976)
*"I Hate The Music" - John Paul Young (1976)
*"Yesterday's Hero" - John Paul Young (1975), Bay City Rollers (1976)
*"Down Among the Dead Men" - Flash and the Pan (1978)
*"Hey St Peter" - Flash and the Pan 1976
*"Walking in the Rain" - Flash and the Pan, Grace Jones
*"Waiting for a Train" - Flash and the Pan
*"Midnight Man" - Flash and the Pan
*"Running The Red Light" - Meatloaf
*"Show No Mercy" - Mark Williams (1990)

External links

* [http://www.albertmusic.com/easybeats/easy_fact_01.htm Albert Music: Easybeats Facts]