More than a Cadd-etship, don’t you know it’s magic!

Brian Cadd and his singing partner Russell Morrison have quite a loyal following in Tasmania. Last year their shows sold out and it looks pretty much the same this year. I talked to Brian a little while ago from his home in Byron. He tells me there is a winning formula to he and Russell’s shows.

The shows are not just music but have an added dimension of two best friends or ”naughty little boys” says Brian, who have no pretensions about each other but fill the evening with sarcasm and self-deprecating humour. There is a comfortableness about them as though they are guests in the audiences own homes. This comfortableness comes from a paired musical history. Brian adds that each knows the boundaries and will not step over them.

The two performers have found a winning formula working together but of course each has a separate musical history as well and for Brian it began in his childhood. When he was a young boy there happened to be auditions by Rolf Harris for a Christmas party show featuring talented young players. Brian went along and won through. Rolf was soon on his way to the UK and another host would take over what became known as ‘The Children’s Channel House Band’. Brian played the piano and from that time on it was music all the way.

Brian’s family moved to Tasmania for a time where he became involved in the music scene here. They lived in Taroona, the suburb that was also home to other famous Tasmanian alumni, that is, two Tassie Princesses; Princess Mary of Denmark and princess of pop, Judith Durham. Brian only stayed in Tasmania for eighteen months but his time here formed lifetime friends and indeed when Brian is down here later this month he will catch up with his old school friends as he does every time he is Tasmania.

Brian is known for his role as songwriter examples being ‘A Little Ray of Sunshine’ and ‘Magic’, but Brian is multi-talented; a pianist, musician, songwriter and manager of other peoples careers. I ask him if he could choose what area he prefers the most and he explains writing because every good thing that happened to him occurred because of his writing. Brian has his own all-time favourite song which is Gene Pitney’s ‘If I didn’t have a Dime’.

With children as young as eleven in his family Brian has an appreciation of new technology and the way music is being revolutionised and is optimistic about music’s future. Brian divides his time between Homes in Byron Bay and a farm in Victoria as well as spending regular time in Paris.

When he and Russell get to Tasmania Brian hopes to get in some golf at the Launceston Country Club and maybe work on that Cadd/Morris Trophy!

You can see Brian perform with Russell Morris at the Launceston Country Club on Fri 27th July and at the Wrest Point Casino on Sat 28th July.

Paula Xiberras