Claude Papesch was a blind multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand. He played with many New Zealand outfits as well as well known Australian blues groups,

Chain A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A c ...

and Savage Rose. He also was a solo artist and released recordings of his own. He has an important place in New Zealand rock & roll history.

Background

Papesch was originally from

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

. He moved to Auckland when he was young.Audio Culture, 1 August 2016 �
Claude Papesch Profile – Keith Newman
/ref>

Career

New Zealand

In the late 1950s, he was a member of Johnny Devlin's band Johnny Devlin & the Devils. He played both piano and saxophone while the group. In 1964, he was the musical director for two of New Zealand's major record companies. Also in that year, he wrote a song for Wellington singer Maurice Cook which was recorded with an orchestral backing. He had multiple roles in the recording session as arranger the, directing the recording session, playing the piano and adding his vocal backing. In 1966, it was reported in the edition of 7 May of ''

The New Zealand Herald ''The New Zealand Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment, and considered a newspaper of record for New Zealand. It has the largest newspaper circulation of all newspapers ...

'' that he was the head tutor of the New Zealand College of Entertainers in Auckland. He was also its founder.

Australia

Papesch came over to Australia with Tim Piper and they both played in an early formation of

. His keyboard playing was evident on the B side of a Chain single, "Mr. Time". He was with the group from August to October 1969. Then Papesch along with Ace Follington and Tim Piper left Chain to form Savage Rose. In 1973 his album ''Hammond Spectacular'' was released on

His Master's Voice His Master's Voice (HMV) was the name of a major British record label created in 1901 by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. The phrase was coined in the late 1890s from the title of a painting by English artist Francis Barraud, which depicted a Jack Russ ...

SOEX-10021. The following year ''Hammond Electrique'' was also released. Lyn Barnett helped with backing vocals on ''Hammond Electrique''.

Politics

He was elected Deputy Mayor of the

Blue Mountains City Council The City of Blue Mountains is a local government area of New South Wales, Australia, governed by the Blue Mountains City Council. The city is located in the Blue Mountains range west of Sydney. The Mayor of Blue Mountains City Council is coun ...

in 1984. He also represented the Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Rylstone districts. Due to illness, he left his public position. He was also an active member of the Labor Party.

Death

Papesch died on 2 February 1987 at age 45. He was survived by his partner, son, and daughter.Sergent.com.au �
Claude Papesch
/ref>

Discography

References

External links

Audio Culture" Claude Papesch

Discogs: Claude Papesch
{{DEFAULTSORT:Papesch, Claude Blind musicians New Zealand jazz pianists 20th-century pianists New Zealand organists Male organists New South Wales politicians 1987 deaths Year of birth missing 20th-century male musicians Male jazz musicians Chain (band) members New Zealand expatriates in Australia Blind politicians