David Mackay (born 11 May 1944) is an

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal A ...

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

, arranger and musical director. He began his music career at the age of 15 in a production of ''

Bye Bye Birdie ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a stage musical with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, based upon a book by Michael Stewart. Originally titled ''Let's Go Steady'', ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is set in 1958. The short story "Dream Man", authored ...

'' for J. C. Williamson Theatre Company. He also worked for a time recording musical sessions for local radio.

Career

He was classically trained at

Sydney Conservatorium of Music The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (formerly the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music and known by the moniker "The Con") is a heritage-listed music school in Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the old ...

, where he studied piano, clarinet, theory and composition. Mackay was later head-hunted by

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British Transnational corporation, transnational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in March 1 ...

Australia, which initially employed him as a Recording Engineer but soon promoted him to "Head of

Artists and Repertoire Artists and repertoire ( colloquially abbreviated to A&R) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists (singers, instrumental ...

". During this time, Mackay was responsible for producing 30 hit singles and discovering some of Australia's most popular pop acts; he is probably best known in Australia as the producer of most of the Australian recordings made by

The Twilights The Twilights were an Australian rock band that formed in Adelaide in 1964. The band developed from a three-piece acapella group consisting of Glenn Shorrock, Mike Sykes and Clem "Paddy" McCartney, who merged with instrumental group the Hurri ...

, one of Australia's most popular bands of the mid-1960s; his credits include the band's ambitious swansong ''Once Upon A Twilight''. Mackay's Australian commercial success led to an internal transfer to the firm's United Kingdom offices, where Mackay went on to work at the legendary Abbey Road studios. Mackay eventually left

to set up his own independent company, June Productions Ltd. He also diversified into the medium of

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

, arranging and producing themes such as Coca-Cola's "

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" is a pop song that originated as the jingle "True Love and Apple Pie", by British hit songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, and sung by Susan Shirley. The lyrics were rewritten ...

" as well as scores for

BBC TV BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1927. It produced television programmes from its own studios from 19 ...

shows ''

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' () is a British comedy-drama television programme about seven British construction workers who leave the United Kingdom to search for employment overseas. In the first series, the men live and work on a building site in ...

'',

Carla Lane Romana Barrack (5 August 1928 – 31 May 2016), known professionally as Carla Lane, was an English television writer responsible for several successful British sitcoms, including '' The Liver Birds'' (co-creator, 1969–1979), ''Butterflies'' (1 ...

's '' Bread'' and '' As Time Goes By''. The ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' project notably generated a hit single, " That's Livin' Alright", by

Joe Fagin Joe Fagin (born January 1940) is a British pop singer-songwriter. He is best known for the 1984 chart hit "Breakin' Away / That's Livin' Alright", and for singing a version of "As Time Goes By (song), As Time Goes By" for the 1990s BBC comedy ...

, which won Mackay an

Ivor Novello Award The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They have been presented annually in London by the Ivors Academy (formerly the BASCA) since 1956, and over 1,000 statuettes have been ...

and a BAFTA nomination. In both 1972 and 1973, Mackay conducted the orchestra for the UK's entries in the Eurovision Song Contest. ''

The World Starts Tonight ''The World Starts Tonight'' is the debut studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, released in February 1977 by RCA Records. Most of the songs were written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, who worked as her managers while she was signed to RCA. ...

'' (1977) is the debut studio album by Welsh singer

Bonnie Tyler Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins; born 8 June 1951), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, is a Welsh singer who is known for her distinctive husky voice. Tyler came to prominence with the release of her 1977 album '' The World Starts Tonight'' a ...

, released in February 1977 by RCA Records. Most of the songs were written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, who worked as her managers while she was signed to RCA. They also produced the album alongside David Mackay. Musically, the album features country and pop songs. ''

Natural Force ''Natural Force'' is the second studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, released in May 1978 by RCA Records. In the United States, the album was titled ''It's a Heartache''. As with her debut, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote most of the t ...

'' (1978) is the second studio album by Tyler, released in May 1978 by RCA Records. In the United States, the album was titled ''It's a Heartache''. As with her debut, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote most of the tracks on the album. David Mackay returned again to produce, with Scott and Wolfe. In 1990, Mackay and

Jon English Jonathan James English (26 March 1949 – 9 March 2016) was an English-born Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He emigrated from England to Australia with his parents in 1961. He was an early vocalist and rhythm guitarist for ...

co-wrote a concept album, ''

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

'', which has since been staged as a

rock musical A rock musical is a musical theatre work with rock music. The genre of rock musical may overlap somewhat with album musicals, concept albums and song cycles, as they sometimes tell a story through the rock music, and some album musicals and conc ...

in Australia and elsewhere several times beginning in 2003. In 2002, Mackay's career came full circle as he returned to the world of musical theatre as a supervisor to a

West End theatre West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes, "West End" in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1 ...

production of ''125th Street''. In 2018, Bonnie Tyler announced that she would be working with Mackay, who co-produced her first two albums. Tyler and Mackay also collaborated on

Frankie Miller Francis John Miller (born 2 November 1949) is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter and actor. Miller wrote for and performed with many recording artists and is best known for his 1977 album ''Full House'', the singles "Be Good To Yourself", " D ...

's album ''Double Take'' (2016). In March 2019, ''Between the Earth and the Stars'' was released as the seventeenth studio album by

, and was produced by Mackay.

Selected UK, US and Australian discography

Singles

* "Carousel of Love" by Peter Best (1967) * " The Pushbike Song" by

The Mixtures The Mixtures were an Australian rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1965. Biography 1965–1976: The Mixtures Australian musicians Terry Dean and Rod De Clerk met in Tasmania in 1965. They then met Laurie Arthur, a member of the Strangers, ...

(1970 UK #2 / AUS #1) * " Never Ending Song of Love" by

The New Seekers The New Seekers are a British pop group, formed in London in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music would have ...

(1971 UK #2) * "

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony) "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" is a pop song that originated as the jingle "True Love and Apple Pie", by British hit songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, and sung by Susan Shirley. The lyrics were rewritt ...

" by The New Seekers (1971 UK #1 / US #7) * "

Beg, Steal or Borrow "Beg, Steal or Borrow" was the entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972, performed in English by The New Seekers. The song was composed and written by Tony Cole, Steve Wolfe and Graeme Hall. It is a love song to a former lover claiming the t ...

" by The New Seekers (1972 UK #2 / US #81) * "

Power to All Our Friends "Power to All Our Friends" is a song by Cliff Richard which was chosen as the entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1973, by a postal vote which was decided by BBC viewers after Richard performed six contending songs on ''A Song For Europe'', f ...

" by

Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an Indian-born British musican, singer, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who holds both British and Barbadian citizenship. He has total sales of over 21.5 million s ...

(1973 UK #4 / AUS #31 / US #109) * "Baby We Can't Go Wrong" by Cilla Black (1974 UK #36) * "(You Keep Me) Hangin'' On" by Cliff Richard (1974 UK #13) * "Trans Canada Highway" by Gene Pitney (1975 AUS #14) * "

More Than a Lover "More Than a Lover" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler from her debut studio album '' The World Starts Tonight'' (1977). It was released by RCA Records in January 1977, shortly before the release of the album, and was written by her at ...

" by

(1977 UK #27) * "

It's a Heartache "'It's a Heartache'" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and co-produced with David Mackay, the single was released in November 1977 through RCA Records. The song topped the charts in Australia ...

" by

(1978 UK #4 / US #3 / AUS #1) * "Baby Blue" by

Dusty Springfield Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), known professionally as Dusty Springfield, was an English singer. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano sound, she was a popular singer of blue-eyed soul, pop and dram ...

(1979 UK #61) * " Lost in Love" by

Demis Roussos Artemios "Demis" Ventouris-Roussos ( ; el, Αρτέμιος "Ντέμης" Βεντούρης-Ρούσσος, ; 15 June 1946 – 25 January 2015) was a Greek singer, songwriter and musician. As a band member he is best remembered for his work in ...

(1980) * "Save Me" by Johnny Logan (1980) * "Love's Alive" by

Vicky Leandros Vasiliki Papathanasiou ( el, Βασιλική Παπαθανασίου; born 23 August 1949), generally known as Vicky Leandros ( el, Βίκυ Λέανδρος, links=no), is a Greek singer living in Germany. She is the daughter of singer, music ...

(1981) * "Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees" by Dusty Springfield (1980) * "

Your Love Still Brings Me to My Knees "Your Love Still Brings Me to My Knees" is a song originally recorded by British artist Dusty Springfield and released in the UK in early 1980. It was her last single release on the Mercury label, but failed to reach the UK charts, despite heavy ra ...

" by

Marcia Hines Marcia Elaine Hines, AM (born July 20, 1953), is an American-Australian vocalist and TV personality. Hines made her debut, at the age of 16, in the Australian production of the stage musical '' Hair'' and followed with the role of Mary Magdale ...

(1981 AUS #10) * "What a Bitch is Love" by Marcia Hines (1981 AUS #51) * "Breakin' Away/ That's Living Alright" by

(1983 UK #3) * "It Should've Been Me" by David Ride ( 1987 Warner) * "Theme From Neighbours" by

Dame Edna Everage Dame Edna Everage, often known simply as Dame Edna, is a character created and performed by Australian comedian Barry Humphries, known for her lilac-coloured ("wisteria hue") hair and cat eye glasses ("face furniture"); her favourite flower, t ...

(1988) * "Hold On" by

(2019) * "Life will unfold" by C.B. Green (2022) * "Suddenly" by C.B. Green (2022)

Albums

* ''The Happy Prince'' by

The La De Das The La De Da's were a New Zealand rock band of the 1960s and early 1970s. Formed in New Zealand in 1963 as the Mergers, they had considerable success in both New Zealand and Australia until their split in 1975. In Australia the band is proba ...

(EMI/Columbia Aust., 1968) * ''Laughing Cavalier'' by

The Wallace Collection The Wallace Collection is a museum in London occupying Hertford House in Manchester Square, the former townhouse of the Seymour family, Marquesses of Hertford. It is named after Sir Richard Wallace, who built the extensive collection, along w ...

(1968) * ''We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing'' by The New Seekers (1971 UK #2) * ''Circles'' by The New Seekers (1972 UK #23) * ''Now'' by The New Seekers (1973 UK #47) * ''Only When I Laugh'' by

Blue Mink Blue Mink were a British six-piece pop group that existed from 1969 to 1977. Over that period they had six Top 20 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart, and released five studio based albums. According to AllMusic: "they have been immortalised on ...

(1973) * '' Take Me High: Soundtrack'' by Cliff Richard (1973 UK #41) * ''Only When I Laugh'' by Blue Mink (1973) * ''Fruity'' by Blue Mink (1974) * ''31st Of February Street'' by Cliff Richard (1974) * ''

In My Life "In My Life" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It appeared on their 1965 album '' Rubber Soul''. Its lyrics were written primarily by John Lennon, credited to Lennon–McCartney. George Martin contributed the piano solo bridge. ...

'' by Cilla Black (1974) * '' It Makes Me Feel Good'' by Cilla Black (1976) * ''Tarney & Spencer'' by

Alan Tarney Alan Tarney (born 19 November 1945) is an English record producer and musician. He was born in Northside, Workington, Cumberland, but spent his teenage years in Adelaide, Australia, where he met his songwriting and musical partner Trevor Spence ...

and Trevor Spencer (1976) * ''

'' by

(1977) * ''

'' by

(1978 US #16 1978) * '' Take it From the Boys'' by Marcia Hines (1981 AUS #16) * ''

'' by

and David Mackay * '' Between the Earth and the Stars'' by

(2019 UK #34) * ''

The Best Is Yet to Come "The Best Is Yet to Come" is a 1959 song composed by Cy Coleman to lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on his 1964 album ''It Might as Well Be Swing'' accompanied by Count Basie under the direction ...

'' by

(2021)

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. , - , rowspan="2" ,

ARIA Music Awards of 1991 The Fifth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAS) was held on 25 March 1991 at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney. International host Bob Geldof was as ...

ARIA Award previous winners. , rowspan="2" , ''

'' (with

) ,

ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album The ARIA Music Award for Best Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show Album is an award presented within the Fine Arts Awards at the annual ARIA Music Awards. The ARIA Awards recognise "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres ...

, , - , ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album , , -

References

External links

Discogs
- David Mackay discography {{DEFAULTSORT:Mackay, David 1944 births ARIA Award winners Living people Australian record producers Sydney Conservatorium of Music alumni Eurovision Song Contest conductors A&R people Australian music arrangers Australian people of Scottish descent Australian expatriates in the United Kingdom 21st-century conductors (music)