HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Four Kinsmen were an Australian vocal group formed in 1962 and become stalwarts of Australia's live performance circuit in the later part of the twentieth century and hold the record for the most
Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards) were an annual Australian entertainment industry award, that where established in 1975, to recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia. They were l ...
wins.


History

In 1962, Bernard and Adrian Mahony joined with brothers Peter and George Fay to form The Four Kinsmen. Their first TV appearance was on the ''Kevin Dennis Auditions'' in July 1963. After appearing on the show multiple times, they went on to win and were given a spot-on
Graham Kennedy Graham Cyril Kennedy AO (15 February 1934 – 25 May 2005) was an Australian entertainer, comedian and variety performer, as well as a personality and star of radio, theatre, television and film. He often performed in the style of vaudevilli ...
's ''
In Melbourne Tonight ''In Melbourne Tonight'', also known as ''IMT'', was a highly popular nightly Logie award-winning Australian variety television show produced at GTV-9 Melbourne from 6 May 1957 to 1970. Overview Graham Kennedy was the show's main host and sta ...
''. In 1964 they released their first single, "The Sphinx Won’t Tell"/"The Last Leaf", recorded at Television City in Melbourne, it reached number 10 on the Melbourne 3DB chart. More success followed before the group decided to leave for England and were given a three-month season with Dave Allen at a theatre restaurant. Whilst in England, the group worked with Engelbert Humperdinck,
Des O'Connor Desmond Bernard O'Connor (12 January 1932 – 14 November 2020) was an English comedian, singer and television presenter. He was a long-time TV chat-show host, beginning with ''The Des O'Connor Show'' in 1963, which ran for ten years. He a ...
,
Val Doonican Michael Valentine Doonican (3 February 1927 – 1 July 2015) was an Irish singer of traditional pop, easy listening, and novelty songs, who was noted for his warm and relaxed style. A crooner, he found popular success, especially in the Un ...
,
Benny Hill Alfred Hawthorne "Benny" Hill (21 January 1924 – 20 April 1992) was an English comedian, actor, singer and writer. He is remembered for his television programme ''The Benny Hill Show'', an amalgam of slapstick, burlesque and double ente ...
and Moorecombe and Wise. While in England they released three singles and they did a pantomime season along with the New Vaudeville Band. In 1968 the group returned to Australia and gaining work on the club scene in Sydney. In 1975 they won their first
Mo Award The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards) were an annual Australian entertainment industry award, that where established in 1975, to recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia. They were l ...
. By 1976, Bernard Mahony left the group and was replaced by Spencer Whiteley. Bernard Mahoney died in 1978. In 1980 Peter Fay left and he was replaced by Alan Morrison who was soon replaced by George Harvey. In 1982, Spencer Whiteley left and was replaced by Robert Pearson. Adrian Mahony left and was replaced by Graham Wilson. In 1986 the last original member George Fay left and was replaced by Scott Radburn. George Fay died from motor neurone disease , shortly after. The Four Kinsmen carried on touring around the world until 2009. A documentary about the group is scheduled for an Australian debut in late 2022.


Discography


Albums


Awards


Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the
Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards) were an annual Australian entertainment industry award, that where established in 1975, to recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia. They were l ...
), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. They won 25 awards in that time. (wins only) , - , rowspan="2", 1975 , Themselves , Vocal Group of the Year , , - , Themselves , Act of the Year , , - , 1976 , Themselves , Best Vocal Group of the Year , , - , 1977 , Themselves , Vocal Group (3 of More) of the Year , , - , 1978 , Themselves , Vocal Group (2 of More) of the Year , , - , 1978 , Themselves , Vocal Group (2 of More) of the Year , , - , 1981 , Themselves , Vocal Group of the Year , , - , 1981 , Themselves , Vocal Group of the Year , , - , 1985 , Themselves , Vocal Group (2 of More) of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", 1986 , Themselves , Vocal Group (2 of More) of the Year , , - , Themselves , Daily Telegraph Readers Award - Group of the Year , , - , 1987 , Themselves , Vocal Group (2 of More) of the Year , , - , 1988 , Themselves , Best Group of the Year , , - , 1989 , Themselves , Cabaret Group of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", 1991 , Themselves , Variety Performer of the Year , , - , Themselves , Variety Group of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", 1992 , Themselves , Variety Performer of the Year , , - , Themselves , Variety Group of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", 1993 , Themselves , Variety Performer of the Year , , - , Themselves , Variety Group of the Year , , - , rowspan="2", 1995 , Themselves , Variety Performer of the Year , , - , Themselves , Variety Group of the Year , , - , 1996 , Themselves , Variety Group of the Year , , - , 1997 , Themselves , Variety Group of the Year , , - , 1998 , Themselves , Variety Group of the Year , , -


References

{{Authority control Victoria (Australia) musical groups Australian rock music groups Musical groups established in 1963 Musical groups disestablished in 2009