Peter Combe

Peter Charles Combe OAM (born 20 October 1948) is an Australian children's entertainer and musician. At the ARIA Music Awards he has won three ARIA Awards for Best Children's Album, for Toffee Apple (1988), Newspaper Mama (1989) and The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert (1992) and three additional nominations (Chopsticks (1990), Little Groover (1996) and Live It Up (2017)). His best-known tracks are "Toffee Apple", "Spaghetti Bolognaise", "Mr Clicketty Cane", "Juicy Juicy Green Grass" and "Newspaper Mama". His Christmas Album (November 1990) reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 50.

Peter Combe
OAM
Combe performing in July 2008
Background information
Birth namePeter Charles Combe
Born (1948-10-20) 20 October 1948
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
GenresChildren's
Occupation(s)Entertainer, musician
InstrumentsVocals, acoustic guitar, piano, ukulele
Years active1969–present
LabelsABC, Rascal Records
Associated actsJuicy Juicy Green Band
Websitepetercombe.com

Biography

1948-1979: Early life

Peter Charles Combe was born in Adelaide on 20 October 1948 as the third of four children. His early influences from the 1950s were the Springfields, he learned to harmonise from an early age. He was inspired by folk singers of the 1960s, including Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. He formed a folk group and taught himself guitar. Later he became fascinated by the Beatles and Billy Joel.[1]

By 1969, Combe was a primary school teacher and in the early 1970s, he was a specialist music teacher. He taught Junior school music at Prince Alfred College in the late 70's [2] He started writing songs for his students and in 1973 he wrote his first 'operettas' for them.[2] One of the early ones, Bows Against the Barons, is based on Geoffrey Trease's novel of the same name, relating the legend of Robin Hood. The song, "Robin Hood's Dream", appeared on his 1988 album, Newspaper Mama.

In 1975, Combe moved to Sydney and aspired to be the next Paul Simon. There he appeared in the rock musical, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club.[3] He taught at inner Sydney primary schools, performed in pubs and clubs as a singer-songwriter. He wrote a children's musical, Frederick WhatsHisName & his TwoLegged Six String Guitar, which provided the track, "Spangle Road". Another of his musicals is based on Norman Lindsey's book, The Magic Pudding.

In 1977, Combe migrated to England where he became a presenter on Music Time, a BBC TV educational program.[2] He explained that "Someone in Adelaide had given me the name of a BBC producer. I rang and said I had just arrived [in England] and do you have any shows I can audition for. They wanted someone for Music Time, I auditioned, made the short list and got the job."[2] Combe and co-presenter, Kathryn Harries, introduced musical concepts in an entertaining format. The show was used by teachers as part of their music programs and was a resource for other music educators. Besides being played in Britain for six years, it was re-broadcast on ABC TV. In late 1979, the Combe family moved back to Australia, where he presented Let's Have Music, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio program,[2] which was used for primary school music education.

1980-1992: Commercial success

In 1980 he recorded his first album, Vagabond, which was aimed at adults.[2] The title track had been recorded by ex-pat Australians, the Seekers, in 1977.[4] After two more years teaching, Combe issued his second album, Songs for Little Kids.[4] It was recorded and produced by Combe at Axent Recording Studio in Sydney and appeared on ABC Records on cassette.[5]

At that time, children's albums comprised nursery rhymes, which were sung and played in a simple traditional style. Combe recalled, "record companies used to think anyone could write songs for children, anything was good enough. You would get whole albums where the only accompaniment was acoustic guitar."[4] Combe introduced new concepts in children's songs, writing to appeal to children and their parents: they were funny and relevant. He arranged them with contemporary instrumentation, using his Music Time experience to introduce children to different musical concepts, genres and instruments. Combe started performing concerts in schools – about 200 school shows a year over three years. His next cassette, Spaghetti Bolognaise and More Songs for Little Kids (1985), was soon renamed as Spaghetti Bolognaise after its lead track.[6]

In 1986, he returned to England for an eight-month stay – he wrote material for his next album, Toffee Apple (June 1987).[2] Back in Australia he met Diana Manson, then the head of ABC Music, and they worked on the first ever children's music video filmed in Australia – "Toffee Apple" – to promote the new album.[2] The music video was played during children's programming on ABC TV, and helped established Combe as Australia's first kids' pop star: he was referred to as King of the Kids.[7] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1988 Combe won the inaugural ARIA Award for Best Children's Album category for Toffee Apple.[8]

In 1989, he won his second ARIA for Best Children's Album, for Newspaper Mama (1988).[8] The Canberra Times correspondent described him as "the master of loony tunes for kids"; with this album having "a selection of original songs with the title track accompanied by an imaginative video."[9] His next album, Chopsticks (September 1989), was also nominated in that category in the following year but it did not win.[8] Peter Combe's Christmas Album (November 1990) reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 50.[10] His first live album, The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert (1991), won his third trophy for Best Children's Album, in 1992.[8]

Touring highlights were selling out the Sydney Opera House (twice) and the Melbourne Concert Hall, Carols in the Domain in Sydney, Carols nights in Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart, filming Christmas Under the Stars at the Adelaide Festival Centre, Family Concerts with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at the Festival Theatre and Entertainment Centre – plus numerous television appearances and radio interviews. Combe's albums have received 7 gold and 3 platinum accreditations.

From 1989 to 1991, Peter presented another radio program, Ticklepot, on ABC Radio National. His co-presenter Henry Salter played the part of Monkey, and the 10-minute program followed the adventures of Peter and Monkey through songs and stories. In all, 420 programs went to air over a period of 3 years. Ticklepot was voted best children's radio program in the world in New York in 1991.

1993-present: Continued success

In 1993, Peter's musical version of May Gibbs' classic book "Snugglepot & Cuddlepie", was performed in the Adelaide Festival of Arts. This was originally performed as a cantata with orchestra, choirs and soloists. It was reproduced the following year in the Adelaide Festival Theatre with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra – and this was recorded and is still available on CD. There have been many subsequent performances around Australia, some as a cantata and others with an accompanying script.

Further albums of new songs were to follow -Spook (1993), Little Groover (1996), Best Friends (1999), plus some picture books with CD by Scholastic – Wash Your Face in Orange Juice and Juicy Juicy Green Grass.

From 1998 to 2001, Peter's daughter, Joni, played the role of Rainbow Rhapsody in all three home videos ("The Fairies", "A Fairy Merry Christmas" and "Farmyard Magic") and four of the albums (The Fairies, A Fairy Merry Christmas, Farmyard Magic and A Magical Fairy Party) of Australian children's live-action television series The Fairies.

From 2003 to 2006, Combe read and sang a number of classic fairy tales. These were released on CD as Classic Fairy Tales Classic Fairy Tales Vol 2 and Classic Fairy Tales Vol 3.[11][12][13]

In 2006, he crossed over to the genre of political commentary with his song "Free David Hicks".

Since 2007, Combe has started playing pub gigs around Australia aimed at young adults who grew up listening to his music.[14] A clip of the live performance at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne is available showing a crowd of young adults singing along to lyrics such as "Wash Your Face in Orange Juice", and "Belly Flop on a Pizza? Ewww!".

Live It Up, was released on 6 April 2017. Combe toured the album across Australia[15]

In 2018 Combe performed his 1990 Peter Combe's Christmas Album in full across the country in a national tour.[16]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with release date, Australian chart position and certification
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certification
AUS
[17][18]
Vagabond
  • Released: 1980
  • Label: Peter Combe (PC 106)
  • Format: LP
 -
Songs for Little Kids
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: ABC Music
  • Format: LP
 -
Spaghetti Bolognaise
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: ABC Music (L 27124)
  • Format: LP
 -
Toffee Apple
  • Released: June 1987
  • Label: ABC Music (L 27206)
  • Format: LP, Cassette, CD
 86
Newspaper Mama
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: ABC Music (L 28021)
  • Format: LP, Cassette, CD
 -
Chopsticks
  • Released: September 1989
  • Label: ABC Music (838416-2)
  • Format: CD, LP, Cassette
 -
Peter Combe's Christmas Album
  • Released: November 1990
  • Label: ABC Music (846597-2)
  • Format: CD, LP, Cassette
 49
Spook
  • Released: 1993[25]
  • Label: Rascal Records
  • Format: CD, Cassette
 -
Little Groover
  • Released: 1996[26]
  • Label: Rascal Records (RASC04-2)
  • Format: CD, Cassette
 -
Best Friends
  • Released: 1999[27]
  • Label: Rascal Records
  • Format: CD
 -
Songs from a Telephone Box -
Re-invented
  • Released: 2003[30][31]
  • Label: Rascal Records
  • Format: CD, Digital download
 -
Classic Fairy Tales
  • Released: 2003[11]
  • Label: Bolinda Audio
  • Format: CD
 -
Classic Fairy Tales Volume 2
  • Released: 2004[12]
  • Label: Bolinda Audio
  • Format: CD
 -
Wake Up It's Christmas
  • Released: October 2005[32][33]
  • Label: Rascal Records
  • Format: CD, Digital download
 -
Classic Fairy Tales Volume 3
  • Released: 2006[13]
  • Label: Bolinda Audio
  • Format: CD
 -
Kiddywinks
  • Released: 2009[34][35]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: CD, Digital download
 -
Quirky Berserky (The Turkey from Turkey)
  • Released: March 2012[36][37]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: CD, Digital download
 -
Live It Up
  • Released: May 2017[38][39]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: CD, Digital download, streaming
 -

Live albums
List of live albums, with release date, Australian chart position and certification
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certification
AUS
[18]
The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert
  • Released: April 1991
  • Label: ABC Music (846993-2)
  • Format: CD, Cassette
  • Notes: Recorded at ABC Studios, Adelaide 1990
 69
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: The Musical - In Concert
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Rascal Records
  • Format: CD, Cassette
  • Notes: Recorded at the Adelaide Festival Theatre, March 1993
 -
Live at Jive
  • Released: 2008[41]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: CD+DVD, Digital Download
  • Notes: Recorded at Jive, Adelaide, April 2008
 -

Compilation albums
List of compilation albums, with release dates
Title Album details
Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1994[42]
  • Label: Rascal Records
  • Format: CD, Cassette
Wash your Face in Orange Juice
  • Released: 2003[43][44]
  • Label: Rascal Records
  • Format: CD
Moovy Groovy Songs
  • Released: 2009[45]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: Digital download
Munchy Crunchy Songs
  • Released: July 2013[46][47]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: CD, Digital download, streaming

Box Sets
List of Box Sets, with release dates and details
Title Album details
Triple Pack
  • Released: 2006[48]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: 3x CD
  • Featuring Toffee Apple, Spaghetti Bolognaise & Newspaper Mama
Triple Pack 2
  • Released: 2007[49]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: 3x CD
  • Featuring: Live & Rocking, Little Groover & Best Friends
Triple Pack 3
  • Released: 2008[50]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: 3x CD
  • Featuring: Wash Your Face in Orange Juice, Chopsticks & Spook
Christmas Triple Pack
  • Released: 2015[51]
  • Label: Peter Combe
  • Format: 3x CD
  • Featuring: Peter Combe's Christmas Album, Wake Up It's Christmas & Backing Tracks
    (Backing Tracks is instrumental tracks from Peter Combe's Christmas Album & Wake Up It's Christmas)

Awards and nominations

APRA Music Awards
Year Nominated works Award Result Lost to Ref
1998 "Honey" Most Performed Children's Work Nominated Andy Armstrong – "It's Christmas"
[52]
"Thingth I Thay" Nominated

ARIA Music Awards
Year Nominated works Award Result Lost to
1988 Toffee Apple Best Children's Album Won N/A
1989 Newspaper Mama Won N/A
1990 Chopsticks Nominated Various Artists – 0-9 Series
1992 The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert Won N/A
1996 Little Groover Nominated The Wiggles – Wake Up Jeff!
2017 Live It Up Nominated Jimmy Barnes – Och Aye the G'nu

References
  1. "Bio". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. Hobson, Karen (4 June 1987). "The Good Times Supplement: Peter Combe, Children's Songwriter: This Toffee Apple is not Tacky Candy". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 871). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 9. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Features: How to Win Friends and Influence Children". The Age. 20 April 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. Winestock, Geoff (29 September 1989). "Life as the Bon Jovi of Kiddie Singers". The Age. p. 35. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. Combe, Peter (1992), Songs for little kids: 22 songs by Peter Combe, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 13 April 2016
  6. Combe, Peter; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1985), Spaghetti bolognaise and more songs for little kids, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 13 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia
  7. Bright, Chris (15 July 2011). "Peter Combe". Beat. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  8. ARIA Awards for Peter Combe:
  9. "For the Record". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 183). 14 April 1988. p. 32. Retrieved 13 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Peter Combe". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  11. "Classic Fairy Tales (2003)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  12. "Classic Fairy Tales Vol 2 (2004)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  13. "Classic Fairy Tales Vol 3 (2006)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  14. "Combe Comeback". ABC Radio National Breakfast. 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  15. "Peter Combe Live it Up". Peter Combe. 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  16. Hot off the press (20 August 2018). "Peter Combe's Christmas Album Live In Concert". Hot Off the Press. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 71. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.}}
  18. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  19. "Songs for Little Kids (1982)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  20. "Spaghetti Bolognaise (1985)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  21. "Toffee Apple (1987)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  22. "Newspaper Mama (1988)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  23. "Chopsticks (1989)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  24. "Christmas Album (1990)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  25. "Spook (1993)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  26. "Little Groover (1996)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  27. "Best Friends (1999)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  28. "Songs from a Telephone Box (DD)". Apple Music. 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  29. "Songs from a Telephone Box (2002)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  30. "Re-invented (DD)". Apple Music. 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  31. "Re-invented (2003)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  32. "Wake Up It's Christmas (DD)". Apple Music. October 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  33. "Wake Up It's Christmas (2005)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  34. "Kiddywinks (DD)". Apple Music. 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  35. "Kiddywinks (2009)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  36. "Quirky Berserky (The Turkey from Turkey) (DD)". Apple Music. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  37. "Quirky Berserky (2012)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  38. "Live It Up (DD)". Apple Music. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  39. "Live It Up (2017)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  40. "The Absolutely Very Best of (1991)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  41. "Live at Jive (DD)". Apple Music. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  42. "Greatest Hits (1994)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  43. "Wash your Face in Orange Juice (DD)". Apple Music. 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  44. "Wash your Face in Orange Juice (2003)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  45. "Munchy Crunchy Songs (DD)". Apple Music. 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  46. "Munchy Crunchy Songs (DD)". Apple Music. July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  47. "Munchy Crunchy Songs (2013)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  48. "Triple Pack (2006)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  49. "Triple Pack 2 (2007)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  50. "Triple Pack 3 (2008)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  51. "Christmas Triple Pack (2015)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  52. "Most Performed Children's Work", APRA
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