Billy Baxter (musician)
Billy Baxter | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Geelong, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, radio broadcaster |
| Known for | Co-host of Coodabeen Champions; lead singer of Ghetto Blasters, Big Fans of Jesus, The Hollow Men |
Billy Baxter OAM (born September 1959) is an Australian musician and radio broadcaster originating from Geelong. He serves as a co-host on the Australian rules football show Coodabeen Champions broadcast on 774 ABC Melbourne, alongside Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover, Jeff "Torch" McGee, Simon Whelan, Andy Bellairs, and Greg Champion. In his musical endeavors, Baxter was the lead singer for bands including Ghetto Blasters, Big Fans of Jesus, and The Hollow Men. The Hollow Men produced two albums under Au Go Go Records: Broken Stuff (1988) and So Long (1990). His solo discography features Holler (1991) and Speedhump, Thump (1994).
Musical career
Baxter was born in September 1959 in Geelong, where his family operated a local milk bar. During his youth, he played as a rover for the Geelong Under 19s football team. The 1980 single "Billy Baxter" by Paul Kelly & the Dots portrayed him as a multifaceted character with "a thousand faces." Between 1982 and 1984, he was the frontman of Ghetto Blasters before establishing Big Fans of Jesus (1984–1985), which released a live album. In 1985, he co-founded the folk-pop ensemble The Hollow Men with Mal Stanley and others; this group released two albums through Au Go Go Records. The band appeared under the name Cicadas in the 1991 film Spotswood, although they had disbanded prior to the movie's release. Baxter’s solo projects include the albums Holler (1991) and Speedhump, Thump (1994). Additionally, in 1998 he performed a rendition of "(They Long to Be) Close to You" for the tribute compilation To Hal and Bacharach. The Hollow Men briefly reunited in December 2010 to perform Broken Stuff live on air.
Radio presenter
Baxter embarked on his radio career in 1981 as a DJ at Melbourne’s community station 3RRR. According to The Age, his program showcased "rarely heard records and off-the-wall novelty tracks," with Baxter described as the "frontman of a rock band in rehearsal." He later joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), contributing to 3LO's Sunday Night Live, before becoming a longstanding member of the Coodabeens Footy Show on Radio National via 774 ABC Melbourne. The name Coodabeen Champions was coined by Baxter in 1981. Currently, the show is co-hosted by Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover, and Greg Champion, with Baxter responsible for music selection. In 2003, the ensemble released a double CD compilation titled A Coodabeens Collection. On 13 June 2022, Baxter received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recognizing his contributions to performing arts and radio.
Discography
Works released by Big Fans of Jesus, The Hollow Men, or as a solo artist.
Albums
- Big Fans of Jesus
- Live – (April 1985)
- The Hollow Men
- Broken Stuff – (Au Go Go Records, 1988)
- So Long – (Au Go Go Records, 1990)
- Solo
- Holler – (Au Go Go Records, 1991)
- Speedhump, Thump – (Chip Chop/MDS, 1994)
- A Coodabeens Collection – (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2003)
- The Coodabeen Champions Present Sunday Nightingales – (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2007)
Extended plays
- The Hollow Men
- Blue Trains and Gravel Lanes – released by Rampant in 1986
- This Is Cactus Land – issued in 1988
- Live and Otherwise – also from 1988
Singles
- The Hollow Men
- "Human Wreck" – launched in 1990
- "My Pal" – issued in 1990
- Solo
- "It's Too Late to Turn Back Now" – released in 1987
- "To Love Somebody" – came out in 1988