The Four Kinsmen
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Live entertainment, music |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Bernard Mahony, Adrian Mahony, Peter Fay, George Fay |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, United Kingdom (touring) |
| Products | Vocal music performances, recordings |
Number of employees | 4 (original members) (1962) |
The Four Kinsmen were an Australian vocal ensemble established in 1962, becoming prominent figures in the country's live entertainment industry and holding the distinction of winning the most Mo Awards.
History
The group was formed in 1962 when Bernard and Adrian Mahony teamed up with siblings Peter and George Fay. Their television introduction occurred in July 1963 on the Kevin Dennis Auditions, where their victory led to a guest spot on Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight.
In 1964, they launched their debut single, "The Sphinx Won’t Tell"/"The Last Leaf", recorded in Melbourne, which climbed to number 10 on the 3DB chart.
Following additional achievements, the quartet relocated to England for a three-month engagement at a theatre restaurant managed by Dave Allen. During this period, they worked alongside notable entertainers such as Engelbert Humperdinck, Des O'Connor, Val Doonican, Benny Hill, and Morecambe and Wise. They produced three singles and participated in a pantomime production with the New Vaudeville Band.
Upon returning to Australia in 1968, The Four Kinsmen secured a strong presence within Sydney’s club entertainment circuit.
Their inaugural Mo Award was earned in 1975. Over time, several lineup adjustments took place: Bernard Mahony departed in 1976 (passing away in 1978) and was succeeded by Spencer Whiteley; Peter Fay exited in 1980 and was replaced first by Alan Morrison and then George Harvey; Spencer Whiteley left in 1982 with Robert Pearson stepping in; Adrian Mahony also left and Graham Wilson joined; original member George Fay withdrew in 1986, replaced by Scott Radburn. George Fay subsequently died from motor neurone disease.
The Four Kinsmen maintained international touring activities until 2009.
A documentary chronicling the group’s story was scheduled for release across Australia in late 2022.
Albums
| Album Title | Release Information |
|---|---|
| The Four Kinsmen |
|
| Our Own Kind of Music |
|
| Live & Well |
|
| The Very Best of The Four Kinsmen |
|
| Two Sides of the Four Kinsmen |
|
| The Four Kinsmen |
|
Mo Awards
From 1975 through to 2016, the Australian Entertainment Mo Awards celebrated excellence in live performing arts. Throughout this timeframe, The Four Kinsmen amassed a total of 25 awards.
|- |rowspan="2"| 1975 | The group | Vocal Group of the Year | |- | The group | Act of the Year | |- | 1976 | The group | Best Vocal Group of the Year | |- | 1977 | The group | Vocal Group (3 or More) of the Year | |- | 1978 | The group | Vocal Group (2 or More) of the Year | |- | 1981 | The group | Vocal Group of the Year | |- | 1985 | The group | Vocal Group (2 or More) of the Year | |- |rowspan="2"| 1986 | The group | Vocal Group (2 or More) of the Year | |- | The group | Daily Telegraph Readers Award - Group of the Year | |- | 1987 | The group | Vocal Group (2 or More) of the Year | |- | 1988 | The group | Best Group of the Year | |- | 1989 | The group | Cabaret Group of the Year | |- |rowspan="2"| 1991 | The group | Variety Performer of the Year | |- | The group | Variety Group of the Year
| |- |rowspan="2"| 1992 | The group | Variety Performer of the Year | |- | The group | Variety Group of the Year | |- |rowspan="2"|1993 | The group | Variety Performer of the Year | |- | The group | Variety Group of the Year | |- |rowspan="2"|1995 | The group | Variety Performer of the Year | |- | The group | Variety Group of the Year | |- | 1996 | The group | Variety Group of the Year | |- | 1997 | The group | Variety Group of the Year | |- | 1998 | The group | Variety Group of the Year |