Brian Cadd

Born Brian George Cadd on November 29, 1946, in Perth, Western Australia, Cadd demonstrated musical talent at an early age, winning a TV talent quest at 12 and securing his first professional role as a pianist for a children’s television program. His family’s relocation to Melbourne immersed him in the city’s burgeoning jazz scene in the early 1960s, where he played with the Beale Street Jazz Band and the Castaways. By 1965, the Castaways evolved into the Jackson Kings, releasing two singles with Cadd on piano and Ronnie Charles on vocals. In October 1966, Cadd and Charles, alongside guitarist Don Mudie, joined The Groop. During this period, Cadd briefly used the pseudonym Brian Caine. The Groop achieved chart success with “Woman You’re Breaking Me” (1967) and won a trip to the UK through the Hoadley’s National Battle of the Sounds. Cadd’s songwriting also earned Ronnie Burns a hit with “When I Was Six Years Old.” After returning to Australia, The Groop disbanded in May 1969.

Following The Groop’s dissolution, Cadd co-founded Axiom in May 1969 with Don Mudie, Glenn Shorrock, Doug Lavery, and Chris Stockley. As primary songwriters for Axiom, Cadd and Mudie contributed to hit singles like “Arkansas Grass” (1969) and “A Little Ray of Sunshine” (1970). Axiom pursued international success in the UK and US, releasing their second album “If Only…” in September 1971 before disbanding in March 1971. Cadd returned to Australia and in 1972, released his self-titled debut solo album on his newly established Bootleg Records label. This label, set up under Ron Tudor’s Fable Records, operated on a model where signed artists, including The Bootleg Family Band, recorded and toured together. Cadd also won the composer’s section of Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds in 1972 for “Don’t You Know It’s Magic,” which became a top 20 hit for John Farnham and earned an award at the Tokyo World Popular Song Festival.

His solo career continued with “Parabrahm” (1973) and “Moonshine” (1974), the latter achieving gold certification in Australia. He also composed the theme and score for the films “Alvin Purple” (R-rated comedy, 1973) and “Alvin Purple Rides Again” (1975). Cadd relocated to Los Angeles in 1975, signing with Capitol Records after Chelsea Records went bankrupt. During his time in the US, he released albums such as “White On White” (1976) and “Yesterdaydreams” (1978). His songs were covered by international artists including The Pointer Sisters, Bonnie Tyler, and The Charlie Daniels Band, with “Love is Like a Rolling Stone” becoming a B-side for The Pointer Sisters’ “Fire,” which reached No. 2 on the US charts. In the mid-1980s, Cadd ran Graffiti Records and signed Tina Arena. He joined The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1991, touring with them for two years before returning to Australia in 1993. Cadd was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Australian Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 2007, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2018.