Jimmy Hannan
Jimmy Hannan (25 August 1934 – 7 January 2019) was an Australian radio and television personality, variety show host, singer, entertainer and game show host of the 1960s and 1970s. One of the pioneers of television, he appeared regularly on variety show In Melbourne Tonight, and later hosted his own musical variety show Jimmy, later called Tonight with Jimmy Hannan.[1] Hannan hosted music show Saturday Date from 1963 until 1967, which featured such performers as Billy Thorpe and Olivia Newton-John. He won the 1965 Gold Logie award for most popular personality on Australian television.[2]
Jimmy Hannan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 August 1934 |
| Died | 7 January 2019 (aged 84) |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1956−1984 |
| Children | Mark Hannan, Melissa Hannan, Vanessa Hannan, Emily Gillman |
| Awards | Gold Logie (1965) |
Early life and career
Hannan had his start musically performing in a big-band. As a teen idol, he often performed with people such as Johnny Devlin and Little Pattie. He released the single "Beach Ball", originally recorded by the City Surfers, in 1963. The song was written by Roger McGuinn who went on to become a member of the Byrds. The single reached number No. 2 on the local charts and featured the Bee Gees as backing vocalists.[2] He worked on radio in Melbourne at 3UZ and at 2GB Sydney. He hosted game shows including Name That Tune and Celebrity Squares.
Personal life
Hannan was married to Joanne Goode and had four children, including actress and model Melissa Hannan who won the Miss Australia title in 1981 and was also in the Miss World competition held in London. He retired from show business at 50 in 1984, and died on 7 January 2019, aged 84, from cancer in Bellingen, New South Wales.[3]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1956 | Name That Tune (TV series) | |
| 1962 | Say When!! (TV series) | Host |
| 1966 | Jimmy (TV music variety show) (also later known as Tonight with Jimmy Hannan) | Host |
| 1967 | The Go!! Show (TV music series) | |
| 1967 | Take a Letter (TV series) | |
| 1969 | The Johnny Farnham special (TV special) | Host |
| 1970 | In Melbourne Tonight (TV series) | Host |
| 1963-1970 | Bandstand (TV series) | Singer |
| 1971 | The 13th annual TV Week Logie Awards | Himself- presenter |
| 1971 | Spending Spree (TV series) | Host |
| 1972 | Matt Flinders (TV series) | Host |
| 1972 | Split Second (TV series) | Host |
| 1974 | Ted Hamiltons Musical World (TV series) | Himself |
| 1974 | The Ernie Sigley Show (TV series) | Himself |
| 1972-1975 | The Graham Kennedy Show (TV series) | Himself |
| 1975 | Something Special (TV series) | Himself |
| 1975-1976 | Celebrity Squares (TV series) | Host |
| 1979 | The Magic of Cole Porter Special (TV special) | |
| 1981 | Search for a Star (TV series) | Host |
Actor
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1976 | The Sentimental Bloke (TV movie) | Ginger Mick |
Soundtrack
| Year | Title | |
| 1970 | In Melbournre Tonight (see above) | 1 episode (14th May) - Performer -"Soon It's Gonna Rain -The "In" Crowd" |
| 1974 | The Ernie Sigley Show (see above) | 4 episodes - Performer -"The Greatest Show on Earth" -"Watching Scotty Grow" -"Song Sung Blue", "Cracklin' Rose" -"Name" |
| 1972-1975 | "The Graham Kennedy Show" (TV series) | 10 episodes - Performer -"Once in a Lifetime" -"If You Go Away (Ne me quitte pas)" -"Cabaret" -"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" -"Personality" -"Get Down" -"And I Love You So" -"Welcome Home". "Country Boy" -"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" -"Beer Barrel Polka" |
Discography
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Hannan Sings |
|
| Hokey Pokey Stomp And Beach Ball |
|
| It's a Cotton Candy World |
|
| Jimmy Hannan |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [4] | ||
| 1963 | "Beach Ball"/"You Gotta Have Love" | - |
| 1964 | "Little Latin Lupe Lu"/"You Guessed It" | - |
| "Hokey Pokey Stomp"/"You Make Me Happy" | 50 | |
| "It's a Cotton Candy World"/"Come Out Dancin'" | - | |
| 1965 | "See That Girl"/"In My Imagination" | - |
| 1966 | "Gloria"/"Young" | - |
| 1968 | "The Lady Came from Baltimore"/"You Can't Do That" | - |
| 1970 | "Curly"/Sheila Anne" | 49 |
| "Thanks"/"Anything Could Happen" | - | |
| 1971 | "Money Money"/"Little Girl" | - |
| 1972 | "May Each Day"/"Together Forever" | - |
| 1975 | "Chang the Magic Dragon" | 49 |
| "Sail Away"/"Wooden Heart" | - | |
| 1979 | "Crazy Signs"/"Bon Appetit" | - |
References
- "0, those were the days". The Age. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- "Jimmy Hannan: a winning smile". NFSA. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- "Gold Logie TV icon Jimmy Hannan dies at the age of 84". www.news.com.au.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 133. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
