Ted Mulry Gang

Born in Oldham, England, Martin Albert Mulry immigrated to Australia in 1969 at the age of 20. Just before arriving in Australia, Ted had developed an interest in songwriting. His friends were impressed by his efforts and encouraged Ted to take his songs to J. Albert and Son, in the hope that someone might start recording Ted's songs.

By chance EMI Records happened to hear Ted's demo tape and suggested Ted record one of the songs himself. The songwriter had never considered himself a performer, and it took a lot of persuasion before he agreed to record ‘Julia’ as his first Parlophone label single. Ted's next single had the distinction of being the first release on the Albert label. Albert’s star writers Harry Vanda and George Young of the Easybeats wrote the McCartney-esque ballad, ‘Falling In Love Again’ for him. The result was a national hit.

While his third single, ‘Marsha’ was struggling in Australia, in October 71, Ted returned to the U.K. where he'd secured a recording contract with Blue Mountain Records, a subsidiary of Island. They liked his music, but thought his name was a bit boring. Four months in England produced one Steve Ryder single, ‘Ain't It Nice’, released in Australia under his old name. In February '71 he returned to Australia to go back to his career as Ted Mulry. In June 72 Sherbet scored what proved an important breakthrough for them, their version of Ted's song, ‘You're All Woman’.

For his own performances, Ted Mulry had grown tired of the hit and miss process of picking up a backing band wherever he was appearing and began using Velvet Underground (same name, different band) as his regular backing band - just after their guitarist Malcolm Young left to form another Albert act, AC/DC. One night Ted's bass player stormed off stage. Ted picked up the discarded instrument and completed the rest of the show on vocals and bass. It was the moment that changed everything. Ted started practicing bass and the band's guitarist Les Hall and drummer Herman Kovacs decided to become Ted's permanent band. Together they became the Ted Mulry Gang. Just prior to the release of the first group album, Here we are in November 74, rhythm guitarist Gary Dixon joined to make the gang a quartet.

Much tougher and versatile now, the band struggled under the weight of their singer's old balladeering image. Their first single failed to make an impression, but then a Sydney radio personality suggested they release another of the album's tracks as a single. Eventually the record company relented. ‘Jump in my car’ became a national number one hit. The Ted Mulry Gang followed up with a souped up version of the 60 year old jazz standard ‘Dark Town Strutters Ball’. They were scoring hit records, with their popularity greatly enhanced by their appeal on stage as a hard drivin' good time rock and roll band.

When they switched to Mushroom in 1977 the Ted Mulry Gang become plain TMG, and the merriment on stage continued. They called their second Mushroom album Disturbing the peace. The album cover depicted a picture of suburban tranquillity being torn up. However the hits started drying up, then other acts took over TMG's mantle Australian rock and roll's party animals. TMG disappeared, but they'd left an indelible, happy mark.

In February 2001 Ted Mulry revealed he was suffering brain cancer and he passed away on September 1, just one day short of his 54th birthday. Sadly he passed away the same week as Graham ‘Shirley‘ Strachan.