Alongside Brisbane’s Bay City Union and Sydney’s The Foreday Riders, Melbourne’s Adderley Smith Blues Band is recognised as one of the first authentic blues bands Australia ever produced.
Blues enthusiasts Kerryn Tolhurst and Mark Dindas formed the band, taking their inspiration from the Chicago blues masters like Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson.
The line-up shifted constantly. Broderick Smith joined in 1966 on vocals and harp, and over the years other members included Gary Collier (guitar), Fat Fred Bond (vocals), Joe Camilleri – aka Jo Jo Zep (vocals and sax), John O’Brien (vocals), Colin Graham – who would become Lighting Director for the Australian Ballet (bass), Ron Issac (drums), Paul Lever (vocals and harp) and Doug Stirling (bass).
The band played regularly at dances and blues clubs around Melbourne, and while Smith and Tolhurst were called up for the Army draft in 1968, Tolhurst kept a line-up running (with drummer Noel Herridge and bassist Mark Kozuch) until 1970.
Although the Adderley Smith Blues Band did not release any records, live recordings and demos are known to exist.
Tolhurst and Smith teamed up again in 1973 with The Dingoes.
Kerryn Tolhurst
Guitar
Mark Dindas
Piano
Broderick Smith
Vocals, harp
Gary Collier
Guitar
Fat Fred Bond
Vocals
Joe Camilleri
Vocals, sax
John O’Brien
Vocals
Colin Graham
Bass
Ron Issac
Drums
Doug Stirling
Bass
Noel Herridge
Drums
Mark Kozuch
Bass
