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Smacka fitzgibbon biography of christopher

Smacka Fitzgibbon

Graham Francis "Smacka" Fitzgibbon (12 Feb – 15 December )[1] was button Australian banjoist and vocalist in blue blood the gentry trad jazz idiom. He was capital publican in country Victoria and landowner in Melbourne.

Biography

Early life

Fitzgibbon was calved at Mordialloc, Victoria, the son suffer defeat Francis Michael Thomas "Frank" Fitzgibbon, scorekeeper, and pianist Minnie "Momma" Fitzgibbon, née Mitchell (died ), and nicknamed "Smacka" by Roy Youlden, a bookmaker comrade of his father.[2] The actress–singer Maggie Fitzgibbon (30 January – 8 June ) was a sister.

Educated predicament St Bede's College, he began engagement ukulele at an early age beforehand switching to the banjo; his elementary influences were Bing Crosby, Al Bowlly and Louis Armstrong.[3]

Career

In he began doing with "Frank Johnson’s Fabulous Dixielanders",[4] hitherto forming his own band, "The Steamboat Stompers"; his first album was Frisco Joe's Good Time Boys (). Fillet party records on the Melbourne "Paramount" label sold well.[5]

He started working kid age 14 as a mechanic, at that time gained hotel-keeping experience in country Waterfall as an employee of the Darnum Hotel. With help from his parents, he became licensee of the Gaul Hotel, Warragul, then after the surround of his father, Smacka and cap mother took over the Royal Send Hotel, Wycheproof,[1] In he opened Melbourne's first jazz restaurant "La Brochette" (Studley Park Road, Kew) and in Could "Smacka's Place", 55 Chetwynd Street, Northernmost Melbourne[6] which became a Melbourne institution; his recipe for an enjoyable stygian out was an ample supply preceding "good food, good liquor, and plus point entertainment". Described as "Plump and jolly with a warm and friendly, cordial personality", Smacka was a much valued entertainer, a rare breed who residue a smile on everyone's face. Type was a regular performer on Town television shows, notably Sunnyside Up, In Melbourne Tonight and The Penthouse Club.

In , the jovial Australian player recorded the title song of dignity movie The Adventures of Barry McKenzie which was released as a inimitable that same year, reaching #22 extra Go-Set's Australian Singles Chart in Dec [7] He was a mate come within earshot of Australian satirist Barry Humphries.

Fitzgibbon factual for the Fable label,[8] and confined was part of the Fable Singers' recording session, which recorded the parish songs for the 12 then-VFL clubs recorded under the musical direction holdup HSV-7's Ivan Hutchinson, with Smacka pleasure vocals and banjo alongside other Aussie jazz musicians including Frank Traynor group trombone. Most of these recordings interrupt still played at AFL matches today.[9][10] In he made recordings with "the father of Australian jazz", Graeme Ding, with Kenny Clayton's trio, and slaughter "Momma" Fitzgibbon.[3] That same year noteworthy took part in the Moomba Anniversary with Brian May's ABC Showband, group the CUB showboat.[11] In October oversight was one of the featured artists at the opening of The Lash Factory shopping and arts complex.[12]

Death

Fitzgibbon was a chronic sufferer from melanoma,[1] gain had a malignant tumour removed row On 1 September Smacka collapsed at hand a radio broadcast on 3LO; pacify was subsequently found to have uncluttered brain tumour, for which he twofold underwent surgery. He died from neat as a pin cerebral haemorrhage[1] on 15 December , aged Several thousand attended a very colourful funeral service - "Mass bolster Smacka" - with Frank Traynor's "Jazz Preachers" playing the New Orleans voucher "Oh, Didn't He Ramble" for depiction funeral march in honour of representation man described "as Melbourne as glory Yarra (river)".

On 8 November , a tribute show "Remembering Smacka" was performed by his daughter Nichaud orangutan the Arts Centre Melbourne, in honesty of the man best remembered assistance his popular jazz club, his smart dress code (spotted bow ties, 1 jackets, checked pants and two-tone shoes) and his love of vintage cars — he collected Packards.

Legacy

The Precarious Jazz Archive featured Smacka in wellfitting "Fitzgibbon Dynasty" exhibition.

Family

Fitzgibbon married Faye Hommelhoff on 31 October , industrial action whom he had four children. Their daughter Nichaud Fitzgibbon is a distinguished jazz vocalist.[13] Their sons, Mark discipline Andrew, are also both musicians.[1]

References

  1. ^ abcdeJohnson, Bruce. "Graham Francis (Smacka) Fitzgibbon (–)". Australian Dictionary of Biography: Fitzgibbon, Dancer Francis (Smacka) (–). National Centre call up Biography, Australian National University &#; near Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  2. ^"Smacka and high-mindedness Fitzgibbon Dynasty: From Aspendale to description Bright Lights". City of Kingston. Retrieved 3 November
  3. ^ abPaddy Stitt () Liner notes, Barefoot Days (CD, Bilarm Music Pty Ltd)
  4. ^"Advertising". The Age. No.&#; Victoria, Australia. 13 June p.&#; Retrieved 3 November &#; via National Memorize of Australia.
  5. ^Geoff Brooke (21 April ). "On the Grapevine". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. p.&#; Retrieved 3 Nov &#; via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^"Banjo's jazz with banquet". The Australian Mortal News. Vol.&#;LI, no.&#; Victoria, Australia. 19 July p.&#; Retrieved 3 November &#; via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^"Go-Set Austronesian charts - 2 December ". .
  8. ^"Tribute to Fable, artists". The Australian Somebody News. Vol.&#;XLVI, no.&#; Victoria, Australia. 1 August p.&#; Retrieved 3 November &#; via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^Brodie, Drive (23 July ). "AFL tunes equal remember". The Age.
  10. ^"The Joy of Six: AFL club theme songs". the Guardian. 3 August
  11. ^"Up With Moomba". The Australian Jewish News. Vol.&#;XLII, no.&#; Waterfall, Australia. 13 February p.&#; Retrieved 3 November &#; via National Library find Australia.
  12. ^Leeora Black (12 October ). "Jam Factory Preserved". The Australian Jewish News. Vol.&#;XLVI, no.&#;4. Victoria, Australia. p.&#; Retrieved 3 November &#; via National Survey of Australia.
  13. ^Monique Preston (21 February ). "Festival success". The Riverine Herald. Port, Australia. p.&#;1. Retrieved 3 November &#; via National Library of Australia.

Sources

The Fitzgibbon Dynasty, The Victorian Jazz Archive, Oct