Formed: 1970

Style: Rock N' Roll

Line Up: Ross Wilson (Vocals, Guitar), Ross Hannaford (Vocals, Lead Guitar), Wayne Duncan (Bass) & Gary Young (Drums)

 

Up until 1971 in Australia, If a local album sold anywhere near the 10,000 mark there was almost cause for national celebration. That mark was shattered in fine style when Daddy Cool issued its bold, exuberant debut album Daddy Who? Daddy Cool! The album set a new yardstick by which Australian rock success could be measured  by selling an unprecedented 60,000 copies. Ross Wilson launch Daddy Cool as a bit of a joke. Daddy Cool was basically a rock n' roll revival outfit, a humorous and entertaining diversion from the serious business of advancing the horizons of rock music. Wilson took the name from the Rays' 1957 hit, and it was a chance for him to indulge his passion for vintage Los Angeles Rock N' Roll. The public caught on quickly and Daddy Cool soon became Australia's top group. Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford first worked together in their teenage R & B outfit The Pink Finks, before moving on to The Party Machine. Wilson was a member of Procession in England between March 1969 and early 1970. In the interim, Hannaford formed country rock band Quinn. It was while they were attempting to get their esoteric, special occasion progressive band Sons of The Vegetal Mother off the ground during 1970, that Wilson and Hannaford had decided to play around with the rollicking, good time Daddy Cool concept. Gary Young and Wayne Duncan completed the lineup. Daddy Cool's first gigs were in October/November 1970, at such notorious 'Head' venues of the day such as the T.F. Much Ballroom. The Sons Of The Vegetal Mother concept was abandoned after Daddy Cool became a hit at the Odyssey Wallacia Pop Festival in January 1971. The next week Daddy Cool stole the show at Myponga and by June Daddy Cool was #1 on the singles chart with the Australian dance classic 'Eagle Rock'/'Bom Bom'. Two months later they toped the album charts with Daddy Who? Daddy Cool!