Two of APRA's most eminent songwriting members will be attending the 2001 APRA Music Awards on Monday May 28th to join in celebrations for the organisation's 75th anniversary.
Harry Vanda and Daniel Jones are both writers from top songwriting duos that have brought international acclaim to Australian music over several decades.
Harry Vanda, one half of what is arguably Australia's most successful songwriting duo of all time, Vanda and Young, will be present on Awards night to congratulate composers and songwriters whose achievements in the year 2000 are worthy of acclaim. He will also find out, along with his songwriting peers, which songs have made the list of APRA's Ten Best Australian Songs.
The backbone of 1960s group The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and George Young penned such hits as "Friday on My Mind" and "Good Times." In the 1970s they wrote chart-topping songs such as the 11-minute opus "Evie" for Stevie Wright as well as "Yesterday's Hero" and "Love is in the Air" for John Paul Young (along with JPY's other major hits). Their songs were recorded by William Shakespeare, Cheetah, Mark Williams and many international artists, and their production talents masterminded the early careers of AC/DC, The Angels and Rose Tattoo. Vanda and Young also had major hits in the 1970s with their own alter ego, Flash & The Pan.
Vanda and Young's numerous music industry awards include the coveted Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music, presented to them by APRA in 1995. While Harry lives in Sydney and George now resides in London, the two still write together regularly.
Daniel Jones, half of the hottest duo in the world today, Savage Garden, will be on hand to present the APRA Songwriter of the Year Award for 2001. Daniel and his writing and performing partner Darren Hayes were themselves recipients of the APRA Songwriter of the Year award twice - in 1998 and 2000.
Since an extensive world tour in 2000, Savage Garden has been taking a break to work on individual projects. Daniel Jones has been busy with his new production company, Meridien Musik, producing other artists. His appearance at the 2001 APRA Music Awards will be a rare public appearance for this year.
The 2001 APRA Music Awards will be presented on Monday 28 May 2001 at the Randwick Pavilion, AJC Convention Centre, Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
