With some career highlights playing with The Dugites, Stephen Cummings Band, Ross Hannaford, Joe Creighton, Joe Camilleri and the Jason Donovan world tour - John Crosbie's world class guitar style has thrilled crowds for more than 40 years.
John grew up in Melbourne and country Victoria. He left home at 14 and gravitated to Melbourne’s thriving live music scene of the mid-70’s. Hanging out with members of soul/funk outfits Mainstreet, Powerhouse and The Renee Geyer band, at just 15 years old, John played with guitar guru Ross Hannaford. At 17, John moved to Perth and began playing 5 nights a week in Footwork, with Bernie Lynch (who later formed The Eurogliders). John continued to play the Perth local scene for the next 5 years in bands such as Missing Persons, Underground, and Hya. In 1981 John returned to Melbourne and joined Dean Richard’s cult big band Hot Half Hour, playing trombone. In 1983 John played guitar on The Dugites third album "Cut the Talking", and later joined the band touring nationally through 1983-1984. In 1985 John teamed up with Ross Hannaford in the Melbourne based Soul/Reggae outfit One World, featuring Shirlie Matthews on vocals (Steely Dan, Boz Skaggs, to name a few), Joe Creighton on bass and Jerry Speiser (ex Men At Work) on drums. Around this time John also toured with The Australian Dance Theatre's critically acclaimed production "Detours" featuring Stephen Cummings, and the music of Peter Crosbie. John also played guitar in Stephen Cummings' band with Joe Crieghton and Joe Camilleri touring nationally. In 1988 John toured Australia and New Zealand with The Rocky Horror Show, in a production of the show featuring Russell Crowe. Late in 1988 John returned to Perth to form The Moon Kings, recording and releasing an E.P entitled "Human Dilemma" in late 1988. In 1989 John played lead guitar on Jason Donavon’s world tour, with 80 sold out shows from The Paris Olympia, to Wembley in London. After the world tour, John lived in the U.K. writing and recording as well as touring with U.K. African band Zambula. In May 1993 John moved to Byron Bay and played in a host of local bands including: Boris The Just with John Lloyd (ex Ice House, Paul Kelly and The Dots), Calling All Nations, and The Groove Masters. While living in Byron John lost his son to cancer in October 2000. At this point John retreated from the music industry. Returning to Melbourne, John recorded the EP “My Sanctuary” with Heath King in 2005. Around 2012 John began to focus on working solo, and in 2014 started busking in Melbourne’s CBD, including the infamous “Bourke Street Mall”. Having worked every type of gig, from pubs to stadiums all over the world, John found new inspiration in the “naked honesty” of busking solo on Melbourne’s streets. In 2017 John began work on “Home At Last”. The tracks were recorded with Jeff Springfield in Melbourne, and mixed in Paris by John’s brother Peter Crosbie. Finally the album was mastered by Tom Waltz in the U.S.A. This album marks an important milestone in John’s long musical journey, with songs from the heart and soul of one of Australia’s great musicians. |