Duncan McGuire
Encyclopedia
Duncan McGuire was an Australian musician, songwriter, recording engineer and producer. He is best known for his association with vocalist Doug Parkinson
in the 1960s and 1970s and his membership of the 1970s fusion band Ayers Rock
. He was the bassist in several of Parkinson's groups including The Questions
, Doug Parkinson In Focus and The Southern Star Band.
McGuire's career began in the early days of Australian rock'n'roll; his first band was The Phantoms in 1959. He later became a member of The Epics (1962-64), who backed Little Pattie
live and on her early singles and her first album, as well as backing other artists including Reg Lindsay
, Johnny Ashcroft
, Bryan Davies, Jay Justin and Johnny O'Keefe
.
From 1966-68 McGuire was the bassist in The Questions
, Doug Parkinson's first major band, which also included Ray Burton and Doug Lavery, who later joined The Valentines
and Axiom. McGuire stayed with Parkinson throughout In Focus before shifting to Melbourne and playing with the progressive rock
bands King Harvest
and Friends.
In 1973 he formed the trio McGuire-Kennedy-Burton with Mark Kennedy (ex Spectrum) and former bandmate Ray Burton, which was soon renamed Ayers Rock
, and he contributed three songs to their debut LP Big Red Rock, including the hit "Lady Montego".
McGuire was the bassist in The Southern Star Band in the late 1970s, a group that again featured Doug Parkinson on lead vocals and the young Tommy Emmanuel
on guitar.
McGuire died in 1986 from a brain tumour.
Doug Parkinson
Douglas "Doug" Parkinson is an Australian singer who first came to fame with his band, Doug Parkinson In Focus, in 1969. He has had numerous hits on the Australian Top 40 charts.-Career:...
in the 1960s and 1970s and his membership of the 1970s fusion band Ayers Rock
Ayers Rock (band)
Ayers Rock was a jazz fusion/progressive rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group formed in 1973, and included many well-travelled rock performers; drummer Mark Kennedy had previously played in Spectrum, and played on sessions for King Harvest and Friends...
. He was the bassist in several of Parkinson's groups including The Questions
The Questions
The Questions were a Scottish pop band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Although they emerged from the same scene as Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Bluebells, The Questions were distinguished from their peers for their blue-eyed soul sound. ...
, Doug Parkinson In Focus and The Southern Star Band.
McGuire's career began in the early days of Australian rock'n'roll; his first band was The Phantoms in 1959. He later became a member of The Epics (1962-64), who backed Little Pattie
Little Pattie
Little Pattie is the stage name of Australian singer, Patricia Thelma Amphlett OAM later Patricia Thompson, who performed as a 1960s surf pop singer and then in adult contemporary music...
live and on her early singles and her first album, as well as backing other artists including Reg Lindsay
Reg Lindsay
Reginald John Lindsay OAM was an Australian country music singer who won three Golden Guitar Awards and wrote more than five hundred songs in his fifty-year music career....
, Johnny Ashcroft
Johnny Ashcroft
Johnny Ashcroft is an Australian country music entertainer, songwriter, recording artist and musician.- Early roots :...
, Bryan Davies, Jay Justin and Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
.
From 1966-68 McGuire was the bassist in The Questions
The Questions
The Questions were a Scottish pop band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Although they emerged from the same scene as Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Bluebells, The Questions were distinguished from their peers for their blue-eyed soul sound. ...
, Doug Parkinson's first major band, which also included Ray Burton and Doug Lavery, who later joined The Valentines
The Valentines
The Valentines may refer to:* The Valentines , an Australian rock 'n' roll band active from 1966-1970, chiefly noted for their lead singer, Bon Scott...
and Axiom. McGuire stayed with Parkinson throughout In Focus before shifting to Melbourne and playing with the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands King Harvest
King Harvest
King Harvest was a 1970s American rock band, best known for their 1973 hit single, "Dancing in the Moonlight".-Background:Formed by a group of four American expatriates in Paris in 1970, King Harvest was best known for its one US hit single, "Dancing In The Moonlight," which was released in 1972...
and Friends.
In 1973 he formed the trio McGuire-Kennedy-Burton with Mark Kennedy (ex Spectrum) and former bandmate Ray Burton, which was soon renamed Ayers Rock
Ayers Rock (band)
Ayers Rock was a jazz fusion/progressive rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group formed in 1973, and included many well-travelled rock performers; drummer Mark Kennedy had previously played in Spectrum, and played on sessions for King Harvest and Friends...
, and he contributed three songs to their debut LP Big Red Rock, including the hit "Lady Montego".
McGuire was the bassist in The Southern Star Band in the late 1970s, a group that again featured Doug Parkinson on lead vocals and the young Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel
William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel AM is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In the May 2008 and 2010 issues of Guitar Player Magazine, he was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their...
on guitar.
McGuire died in 1986 from a brain tumour.