Jimmy Hannan (25 August 1937 – 7 January 2019) was an Australian radio and television personality, variety show host, singer, entertainer and game show host of the 1960s and 1970s. One of the pioneers of television, he appeared regularly on variety show In Melbourne Tonight, and later hosted his own musical variety show Jimmy, later called Tonight with Jimmy Hannan. Hannan hosted music show Saturday Date from 1963 until 1967, which featured such performers as Billy Thorpe and Olivia Newton-John. He won the 1965 Gold Logie award for most popular personality on Australian television.
Early life and career Hannan had his start musically performing in a big-band. As a teen idol, he often performed with people such as Johnny Devlin and Little Pattie. He released the single "Beach Ball", originally recorded by the City Surfers, in 1963. The song was written by Roger McGuinn who went on to become a member of the Byrds. The single reached number No. 2 on the local charts and featured the Bee Gees as backing vocalists. He worked on radio in Melbourne at 3UZ and at 2GB Sydney. He hosted game shows including Name That Tune and Celebrity Squares.
Personal life Hannan was married to Joanne Goode and had four children, including actress and model Melissa Hannan who won the Miss Australia title in 1981 and was also in the Miss World competition held in London. He left the show business industry in 1984, Hannan died on 7 January 2019, aged 84, from cancer in Bellingen, New South Wales.
Filmography YearTitleRole1956 Name That Tune (TV series)1962 Say When!! (TV series) Host1966 Jimmy (TV music variety show) (also later known as Tonight with Jimmy Hannan) Host1967 The Go!! Show (TV music series)1967 Take a Letter (TV series)1969 The Johnny Farnham special (TV special) Host1970 In Melbourne Tonight (TV series) Host1963-1970 Bandstand (TV series) Singer1971 The 13th annual TV Week Logie Awards Himself- presenter1971 Spending Spree (TV series) Host1972 Matt Flinders (TV series) Host1972 Split Second (TV series) Host1974 Ted Hamiltons Musical World (TV series) Himself1974 The Ernie Sigley Show (TV series) Himself1972-1975 The Graham Kennedy Show (TV series) Himself1975 Something Special (TV series) Himself1975-1976 Celebrity Squares (TV series) Host1978 Micro Macro (TV special) Himself1979 The Magic of Cole Porter Special (TV special)1981 Search for a Star (TV series) Host
Actor YearTitleRole1976 The Sentimental Bloke (TV movie) Ginger Mick
Soundtrack YearTitle1970 In Melbournre Tonight (see above) 1 episode (14 May) - Performer-"Soon It's Gonna Rain-The "In" Crowd"1974 The Ernie Sigley Show (see above) 4 episodes - Performer-"The Greatest Show on Earth"-"Watching Scotty Grow"-"Song Sung Blue", "Cracklin' Rose"-"Name"1972-1975 "The Graham Kennedy Show" (TV series) 10 episodes - Performer-"Once in a Lifetime"-"If You Go Away (Ne me quitte pas)"-"Cabaret"-"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do"-"Personality"-"Get Down"-"And I Love You So"-"Welcome Home". "Country Boy"-"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"-"Beer Barrel Polka"
Discography
EPs + List of EPs Title Album details Jimmy Hannan Sings Released: 1963 Format: LP Label: Reg Grundy (RGX-10,694) Hokey Pokey Stomp And Beach Ball Released: 1964 Format: LP Label: Reg Grundy (RGX-10,829) It's a Cotton Candy World Released: 1965 Format: LP Label: Reg Grundy (RGX-10,992) Jimmy Hannan Released: 1973 Format: LP Label: Fable (FBEP-167)
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Year Title Peak chartpositions AUS 1963 "Beach Ball"/"You Gotta Have Love" - 1964 "Little Latin Lupe Lu"/"You Guessed It" - "Hokey Pokey Stomp"/"You Make Me Happy" 50 "It's a Cotton Candy World"/"Come Out Dancin'" - 1965 "See That Girl"/"In My Imagination" - 1966 "Gloria"/"Young" - 1968 "The Lady Came from Baltimore"/"You Can't Do That" - 1970 "Curly"/"Sheila Anne" 49 "Thanks"/"Anything Could Happen" - 1971 "Money Money"/"Little Girl" - 1972 "May Each Day"/"Together Forever" - 1975 "Chang the Magic Dragon" 49 "Sail Away"/"Wooden Heart" - 1979 "Crazy Signs"/"Bon Appetit" -
References
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