PAYING TRIBUTE TO GEOFF HARVEY

AS THE NATION MOURNS THE TALENTED TV PERSONALITY, WE LOOK AT HIS INCREDIBLE CAREER

He was the man behind the songbook of Australian television. An incredible music director and composer, Geoff Harvey was a familiar face to TV audiences.

But last week, when the sad news broke that Geoff had died at 83, it wasn’t just his musical talents that were remembered – many recalled his humour too.

Born into a musical family in London in 1935, Geoff began playing the organ at his local church at the age of 8. As a young saxophonist, he worked in jazz clubs across Europe before moving to Australia in 1960.

While forging a successful career in television, Geoff went on to build a family in his new home. He married fellow TV personality Penny Spence and they had two children together, Eugenie and Charlotte. The couple later separated, and Geoff went on to marry again – he leaves behind his wife of 32 years, Katrina.

The much-loved composer, who was the musical director at Channel Nine for 38 years, worked on some of the network’s most popular TV shows. He also composed the theme songs for

“HE WAS JUST A BARREL OF LAUGHS AND TREATED LIFE AS FUN … EVERYBODY LOVED GEOFF HARVEY”

A Current Affair, Today, Sunday, and The Sullivans.

Geoff was known as the “Maestro of Midday” for his phenomenal work on The Mike Walsh Show and The Midday Show. He was also well-known for being on The Don Lane Show.

Kerri-anne Kennerley, who first struck up a friendship with Geoff when they worked together on The Midday Show in the late 1980s, shared her heartbreak, following the tragic passing of her friend.

On Studio 10, Kerri-anne said: “I was so privileged to have so many fun years with that guy. We have lost a really good, fun Australian. He not only got entertainment but was immensely talented in his music ability.”

Speaking to Channel Nine News, one-time Midday host Ray Martin said: “He was just a barrel of laughs and treated life as fun. He probably has more friends in the business than anybody I know. Everybody loved Geoff Harvey.”

In Geoff ’s most recent role, he played piano in a show called Senior Moments. Show business in his blood until the very end, even at 83, the maestro was doing what he loved most – “playing for the people”.

Geoff with his wife, Katrina (left), and daughter, Eugenie (right). Kerri-anne Kennerley was devastated to learn that her long-time friend had died. The pair first met in the 1980s while working on The Midday Show.