PETER COMBE
Writing songs for kids isn’t just child’s play.
Ask any Australian child of the ‘80s which songs they remember most from their childhood and it’s a fair bet Peter Combe classics such as Toffee Apple, Spaghetti Bolognaise and Newspaper Mama will spring to mind.
The video clips for these silly-yet-catchy-tunes dominated children’s TV in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, slotted in between cartoon favourites Inspector Gadget, Blinky Bill, Mr Squiggle, Round the Twist, SuperTed and Danger Mouse on ABC TV.
The Wiggles and Hi-5 hadn’t been created yet and Combe’s cleverly crafted songs made him somewhat of a pioneer in children’s entertainment, earning him pop-star status among youngsters and the nickname, King of the Kids.
At the peak of his career Combe won three ARIAs for Best Children’s Album, while his Christmas album, released in November 1990, reached the ARIA Albums Top 50.
While children’s entertainers come and go, Combe has achieved something many others haven’t — longevity. Now aged 70 he’s still touring Australia performing his songs to an enthusiastic new generation of fans, with his current tour bringing him to Hobart for two shows at Wrest Point today.
Combe says it’s not uncommon for three generations of one family to attend his shows, with parents and kids who enjoyed his original ‘80s songs now bringing along their children and grandchildren. “They sing them like crazy,’’ Combe says.
In recent years Combe has also performed at adults-only shows in pubs, clubs, uni bars and at music festivals, with people in their 20s, 30s and 40s hitting the dancefloor to his tunes. However, his current tour is all about Christmas. When Combe released an album of original Christmas tracks almost 30 years ago he says its success “took everyone by surprise”.
“It went gold in five weeks. There was no Jingle Bells, no Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, no Frosty the Snowman. But people still loved it,” he says.
His tour of Australian capitals features every track from that Christmas album, as well as a fun medley of favourites such as Toffee Apple and Mr Clicketty Cane (Wash Your Face in Orange Juice) because “people expect me to do them’’.
“It’s the biggest tour I’ve ever done,’’ he says. “I’ve done national tours before but not with a full band and a choir.’’
A number of his shows have sold out, something that still gives him a buzz, even after all these years.
Combe began his career as a primary teacher in Adelaide in the late ‘60s. He then became a music teacher and often wrote songs for his students. His “big break” came when he moved to London for a couple of years in the late ‘70s and became a presenter on Music Time, a BBC TV educational program used by teachers. As well as being played in Britain for six years, it was broadcast on ABC TV.
When Combe returned to Australia he presented Let’s Have Music, an ABC radio program used for primary music education. He quit teaching to focus on writing and recording albums of songs for children. “I take writing for children seriously, even if I do write silly, quirky songs,’’ Combe says.
See Peter Combe perform at Wrest Point today at 3pm and 6pm. Tickets are $35.63 adults, $30.54 concession or $130.32 for a family of four. wrestpoint.com.au/events