Colin Hay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Colin Hay
Hay performing in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Colin James Hay
Born	(1953-06-29) 29 June 1953 (age 71) Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland
Genres	Rock pop rock new wave country
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter actor
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1978–present
Labels	CBS MCA Compass Lazy Eye

Colin James Hay (born 29 June 1953) is a Scottish-Australian musician. He became famous as the lead singer of the band Men at Work. He was the only member who stayed with the band the whole time. Later, he also became a successful solo artist. Colin Hay is also a member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

Colin Hay has appeared in movies like Cosi (1996). He has also been in TV shows such as The Resident and Scrubs. In Scrubs, he sang an acoustic version of the Men at Work hit song "Overkill". His music has also been featured in other TV series.

Growing Up and Starting Music

Colin James Hay was born on June 29, 1953. He was born in Saltcoats, a town in Scotland. His parents were James and Isabela Hay. In 1967, when Colin was 14, his family moved to Melbourne, Australia. His parents owned a small music shop. His father was a piano tuner and used to sing and dance on stage.

Colin's Music Journey

Forming Men at Work

In 1978, Colin Hay met Ron Strykert. They started an acoustic duo together. In 1979, Jerry Speiser and Greg Ham joined them. They began writing songs for their new band, which became Men at Work.

The band released their first album, Business as Usual, in 1981. They followed this with Cargo in 1983 and Two Hearts in 1985. The band then broke up in January 1986.

Hay performing in 1983

Starting a Solo Career

After Men at Work broke up, Colin Hay started his solo career. He released his first solo song, "Hold Me," in January 1987. His first solo album, Looking for Jack, came out in January 1987.

In 1989, Hay moved to Los Angeles in the United States. He has lived there ever since. In 2016, he became a US citizen.

In 1990, he released his second album, Wayfaring Sons. In 1992, he released an acoustic album called Peaks & Valleys. His sister, Carol, sang on this album.

New Albums and Tours

In 1994, Colin Hay started his own music label called Lazy Eye Records. He then released his fourth album, Topanga.

In 1996, Men at Work got back together for a tour in South America. This led to a live album called Brazil. Colin Hay also performed with Men at Work at the 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.

He continued to release new music, including Transcendental Highway (1998) and Going Somewhere (2001). In 2003, he released Man @ Work. This album had new versions of Men at Work hits and his own solo songs. He even re-recorded "Down Under" with his wife, Cecilia Noël.

Colin Hay also toured North America with former Beatles member Ringo Starr. He was part of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. In 2004, he started a one-man show called Man at Work. It was a mix of songs and stories.

Movies, TV, and Recent Hits

Hay performing in 2017

In 2006, Colin Hay lent his voice to a character in the animated movie The Wild. He also acted in the horror movie The Uninvited in 2008.

He kept releasing new albums, like Are You Lookin' at Me? (2007) and American Sunshine (2009). In 2011, he released Gathering Mercury.

In 2015, he released his album Next Year People. A documentary film about him, Colin Hay: Waiting for my Real Life, was shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

In 2017, he released Fierce Mercy, which was his thirteenth album. He also narrated 24 of Aesop's Fables for an audiobook.

In 2021, Colin Hay released I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself. This album featured his versions of songs by other artists, like the Beatles and Glen Campbell.

Later in 2021, an Australian producer named Luude remixed Men at Work's "Down Under." Colin Hay re-recorded the vocals for this new version. This remix became very popular in the UK and Australia. His latest album, Now and the Evermore, was released in 2022.

Life Outside Music

Colin Hay is married to singer Cecilia Noël. She often sings backup vocals at his shows. She has also helped him produce his solo albums. Colin said that Cecilia was very important for his album Are You Lookin' at Me? (2007). She helped him with the music and sang on many songs. Colin and Cecilia live in Topanga Canyon in the Los Angeles area.

Colin Hay became an American citizen in 2016. He also has a home in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia.

Colin's Albums

Here are some of the albums Colin Hay has released:

• Looking for Jack (1987)
• Wayfaring Sons (1990)
• Peaks & Valleys (1992)
• Topanga (1994)
• Transcendental Highway (1998)
• Going Somewhere (2001)
• Company of Strangers (2002)
• Man @ Work (2003)
• Are You Lookin' at Me? (2007)
• American Sunshine (2009)
• Gathering Mercury (2011)
• Next Year People (2015)
• Fierce Mercy (2017)
• I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself (2021)
• Now and the Evermore (2022)

Acting Roles

After his time with Men at Work, Colin Hay appeared in several films and TV shows. He usually played smaller parts.

Awards and Recognition

Colin Hay has received several awards for his music.

• In 1994, he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame as a member of Men at Work. This award celebrates important Australian musicians.
• In 2020, he received the Distinguished Services Award from the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).
• In 2023, he was given the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music by APRA.
• In 2022, the remix of "Down Under" by Luude featuring Colin Hay won the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release.

See also

In Spanish: Colin Hay para niños