Molly Meldrum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Molly Meldrum AM
Meldrum at the 2014 ARIA Music Awards, Sydney, 26 November 2014
Born	Ian Alexander Meldrum (1943-01-29) 29 January 1943 (age 82) Marlo, Victoria, Australia
Occupation	Music critic journalist record producer musical entrepreneur television personality author
Years active	1966–present
Known for	Countdown compère Hey Hey It's Saturday entertainment news correspondent

Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum AM (born 29 January 1943) is a famous Australian music expert, journalist, and record producer. He is best known for hosting the popular music TV show Countdown from 1974 to 1987. He is also famous for his trademark Stetson hat, which he has worn in public since the 1980s.

Meldrum has been a major figure in Australian music since the mid-1960s. He started by writing for the teen newspaper Go-Set. As a record producer, he helped create hit songs for artists like Russell Morris ("The Real Thing") and Colleen Hewett ("Day by Day").

Meldrum is known for supporting Australian music. He has received many awards for his work, including a special ARIA Award in 1993. In 2014, he was added to the ARIA Hall of Fame along with his show Countdown. He was the first person who was not a musician to receive this honor.

In December 2011, Meldrum had a serious fall at his home in Melbourne. He was badly injured but recovered and returned to work in 2012.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Ian Alexander Meldrum was born in Victoria, Australia, on 29 January 1943. As a child, he moved around a lot and lived with his grandmother in Quambatook. He went to the same primary school as future country music star John Williamson.

In the early 1960s, Meldrum moved to Melbourne. He became close friends with Ronnie Burns, who later became a pop star. During The Beatles' tour of Australia in 1964, TV cameras caught Meldrum climbing on their car at the airport. He and Burns were also kicked out of a Beatles concert for being too excited.

In 1964, Meldrum started his music career as a roadie for his friends' band, The Groop. A roadie is a person who helps a band set up their equipment for shows.

The Go-Set Years

In 1966, Meldrum began writing for Go-Set, a popular weekly music newspaper for teens. He started by writing a story about his friend Ronnie Burns. Soon, he had his own column where he wrote about the music scene. It was during this time that his friend, radio DJ Stan Rofe, gave him the nickname "Molly."

While working at Go-Set, Meldrum also learned how to produce records. He worked as an assistant on songs for bands like The Masters Apprentices. He also produced hit songs for the band Somebody's Image, including their version of "Hush".

Meldrum also appeared on TV music shows like Kommotion and Uptight. On these shows, he would often mime, or pretend to sing, to popular songs. In 1968, he moved to London and wrote stories for Go-Set about the music scene there. He even met Paul McCartney and John Lennon of The Beatles.

Producing a Classic Hit

After returning to Australia, Meldrum began managing and producing for singer Russell Morris. He produced Morris's famous song, "The Real Thing". The song was written by Johnny Young. Meldrum turned it into a six-minute-long masterpiece with many special sound effects. It was one of the most expensive songs ever made in Australia at the time.

"The Real Thing" became a number-one hit in 1969. It is now considered one of the greatest Australian pop songs of all time.

The Countdown Years

Meldrum at the ARIA Awards, 2009

In 1974, Meldrum became the talent scout for a new TV music show called Countdown. The show was based on the British program Top of the Pops. At first, Meldrum worked behind the scenes, but by 1975 he was appearing on the show every week.

He hosted a segment called "Humdrum," where he talked about new music and interviewed famous artists. His interviews were known for being a bit rambling, but his passion for music was clear. He would often tell viewers to "do yourself a favour" and buy a great new album.

Countdown quickly became the most popular music show in Australia. It helped many Australian bands, like Skyhooks and Sherbet, become huge stars. The show also introduced Australian audiences to international artists like ABBA, Madonna, and Michael Jackson.

Meldrum's friendships with many stars allowed Countdown to get exclusive interviews. One of his most famous interviews was with Prince Charles in 1977. Meldrum nervously told the prince, "I saw your mum in London in a carriage!" The Prince replied, "Are you referring to Her Majesty the Queen?" This funny moment became a classic TV memory.

The final episode of Countdown aired on 19 July 1987. Meldrum ended the show by thanking the fans and the music industry.

Life After Countdown

After Countdown ended, Meldrum continued to be a major part of the Australian music world. He started his own record labels, Melodian Records and Body Beat, and signed artists like Peter Andre.

From 1988, he had a regular music segment on the TV show Hey Hey It's Saturday. He traveled the world to interview famous musicians, including all the members of The Rolling Stones.

Meldrum is also known for his love of Egypt. He has visited the country over 30 times and has an Egyptian-themed house in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne. He is also a big supporter of the St Kilda Football Club in the AFL and the Melbourne Storm in the NRL.

In 2014, he released his life story, The Never, Um... Ever Ending Story. In 2016, a TV miniseries called Molly was made about his life, with actor Samuel Johnson playing him.

2011 Accident and Recovery

Meldrum in September 2011, two months before his accident.

On 15 December 2011, Meldrum had a serious accident. He fell from a ladder in his backyard and was rushed to the hospital. He had serious head injuries, a broken shoulder, broken ribs, and a punctured lung.

He spent many weeks in the hospital and then moved to a rehabilitation center. His recovery was slow, but by April 2012, he was well enough to give his first interview. He soon returned to work, interviewing stars like Elton John and Katy Perry.

Awards and Honors

Molly Meldrum has received many awards for his work in music.

• In 1986, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to music and charity.
• In 1993, he received a Special Achievement Award from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
• In 2012, he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame for his work in television.
• In 2014, he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame along with Countdown.
• In 2018, he was inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.

See also

• Molly: Do Yourself a Favour (2015)