Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)

Subject: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones
From: freda underhill
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 05:04 AM

I have mentioned the Loved Ones here and there on various threads. Sadly, their lead singer, the incredible Gerry Humphries, has just died. They were an Australian band who had an incredible influence on music in Australia. gerry Humphries had an incredible, powerful, moving voice. here is an obit from the Melbourne Age:

Loved Ones singer dies; By Patrick Donovan; December 6, 2005

Gerry Humphreys: beloved one.

Gerry Humphreys, charismatic lead singer of one of Australia's first rock bands, the Loved Ones, has died of a heart attack in London, aged 62. "He had a radiating influence on the Melbourne music scene in the '60s, more than anybody else," said Nigel Buesst, director of the documentary Gerry Humphreys — the Loved One, which was shown at the 2000 Melbourne International Film Festival. "He had a lot of emotion in his music. There are a lot of singers that might have beautiful voices but the emotion doesn't come through."

Former Loved Ones band mate Treva Richards said: "He was a fantastic guy and the public saw his enormous charisma. But they didn't get to appreciate his off-the-wall Cockney sense of humour. His voice was amazing and it was unfortunate he didn't move on to other big things."
The Loved Ones had three Top 40 hits in Australia in the '60s, which were covered by later generations of Australian musicians. Jet covered Everlovin' Man, The Loved One was covered by INXS, and Sad Dark Eyes was covered by former Saints guitarist Ed Kuepper.

Humphreys was born in London in 1943 and moved to Australia aged 15. He and Loved Ones band mates Ian Clyne and Kim Lynch played in the Red Onions Jazz Band around Melbourne's bohemian clubs. In an attempt to mimic the success of bands such as the Beatles, they recruited Rob Lovett and Gavin Anderson from jazz band the Wild Cherries in 1965 and started writing rhythm'n'blues songs. The band split in 1967 after just one album, Magic Box. The Loved Ones reformed briefly and recorded live in 1987.

I have a tape of some of their songs, and will copy it and send it to anyone who wants to hear the Great One for themselves.

sadly

freda

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones
From: hilda fish
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 06:53 AM

Ah Gerry Humphries and the Loved Ones. Thanks for letting us know Freda. I remember him in Melbourne, Victoria. Dark and brooding, curling around the mike stand. Drunk and surly but great singer - and a very quiet shy person in a funny sort of way. I guess his ghost will always be walking the streets of Melbourne in his stovepipe black pants, ratty black hair, gypsy face, on cold frosty nights. He never was a summer person. May he rest in peace.

goddbye to a little bit of the past
hilda

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones
From: JennyO
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 07:11 AM

Oh dear - that's terrible! The Loved Ones were a big part of my 'wild' teenage years. I still have the singles somewhere I think. He had a really unusual voice - definitely one of a kind.

Only a couple of weeks ago, I was listening to an in-depth program on one of the Sydney radio stations, WSFM, where they were interviewing him and playing the songs. I wish I could have recorded it, but I was in the car at the time. I wonder if they would have a copy.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones
From: MBSLynne
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 07:47 AM

Gosh! I'd forgotten all about them until I read this! Very sad to hear.

Was it the Loved Ones who did "Blueberry Hill"? If not, who was it? The picture I have in my head has someone who looked like Gerry Humphries singing.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones
From: rich-joy
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 08:15 AM

Damn! Another goodun gone!!

I still treasure my Loved Ones recording and my teenage memories. My Mother was fascinated by Gerry too and though she professed dislike, she remained glued to the TV every time he came on!!! Obviously he had that "animal magnetism"!!

Vale, Gerry.



Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 07 Dec 05 - 08:38 PM

The first folk concert I went to (Emerald Hill Theatre, South Melbourne, 1962) the curtain raiser was a jazz trio -double bass, banjo, and on clarinet Gerry Humphries (full name Humphreys-Hunt).
We became friends and I sang backing vocals on his Gerry & the Joy Boys' "Rave On" single, post-Loved Ones.
Last saw him late '74 in London where he'd reverted to playing clarinet with a relative's trad jazz band whilst earning a crust by reading gas meters, having decided the pop life was too unreal.
My favourite Oz pop frontman!
A Loved Ones CD was issued (maybe still available), and yes it contains "Blueberry Hill"

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)
From: GUEST,ian clyne
Date: 09 Dec 05 - 12:34 PM

It has been wonderful to read these little memories of Gerry.
I am traveling to London to say a last goodbye - (funeral is on Wednesdayat the Chapel in Wandsworth Cemetry, Magdelen Rd, SW18 11 AM), and will read some of these at the celebration of a life.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)
From: GUEST,Dilys Luciani
Date: 09 Dec 05 - 05:21 PM

I first knew of Gerry from the Red Onions where he was a great clarinet player and then followed his career in the Loved Ones. Sadly the band didn't stay together for long but long enough to give Australian music some of its best songs.
Just a week before he died I was thinking of him and since his passing I have listened to Magic Box and the live album Blueberry Hill. I will continue to listen and enjoy.
God Bless you Gerry.
Dilys

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 06 - 03:22 AM

Gerry also played many instruments quite clever and intelligent, loved to discuss life the world and love !' Miss you I do

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 200
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 12:26 AM

It's now November 2008 and my friend and I have just been discussing the Aussie music scene in the mid-60s and his name came up. I adored The Loved Ones and agree that Gerry Humphries was before his time. Their music was like nothing anybody else in the mainstream music industry in Australia was doing. I was only a young teenage girl then and I think that their sound was my introduction to the blues and r&b. You just can't stick with pop after such a epiphany.

Your memory lives on, Gerry.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)
From: GUEST,Lindy
Date: 21 Nov 08 - 06:57 AM

There sure was some amazing talent in this country back in the 60's and Gerry was unique...i remember them (the Loved Ones) playing at Big Daddy's in Gawler Place, Adelaide in the mid-sixties, when i was a wide-eyed teen!

Vale, Gerry and all the others we've lost over the years...you had such an impact on many of our lives and are part of so many fantastic memories, thank you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 May 11 - 11:54 AM

I remember Gerry when I used to date him when he played clarinet in the Jazz clubs in St Kilda, melbourne in the late 1950's before he became lead singer in the loved ones. I will always remeber the good times and he was such a gentleman! Rest in peace!

Subject: RE: Obit: Gerry Humphries, the Loved Ones (Dec 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 13 - 08:11 PM

GERRY HUMPHRYS was born 19th July 1941 and passed away december 4th 2005 just to clarify things.