Australian television pioneer Jimmy Hannan has lost his battle with cancer at age 84.
Jimmy made his first television appearance in 1956 on Name That Tune. He was 18. He went on to become a true variety entertainer hosting game shows, singing, and appearing in comedy sketches.
Jimmy Hannan was the Gold Logie winner of 1965. He also had a successful run on Australian radio broadcasting on Melbourne’s The Greater 3UZ. Then when there was a radio or television show for him, Jimmy fronted ads.
Jimmy had two Top 40 hits in the 60s and one in the 70s. ‘Beach Ball’ reached no 2 in 1963, ‘You Make Me Happy’ reached no 21 in 1964 and then in 1975 he made a comeback with ‘Chang The Magic Dragon’ (no 35, 1975).
Jimmy Hannan’s 1963 hit ‘Beach Ball’ featured the Bee Gees on backing vocals.
Hannan was one of the most seen faces on Australian television in the 60s. At one point he made 13 television appearances a week.
Jimmy hosted Saturday Date between 1963 and 1967. One of his early guests was Olivia Newton-John.
Jimmy retired at the age of 50 and lived in Bellingen with his wife and four children.
One of his rare television appearances was with Tony Martin and Mick Malloy on The Late Show. Here is Jimmy Hannan performing the Jimmy Barnes classic ‘Working Class Man’.
Follow Noise11 on Twitter for news as it happens
For news as it happens follow Noise11 on Facebook
Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio
