Australian composer and musician Tommy Tycho has died at the age of 84.
Tommy Tycho
Tommy Tycho was an institution in the early days of Australian television, right from the start of TV in Australia in 1956.
Tycho recorded the version of the National Anthem ‘Advance Australia Fair’ used often at sporting events in Australia.
Born in Budapest in 1928, Tommy Tycho emigrated to Australia with his family in 1951. Before that he lived in Iran and was the personal pianist to the Shah of Iran from 1948 to 1951.
In 1956 Tommy landed a job with Channel Seven and for 15 years was the Music Director for the Seven Network. During his career he worked with Peter Allen, Olivia Newton-John, John Farnham, Barry Crocker and international acts Sammy Davis Jr, Shirley Bassey, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.
In 1977, Tommy was awarded the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
Tommy suffered a stroke in 2008 and had been living in a nursing home ever since.
