If you listened to ABC radio’s The Coodabeen Champions, you’ll be familiar with the songs of Greg Champion. He came to prominence in 1986 when Ian McNamara, on ABC’s Australia All Over, began playing Greg’s I made a 100 In The Backyard At Mum’s. Macca’s never stopped playing it.
Although born in Benalla, Greg Champion grew up in Adelaide. He was Melbourne-based from 1979-97, and was made the No.1 Victorian member of the Adelaide Crows. Since then he’s made the North Coast of NSW his home. While playing in The Young Homebuyers and The Fabularies, Greg Champion fell in with 3RR footy comedy show, The Coodabeen Champions in 1983. The program became national on ABC on Sunday nights, in 1988. Twenty years later, the team of five is still on air, having spent the past nine years at 3AW.
Greg Champion became known for his humorous songs and titles such as May Your Fridge Be Full Of Coldies, Roll Over Rolf Harris, Dermott Brereton Is A Hood, and Never Turn Right At Bouke Road, Malvern. His two Aussie Christmas CDs with Colin Buchanan, earnt them a platinum record with such tunes as Deck The Shed With Bits Of Wattle, The Feral Pig & The Cane Toad, Robert The Red-Nosed Reindeer, & Santa Claus Has Got A New Truck.
Greg Champion released his first Country CD on ABC Music in 1990, and to date he’s released six CDs of an Australian Country-Folk, among the sixteen CDs he’s put out. The other focus on AFL songs, cricket, Christmas, and comedy. He won A Golden Guitar at Tamworth in 1994 for the video of May Your Fridge Be Full of Coldies. In 1997, with collaborators Ted Egan & Jim Haynes, he won a Golden Guitar finalist with Don’t Call Wagga Wagga Wagga. He’s twice won the comedy/novelty song award in Tamworth, and has two ARIA nominations for comedy.
Greg Champion’s song That’s The Thing About Football, collaboration with Mike Brady, became the TV theme for Channel 7’s AFL broadcasts throughout the mid-90’s.
But it’s the release of his 2002 CD, SHADY TREE that has caused a stir. Under the brilliance of Producer Rod McCormack, Greg made a record of bluegrassy folky rootsy acoustic charm. No drums, electric’s or keyboard, just banjos, dobros and heaps of harmonies from some of Australia’s best: Beccy Cole, Jane Saunders, Gina Jeffreys and Jodi & Robyn Martin.
Greg Champion continues his widespread Festival appearances, his media work and song writing, and he recently returned from performances in France. Greg Champion has become part of the fabric of Australia.
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