Keith Potger

Keith’s musical career started well before The Seekers first stormed the UK charts in 1965 with Tom Springfield`s ‘I’ll Never Find Another You’.  He was a self-taught musician, playing the banjo, 12 string guitar and recorder, and with an eye to a musical future, he performed in two groups, The Trinamics and The Escorts.  The Escorts were a fore-runner of The Seekers, and consisted of Keith, Athol Guy, Ken Ray and Bob Turnbull.  When Bob Turnbull was replaced by Bruce Woodley, and when Judith Durham joined, replacing Ken Ray, the group became The Seekers.

At first they all had day jobs.  Keith was a radio producer for the ABC which meant he had access to a recording studio.  When they could find the time, and the studio was free, the newly-formed Seekers laid down some demo tapes (released years later as The Seekers’ Golden Collection.)   In the evenings they performed at a Melbourne coffee lounge, The Treble Clef, now no longer in existence but famed as the place that gave birth to this world-famous band. 

In 1963 the group obtained their first record contract, and Introducing The Seekers was released on the W&G label.  Since ABC employees were not allowed to have a second job, Keith could not appear on the cover, and Ken Ray was brought back just for the photo shoot!  (The story of Keith’s plight is amusingly depicted in the video of The Seekers’ BBC Farewell Concert of 1968, where Keith jokes around during one number in a variety of disguises – including standing on his head!) The band also released a single, ‘Waltzing Matilda’.  Together with the album and television appearances, they became moderately successful in Australia and turned professional.

On 28th March 1964, The Seekers set sail for the UK, with the intention of staying a few weeks.  But their surprise number one record was followed by five more Top Ten hits, including the legendary ‘The Carnival Is Over’ which knocked The Rolling Stones off the number one spot.  They became one of the best-loved and successful 60s bands, giving The Beatles a run for their money.

One single that found moderate chart success was ‘Emerald City’.  Although it was credited to songwriters Kim Fowley and John Martin, it was actually co-written by Keith.  He had hidden behind the pseudonym John Martin so that the rest of the group did not feel honour bound to record his song.

In 1968 Judith Durham gave notice that she was leaving the group, which broke up in July that year.  Keith wanted to continue to perform the same kind of music, so, with business partner David Joseph, he formed The New Seekers.  Later he changed from performing with them to managing them.  He produced their first album and co-wrote songs for subsequent albums.

Keith’s consummate musicianship was evident in the way he selected songs for The New Seekers and arranged them for five-part harmony.  Lyn Paul, a member of the group records how he went about this:

The New Seekers always tried to find a variety of good new songs to keep the act fresh … The efforts of Keith Potger were very important to us in this respect … Keith would call a rehearsal … and we would all sit in a circle around him, while he played our parts to us individually on the guitar.  At first it was very difficult and took a long time to remember the harmonies until everybody was read to sing them together.  But gradually, with Keith`s patience, we began to get used to it and the new routines were learned quickly.
(Sleeve notes from `The Best of The New Seekers’, Disc 4: Singalong).

In 1972, Keith arranged and co-produced with John Pantry an album for Springfield Revival, a tribute group to the original Springfields.  This album contained the beautiful song ‘You`ll Always Be On My Mind’, which Keith co-wrote with John Pantry and which became the group’s debut single.

In the 70s and 80s, Keith took part in several different combinations of The Seekers, though Judith Durham did not return to the group until their full reunion in 1993.  This led to an amazing round of sold out concerts in Australia, New Zealand and the UK that re-established The Seekers as an international musical force.  In 1995, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), honoured the group by inducting The Seekers into the ARIA Hall Of Fame.

In 1997, the group released a CD, ‘Future Road’, containing four of Keith’s compositions which gave the public the first real chance to hear his amazing song-writing talent.  These were:  ‘The Circle Of Love’; ‘Forever Isn’t Long Enough (For Me)’; ‘Guardian Angel, Guiding Light’ and the title track, ‘Future Road’.

As the Seekers continued to tour through the nineties and into the millennium, fans were eager to hear more of Keith as a solo singer, player and composer. In late 2002 Keith lost his voice when the group was planning its 2003 tour. He went into hiding while curing the problem with the aid of a speech therapist. Keith regained his voice and was able to complete the tour. However, after that experience he resolved to make demos of his songs in case something similar ever happened again.

The time was ripe for his own solo CD, and so in 2004 Keith Potger`s debut album ‘Secrets Of The Heart’ was released in Australia. Featuring 19 of Keith’s compositions, and his superb guitar playing, this album reveals a solo artist who more than deserves to be seen and heard in his own right.

About the show:

Keith’s show appeals to a broad demographic.  Aside from the huge fan base of THE SEEKERS that exists in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the Orient, Keith is developing another strong market.  This is the audience for whom Keith’s music is a breath of fresh air; the fans who appreciate the man and his guitar (and boy, can he play that 12 string!).

Throughout the show, Keith shares some amusing anecdotes of over 40 years on the international music scene. Usually made up of two 40 minute sets, the programme contains some old favourites from The Seekers, a touch of Nashville, some beautiful original ballads and a few covers of hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s that appeal to the generation who grew up with their folks playing SEEKERS albums.

In all, this is an up-beat, heart-warming event that leaves the audience reliving their memories of the past while sharing the joy of new beginnings that is Keith Potger’s foray into solo performing.

Song List:

The Seekers hits:
I'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU
MORNINGTOWN RIDE
GEORGY GIRL
A WORLD OF OUR OWN
EMERALD CITY
FUTURE ROAD

Other hits:
PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON
TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS
THOSE WERE THE DAYS
SAN FRANCISCO BAY BLUES
STARDUST
IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR
HALLELUJAH
SCARLET RIBBONS
PRETTY FLAMINGO
HELLO MARY LOU
I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS
ANNIE'S SONG
OH LONESOME ME
SEA OF HEARTBREAK
THE STORY OF MY LIFE
SINGING THE BLUES
HEY GOOD LOOKIN'
OLD SHEP
ONLY SIXTEEN
RAVE ON
EVERY DAY
BYE BYE LOVE
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM
TRAVELLIN' MAN
MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT ASHORE
WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNG MAGGIE
THE GYPSY ROVER
BLOWIN' IN THE WIND
I LOVE YOU BECAUSE
WALK RIGHT IN

Original songs from Keith’s “SECRETS OF THE HEART” CD
GOOD FRIENDS
ISLAND NIGHTS

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