Graeme Strachan

Graeme Ronald Strachan (pronounced "Strawn") (2 January 1952 – 29 August 2001), professionally billed and known as "Shirley" Strachan or Shirl, was an Australian singer, songwriter, radio and television presenter, and carpenter.

Strachan born in Malvern, Victoria, on 2 January 1952 and grew up in Mount Waverley.

He was the older brother of three sisters, and he was the son of Joyce and Ronald Strachan, who was a carpenter and former World War II Navy sailor.

Strachan became an avid surfer, and his nickname "Shirley" was applied by fellow surfers due to his long, sunbleached and curly hair (referring to Shirley Temple).

He was educated at Mount Waverley High School to the end of year 10, where he completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter.

Strachan was a well-known supporter of the Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL.

Strachan met "Freddy" Strauks, a drummer, at a performance at Village Green.

Strachan would later drive his friend to gigs.

His follow-up single, "Tracks of My Tears", a cover of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' 1965 hit, reached No. 18 in July 1977.

It was produced by Ric Formosa, engineered by Cockle, and recorded at Armstrongs.

The B-side, "Missing You", was co-written by Strachan and Bob Spencer (Skyhooks' then-current guitarist).

According to Nimmervoll, "Skyhooks in the meantime had started to struggle, and not one to do something he wasn't enjoying any more, Shirl left. It didn't mean that much to him."

Strauks and Greg Macainsh, on bass guitar, were members of Claptrap in 1970, and they asked Strachan to join on lead vocals in the following year.

The group were renamed Frame with Strachan; Strauks and Macainsh were joined by Pat O'Brien and Sintjio Oohms, both on guitars.

The group's debut performance was on 19 April 1971 at Eltham's Montsalvat, where Strachan "stood facing the band, too shy to face the audience."

In November 1972, Strachan left Frame and moved to Phillip Island to take up surfing and part-time carpentry.

He later recalled, "You'd get up in the morning and look out the window and say 'yeah'. Then you'd go down to Woolami and check it out. There'd be a few bars there, and you'd go surfing. Then you'd have lunch and perhaps a couple of hours' work, and then it's high tide, so you go surfing again."

While Strachan was surfing at Philip Island, Macainsh and Strauks formed a new band, Skyhooks, in March 1973 with Steve Hill on lead vocals (ex-Lillee), Peter Inglis on guitar (ex–Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band) and Peter Starkie on guitar and vocals (ex–Lipp & the Double Decker Brothers).

He was the lead singer of the rock group Skyhooks (1974–1978, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994).

In March 1974, Strachan replaced Hill on lead vocals in Skyhooks alongside Macainsh, Strauks and Bob "Bongo" Starkie (ex–Mary Jane Union) and Red Symons (ex-Scumbag), both on guitars.

Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane described Strachan as "a natural frontman: young and gifted, loudmouthed and witty, blessed with a sweet yet powerful voice and androgynous good looks."

Ed Nimmervoll, a music journalist, opined that "Not only did he have a new identity, he took his singing role on with new maturity and attitude. [Macainsh] told him he'd need to work the stage, and 'Shirl' never looked back, roaming the stage like a maniac."

In December 1975, they toured nationally, which Strachan declared was "the biggest tour ever undertaken by an Australian group. Every concert will be performed in the open air".

The group followed with a tour of the United States with some performances as a support act to Uriah Heep.

Strachan started his solo singing career during his time with Skyhooks.

While still a member of Skyhooks, he had solo singles, which charted on the Kent Music Report, with a cover recording of Brenda Holloway's "Every Little Bit Hurts" (October 1976, No. 3) and a remake of The Miracles "Tracks of My Tears" (July 1977, top 20).

In October 1976, he issued a cover version of Brenda Holloway's 1964 hit "Every Little Bit Hurts" as his debut single, which peaked at No. 3 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.

It was produced by Warren Morgan, engineered by Ross Cockle and recorded at Armstrong Studios on Mushroom Records/Festival Records.

The B-side, "Cruisin' Out on You", was co-written by Strachan with Morgan.

After leaving Skyhooks in July 1978, he concentrated on his solo career.

In July 1978 Strachan left Skyhooks, but his departure was not announced until the following January.

He was replaced on lead vocals by Tony Williams of Reuben Tice.

During 1978, he issued his third solo single, "Mr Summer", which did not chart.

After Skyhooks, Strachan worked as a radio and television presenter.

He was the host of children's TV program Shirl's Neighbourhood (1979–83).

He became known to a new generation as the host of a magazine-style children's TV series, Shirl's Neighbourhood, from 1979 to 1983.

He issued his debut solo album, It's all Rock 'n' Roll to Me, in 1980.

From 1993, he appeared on home renovation TV program Our House as a carpenter and co-host.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1993, Skyhooks were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Strachan died in August 2001 in a self-piloted helicopter accident.