Come And See The Real Thing

AUSTRALIAN songwriting legend RUSSELL MORRIS will embark on his HIT LIST TOUR in February, taking in four dates around the Hunter. Morris and his band will share two hours of hits spanning four decades of Australian music. As one of Australia's most eclectic music industry survivors, Morris was selected by the AUSTRALASIAN PERFORMING RIGHT ASSOCIATION as one of the top-20 Australian artists of all time. Morris crept his way into the Australian scene in 1966 as the lead singer of the band SOMEBODY'S IMAGE . From there he aspired to a solo career that came to fruition two years later under the management skill of industry heavyweight IAN ``MOLLY'' MELDRUM . By 1969 Morris had already experienced chart-topping success with two national No. th1 singles, The Real Thing and The Girl That I Love . and in the same year performed as a guest artist at Melbourne's BATTLE OF THE SOUNDS . nte Morris continued to blast his way through the charts, achieving five Top-10 singles, including Wings of An Eagle, Rachel and Sweet Sweet Love , and has had single and album sales in excess of 500,000 units. His songwriting abilities have been recognised by some of the world's top performers, including ROD STEWART, JOHN DENVER, THE HOLLIES, JOE COCKER, PAUL SIMON and LINDA RONSTADT. ELTON JOHN regards him as ``one of the finest talents in Australia''. The song Out of the Blue was acknowledged with a Country Song of the Year award. Morris has also written for Australian artists such as JOHN FARNHAM and performed alongside him in the acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar with KATE CEBERANO, ANGRY ANDERSON and JOHN WATERS . When he is not writing songs Morris is busy making appearances in various projects including the soundtrack to the Australian film The Dish which featured two of his songs. His latest collaborations have involved ex- ZOOT member DARYL COTTON and MASTERS APPRENTICES member JIM KEAYS , forming the band COTTON, KEAYS AND MORRIS . who play regularly to packed houses around Australia. nte Catch Morris at WESTS LEAGUES CLUB on February 11, HEXHAM BOWLING CLUB on February 12, PHOENIX SPORTS CLUB on February 13 and PANTHERS CARD F on February 14 . Book at the venues.