Garth Porter

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Garth Ivan Richard Porter | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|9|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Hamilton, New Zealand | origin = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = Pop, country | occupation = Musician, producer | instrument = Keyboards, vocals, piano (string, electric), organ (Hammond), clavinet, mellotron, synthesizers, saxophone | years_active = 1969–present | label = Razzle/Festival | associated_acts = Samael Lilith, Toby Jugg, Sherbet, Lee Kernaghan | website =  }}

'''Garth Ivan Richard Porter''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 24 September 1948) is a New Zealand-born Australian multi-instrumental musician, songwriter and record producer. He was a member, on keyboards and backing vocals, of the pop group, Sherbet (1970–84), and co-wrote both of their number-one singles, "Summer Love" (March 1975) and "Howzat" (May 1976). Porter is a co-writer and producer for country music singer Lee Kernaghan.

== Early life == Garth Ivan Richard Porter was born on 24 September 1948 in Hamilton.<ref name="APRA Back Home"/> His parents were farmers in the nearby rural area.<ref name="Kruger 1"/> He recalled that while growing up "I learnt piano for about six months so I had a rough idea of musical notation."<ref name="Hamey"/> The future songwriter spent two nights a week at his grandparents home in Hamilton, "I'd walk there from work and from their place, I would walk to night school and I vividly remember I used to really look forward to my walks. As I was walking, the pace of my footsteps would be the rhythm of a song and I was just making up words and melodies all the time I was walking to my grandparents and then to night school."<ref name="Hamey"/>

== Early career == In 1969 Porter was a member of Swellfoot's Assembly while a student at University of Waikato, which included Marion Arts on lead vocals and Paul Baxter on bass guitar.<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="Sergent"/> Later that year he was in Sydney and joined Samael Lilith alongside Daryl Braithwaite on lead vocals, Ray Ferguson on guitar and backing vocals, Mick Parker on bass guitar and flute (replaced by Bruce Worrall on bass guitar), and Greg Wilder on drums.<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="Kimball SL"/> He left that group in the next year and was briefly a member of Toby Jugg, which issued a cover version of Amen Corner's "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" as a single in 1970.<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Nuttall"/>

== Sherbet == {{Main articles|Sherbet (band)}} In October 1970 Porter, on Hammond organ, electric piano, backing vocals and occasional lead vocals, joined the Sydney-based pop group, Sherbet.<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> The group included his former bandmates Braithwaite and Worrall from Samael Lilith, as well as Alan Sandow on drums and Clive Shakespeare on lead guitar and co-lead vocals.<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Porter's first song writing effort for Sherbet, "One Man Team", was performed in late 1972 and early the next year but "We never recorded it... That was a pop/rock sort of thing I guess."<ref name="Hamey"/> The first Porter-written track recorded by Sherbet, "Back Home", was issued as the B-side of "You're All Woman" (August 1972).<ref name="APRA Back Home"/><ref name="Hamey"/><ref name="McFarlane S"/>

Porter and Shakespeare co-wrote most of the group's early hits including, "Cassandra" (December 1973),<ref name="APRA Back Home"/> which peaked at No. 5 on the ''Go-Set'' National Top 40.<ref name="GoSetCassandra"/> Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described it as "the first real indication of the Porter/Shakespeare-penned pop masterpieces that were to follow" and it "made extensive use of Porter's newly acquired Mellotron, which gave Sherbet a distinctive edge and sound over other Australian pop groups of the day."<ref name="McFarlane S"/> Porter and Shakespeare's co-written top 10 hits for Sherbet include "Slipstream" (June 1974),<ref name="GoSetSlipstream"/> "Silvery Moon" (August) and, the group's first number-one hit, "Summer Love" (March 1975).<ref name="APRA Back Home"/><ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Kent"/> Julie Kusko of ''The Australian Women's Weekly'' described Porter, in March 1975, as "Tall, and good-looking, he worked in an accountant's office before giving way to music."<ref name="Kusko"/>

Tony Catterall of ''The Canberra Times'' reviewed their first live album, ''... In Concert'' in April 1975, he praised Braithwaite's voice as their "one major strength" but found their major weaknesses were "an almost total lack of writing ability that, coupled with the band's extremely erratic musicianship, makes it hard to understand the frantic screams of adulation." He felt that Porter provides "some interesting mellotron and organ work... although his piano playing (on a Steinway Concert Grand!) is dreadfully pedestrian."<ref name="Catterall"/>

Further Porter and Shakespeare co-written top 10 hits for Sherbet followed: "Life" (August 1975), "Only One You" (November) and "Child's Play (February 1976).<ref name="APRA Back Home"/><ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Kent"/> While a member of Sherbet, Porter also worked as a session musician and producer.<ref name="Holmgren"/> In 1974 he appeared on band mate, Braithwaite's solo single, a cover version of Cilla Black's recording of "You're My World".<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> He also worked on The Mixtures album, ''The Mixtures'', in that year.<ref name="Holmgren"/> In 1975 Sherbet toured Australia to promote their fourth studio album, ''Life... Is for Living'', their support act were Dalvanius and the Fascinations, a New Zealand-formed soul music band.<ref name="Kilby"/> Porter produced the group's single, "Canberra We're Watching You",<ref name="Holmgren"/> which was a reworking of the Staple Singers' track "Washington We're Watching".<ref name="Kilby"/>

After Shakespeare left Sherbet in January 1976, Porter co-wrote mostly with Tony Mitchell (Worrall's replacement on bass guitar) including the group's second number-one hit, "Howzat" (May 1976).<ref name="APRA Back Home"/><ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Kent"/> In June Catterall approved of Shakespeare's replacement, Harvey James, on lead guitar as "It frees Garth Porter on organ from having to carry the leads, a job which he could handle well enough for a pop band but not for rock, and allows him to concentrate more on filling in the inevitable holes in the sound."<ref name="Catterall 2"/> The associated album of the same title followed in July and also reached number one on the related Kent Music Report Albums Chart.<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Kent"/> It was co-produced by Richard Lush with Sherbet members, including Porter.<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="AMG Credits"/> From September Sherbet toured the United Kingdom where "Howzat" peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in October.<ref name="UK Charts"/><ref name="Beach"/> Porter told ''The Australian Women's Weekly''{{'}}s Camilla Beach in November that "I've had two good feelings about it... One was a letter from my mother – she is so proud. And I hope Australia is proud of us too. But we haven't made it yet. That takes five years."<ref name="Beach"/>

In 1977 Porter co-produced Rockwell T. James' album, ''Shot of Rhythm and Blues'', he also supplied instrumental backing.<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="Forester"/> Other top 10 singles co-written by Porter with various Sherbet members are "Rock Me Gently" (October 1976), "Magazine Madonna" (June 1977) and "Another Night on the Road" (August 1978).<ref name="APRA Back Home"/><ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Kent"/> Porter sang lead vocals on "Matter of Time" (November 1975) and "Hollywood Dreaming" (June 1976) while with Sherbet.<ref name="APRA Back Home"/><ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Kent"/> From the late 1980s to 1984 the group attempted to enter the United States market, which included re-branding themselves as Highway and then as the Sherbs before disbanding.<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Holmgren"/>

== Later career == Porter initially had difficulty after the group's disbandment "I had a vague idea of a solo career, but not really, it was kind of there as an option but nothing that I really pursued... I found it really hard going as a songwriter, just out on your own in the middle of kind of nowhere. And especially the credentials of having been in Sherbet at that time were kind of, it was like having the plague really."<ref name="Kruger 1"/>

He helped launch Lee Kernaghan and co-wrote some of the songs for the live Musical theatre production ''The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular'' (which toured Australian capital cities — twice). The Original Cast Album of the show won the ARIA award for Best Cast / Show Album).<ref name="SMH_Aria"/>

== Personal life == In March 1975 Julie Kusko of ''The Australian Women's Weekly'' described his hobbies as furniture collecting, fishing and camping.<ref name="Kusko"/> On 7 August 1978 Porter "married his long-time girlfriend" Mary Byrnes in Sydney.<ref name="Porter Marries"/>

Porter is a producer, arranger, composer, mixer<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="AMG Credits"/>

Porter plays keyboards, mellotron, organ (Hammond, Wurlitzer), clavinet, piano (string, electric, grand), synthesiser, vocals (backing, lead), percussion, harpsichord and saxophone.<ref name="McFarlane S"/><ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="AMG Credits"/>

==Awards== ===ARIA Music Awards=== The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

{{Awards table}} |- | 2015 | Garth Porter for ''Spirit of the Anzacs'' by Lee Kernaghan | ARIA Award for Producer of the Year | {{nom}} {{end}}

===Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame=== The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honour the lifetime achievements of some of Australia's greatest songwriters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asai.org.au/hall-of-fame/|title=Hall of Fame|website=asai|access-date=17 September 2020}}</ref> {{awards table}} |- | 2013 | himself | Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame | {{yes2|inducted}} |}

===Country Music Awards of Australia=== The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.country.com.au/awards/past-award-winners|title=Past Award Winners|access-date=2 November 2020|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025171148/https://country.com.au/awards/past-award-winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{awards table}} (wins only) |- |rowspan="2"| 1993 | himself | Producer of the Year | {{won}} |- | "Boys from the Bush" (with Lee Kernaghan) | APRA Song of the Year | {{won}} |- |rowspan="2"| 1994 | himself | Producer of the Year | {{won}} |- | "Three Chain Road" (with Lee Kernaghan) | APRA Song of the Year | {{won}} |- | 1995 | himself | Producer of the Year | {{won}} |- | 1996 | himself | Producer of the Year | {{won}} |- | 1997 | himself | Producer of the Year | {{won}} |- | 1998 | himself | Producer of the Year | {{won}} |- | 1999 | "That Old Caravan" <br>(written by Colin Buchanan & Garth Porter, recorded by Colin Buchanan) | Bush Ballad of the Year | {{won}} |- | 2000 | "They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore" <br>(written by Troy Cassar-Daley, Garth Porter & Colin Buchanan) | APRA Song of the Year | {{won}} |- | 2004 | "Raining On the Plains" <br>(written by Sara Storer, Garth Porter & Doug Storer) | APRA Song of the Year | {{won}} |- | 2007 | "Close As a Whisper (The Gift)" <br>(written by Lee Kernaghan, Garth Porter & Colin Buchanan, recorded by Lee Kernaghan) | Heritage Song of the Year | {{won}} |- {{end}}

===Tamworth Songwriters Awards=== The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They commenced in 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsaonline.com.au/song-competition/|title=Tamworth Songwriters Association|website=Tamworth Songwriters Association Online|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref> Garth Porter has won two awards in that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsaonline.com.au/past-winners/|title=Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners|website=Tamworth Songwriters Association Online|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref> {{awards table}} (wins only) |- |rowspan="2"| 1993 |rowspan="2"| "Boys from the Bush" by Lee Kernaghan and Garth Porter | Contemporary Country Song of the Year | {{won}} |- | Country Song of the Year | {{won}} |- {{end}}

== References ==

{{Refbegin}} ;General * {{Cite encyclopedia | last = McFarlane | first = Ian | author-link = Ian McFarlane | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | title = Whammo Homepage | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040405231007/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | url = http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | archive-date = 5 April 2004 | access-date = 9 April 2011 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }} Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality. ;Specific {{Refend}} {{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs= <ref name="APRA Back Home">{{cite web | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | title = 'Back Home' at APRA search engine | url = https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch#axd?q=Back%20Home | access-date = 2 November 2015 }} Note: User may have to click "Search again" and provide details at "Enter a title:" e.g. Back Home; or at "Performer:" Sherbet</ref>

<ref name="Kruger 1">{{cite web | url = http://www.debbiekruger.com/writer/freelance/garth_transcript.html | title = Garth Porter – Interview Transcript | last = Kruger | first = Debbie | author-link = Debbie Kruger | publisher = Debbie Kruger Official Website | date = 21 March 1996 | access-date = 2 November 2015 | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175831/http://www.debbiekruger.com/writer/freelance/garth_transcript.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name="McFarlane S">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419053920/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=365 'Sherbet'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=365 the original] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040924080756/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=365 |date=24 September 2004 }} on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2015.</ref>

<ref name="Holmgren">Garth Porter on Australian Rock Database: * Garth Porter: {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404125910/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/portergarth.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/portergarth.html |title=Garth Porter |work=passengen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |archive-date=4 April 2012 |access-date=2 November 2015 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy }} * Sherbet (1970–80), The Sherbs (1980–84): {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010162541/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/sherbet.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/sherbet.html |title=Sherbet |work=passengen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |last2=Sather |first2=Gary |last3=Hart |first3=Alison |last4=Cahill |first4=Anthony |archive-date=10 October 2012 |access-date=2 November 2015 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy }} * Ronnie Peel/Rockwell T. James: {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404134256/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/peelronnie.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/p/peelronnie.html |title=Ronnie Peel/Rockwell T. James |work=passengen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |archive-date=4 April 2012 |access-date=3 November 2015 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy }} * Stevie Wright Band (1986): {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401213134/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/w/wrightstevie.html |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/w/wrightstevie.html |title=Stevie Wright |work=passengen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |last1=Holmgren |first1=Magnus |first2=Glen |last2=Goldsmith |first3=Gwyn |last3=Ashton |archive-date=1 April 2012 |access-date=2 November 2015 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy }} </ref>

<ref name="Sergent">{{cite web | url = https://www.sergent.com.au/music/redhotpeppers.html | title = Red Hot Peppers | author = Sergent, Bruce | work = New Zealand Music of the 60's, 70's and a bit of 80's Artists L - Z | publisher = Bruce Sergent | access-date = 2 November 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="Kimball SL">{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080306130200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/35967/20080307-0002/www.milesago.com/Artists/samael.html | url = http://www.milesago.com/Artists/samael.html | title = Samael Lillith | last1 = Kimball | first1 = Duncan | publisher = Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions | year = 2002 | archive-date = 6 March 2008 | access-date = 24 May 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

<ref name="SMH_Aria">{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/16/1034561163701.html | title=And the winners are... | newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2002-10-16 | access-date=2007-09-14}}</ref>

<ref name="AMG Credits">{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/garth-porter-mn0000181422 | title = Garth Porter | Credits | work = AllMusic | publisher = All Media Guide | access-date = 2 November 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="Porter Marries">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110901727 | title = Porter Weds | newspaper = The Canberra Times | date = 9 August 1978 | access-date = 2 November 2015 | page = 21 | publisher = National Library of Australia }}</ref>

<ref name="GoSetCassandra">{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19731208.html | work = Go-Set | title = ''Go-Set'' Chart Service Aust. Singles | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | author-link = Ed Nimmervoll |publisher = Waverley Press | date = 8 December 1973 | access-date = 2 November 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="GoSetSlipstream">{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1974/19740824.html | work=Go-Set | title = ''Go-Set'' Top 40 Australian Singles | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | publisher = Waverley Press | date = 24 August 1974 | access-date = 2 November 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="Kent">{{cite book | title = Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 | last1 = Kent | first1 = David | author-link1 = David Kent (historian) | publisher = Australian Chart Book Ltd | location = St Ives, NSW | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-646-11917-6 }} Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.</ref>

<ref name="Nuttall">{{cite web | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070704025400/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/43557/20070704-1254/www.poparchives.com.au/feature15ec.html | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature15ec.html | title = Toby Jugg – '(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice' | author = Nuttall, Lyn | publisher = PopArchives.com.au | work = Where Did They Get That Song? | archive-date = 4 July 2007 | access-date = 2 November 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

<ref name="Kilby">{{cite web | url = https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rarecollections/dalvanius-and-the-fascinations/6433676 | title = Dalvanius and the Fascinations – ''RareCollections'' | author1 = Kilby, Jordie | author2 = Kilby, David | publisher = ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)) | date = 3 May 2015 | access-date = 3 November 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="Forester">{{cite web | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19781012&id=xe1UAAAAIBAJ&pg=4791,5079455&hl=en | title = Popular Record Albums | author = Forester | work = The Age | access-date = 3 November 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="Hamey">{{cite web | url = http://rockclub40.ning.com/xn/detail/3977244:Note:28348?xg_source=activity | title = Interview with Garth Porter | author = Hamey, Sharyn | publisher = Rock Club 40 | work = You're Never Too Old to Rock 'n Roll | date = 29 December 2013 | access-date = 3 November 2015 | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224355/http://rockclub40.ning.com/xn/detail/3977244:Note:28348?xg_source=activity | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Kusko">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47806616 | title = Sherbet's Rock Is Cool and Sweet | last = Kusko | first = Julie | newspaper = The Australian Women's Weekly | date = 26 March 1975 | access-date = 3 November 2015 | page = 35 | publisher = National Library of Australia }}</ref>

<ref name="Catterall">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116341402 | title = Rock Music: Mixture of Strength and Weakness | last = Catterall | first = Tony | newspaper = The Canberra Times | date = 7 April 1975 | access-date = 3 November 2015 | page = 13 | publisher = National Library of Australia }}</ref>

<ref name="Catterall 2">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131824842 | title = Rock Music: Sherbet passes the rock test | last = Catterall | first = Tony | newspaper = The Canberra Times | date = 25 June 1976 | access-date = 3 November 2015 | page = 9 | publisher = National Library of Australia }}</ref>

<ref name="UK Charts">{{cite web | url = http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/sherbet/ | title = Sherbet – Artist | publisher = Official Charts Company | access-date = 3 November 2015 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110217184838/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/sherbet/ | archive-date = 17 February 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="Beach">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51196429 | title = 'But we haven't made it yet... that takes five years' | last = Beach | first = Camilla | newspaper = The Australian Women's Weekly | date = 10 November 1976 | access-date = 3 November 2015 | page = 4 | publisher = National Library of Australia }}</ref> }}

== External links ==

* [http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=131085 Garth Porter's stage costume for Sherbet at the Powerhouse Museum] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070831153601/http://www.portrait.gov.au/static/coll_1188Garth+Porter.php Portrait details at National Portrait Gallery, Canberra]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Porter, Garth}} Category:1948 births Category:APRA Award winners Category:Australian record producers Category:Australian male songwriters Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Hamilton, New Zealand Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia Category:Australian rock keyboardists Category:Australian organists Category:Male organists Category:Australian pianists Category:Australian male singers Category:Sherbet (band) members Category:Australian male pianists Category:21st-century pianists Category:21st-century organists Category:Members of the Order of Australia Category:21st-century Australian male musicians Category:21st-century Australian musicians Category:Best Original Music Score AACTA Award winners