Graeme Strachan
| Graeme "Shirley" Strachan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Graeme Ronald Strachan |
| Born |
2 January 1952 Malvern, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 29 August 2001 (aged 49) Mount Archer, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Rock and roll, progressive rock, pop, glam rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, television presenter, radio presenter, carpenter |
| Instruments | Vocals, tambourine |
| Years active | 1971–2001 |
| Labels | Mushroom/Festival |
| Associated acts |
|
Graeme Ronald Strachan (2 January 1952 – 29 August 2001), professionally billed as "Shirley" Strachan or Shirl, was an Australian singer, songwriter, radio and television presenter, and carpenter. He was the lead singer of the rock group Skyhooks (1974–1978, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994). While still a member of Skyhooks he had solo singles, which charted on the Kent Music Report, with cover versions of "Every Little Bit Hurts" (October 1976, No. 3) and "Tracks of My Tears" (July 1977, top 20). After leaving Skyhooks in July 1978 he concentrated on his solo career. He was the host of Shirl's Neighbourhood (1979–83), a children's TV show. 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 2001 in a self-piloted helicopter accident, aged 49, and was survived by his wife, Sue Strachan.
"Shirley" Strachan was born in Malvern as Graeme Ronald Strachan on 2 January 1952 and grew up in Mount Waverley. He was the older brother of three sisters, the children of Ronald Strachan, a carpenter and former World War II Navy sailor; and Joyce. 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 Mt Waverley High School to year 10, then he completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter.
Graeme 'Shirley' Strachan was also a well known supporter of the Hawthorn Football Club; in the (then) VFL.
Strachan met "Freddy" Strauks, a drummer, at a performance at Village Green. Strachan would later drive his friend to gigs. 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 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."
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