Aussie TV personality Geoff Harvey dies aged 83

Australian musician and television icon Geoff Harvey, who worked on several Nine Network variety shows, has died aged 83.

Harvey spent 38 years at the Nine Network where he composed many theme songs for the network, including 22 years at The Midday Show, where he worked alongside Kerrie-Anne Kennerley and Ray Martin. He also worked on The Don Lane Show, Bob Roger’s Tonight Show, Bandstand and The Sullivans.

“Geoff Harvey was a man of enormous talent as a musician and an entertainer,” Nine CEO Hugh Marks said in a statement on Saturday.

“He was funny and generous, entertaining Australians as the musical director of choice on so many of our programs across the decades, alongside the likes of Kerrie-Anne Kennerley, Don Lane, Ray Martin and Mike Walsh.

“Our condolences go out to his family and close friends at this sad time.”

Meanwhile, broadcasting legend Ray Martin described him as “the face of Australian television”.

“He had more friends than anyone in the business,” he told the Nine Network. “Everyone loved Geoff Harvey.”

Others have paid tribute to the musician on Twitter, with singer David Campbell writing: “So sad to hear of Geoff Harvey’s passing. I cut my teeth as a swing singer with him, live on Midday on national TV. He was patient and funny. I now use the same dressing room he used all those years. Thank you Maestro. One of a kind.”

https://twitter.com/DavidCampbell73/status/1111902548217126917

After leaving the Nine Network, Harvey worked with orchestras around the country and spent 19 years as the musical director of the Melbourne Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight. He was born and raised in the UK, and left for Australia after the end of World War II.

Were you a fan of Geoff Harvey?