1. The Age as part of its Birthday of a 150 years released a magazine listing the 150 influential lives of Victorian history. There among the luminaries was Bob “King” Crawford under Visionary. It further stated that he was a genius, and “Melbourne’s first Arts Czar.” The Herald on the 24/1/85 quoted the Premier of Victoria as saying he was a genius” “ The Ballarar Courier on the stated he was a” Genius of the arts” Australasion Post 11/4/82 genius. Sunday Press. 14 July 1981 genius Age genius 3 times. As the Superintendent of arts for the city of Melbourne,1972/87 created the world’s biggest free entertainment programme creating snow fields, icecapades, spectaculars of all types includingh histories of all types of music. (F. E. I.P. ) Changing the image of Melbourne from the “End of the world” as it was then described to the world envying us. Entertains 9,000,000 people in what was known as the romantic period of Melbourne.Writes “Return of the goons” with Spike Milligan and ” Australia Hurrah.” “ Created Planet records, Victoria’s first major independent record company.1951. Designed Victoria’s first Aboriginal flag. “The Coroboree.” First aboriginal flag used in a state ceremony
2. Designed his second Aboriginal flag “The Reconciliation” A 100 featured in the 4,000,000 “Long walk” in the year 2,000. Green line added to make it the famed Australian flag of Unity.
3. Producer of Australia’s first 12” Rock n’ Roll album. “Rock n’ Roll Party.” First multi title,Multi track rock Album in the world. Writes over 50 compositions for bands.
4. Producer& inventor of first Aboriginal expo at the Sidney Myer Music bowl and some 70 other ethnic festivals. Praised in National Parliament for ethnic content and its power for intergration.
5. Writes first Australian Children’s Album ”The Story of Santa Claus.” and first visual sound album “The story of Mr. Showbusiness” ‘winning international celebrity praise as the worlds greatest record. Praise on success of Planet records from the U.S. President Eisenhower and Australian Prime Minister, .Menzies and Hawke. Designs mobile theatre in four minutes.
6. Creates Australia’s first Special Delivery Service (S.D.) Has two children.
Designs the worlds first art cover for albums.” Hillbilly Classics.” and first four colour process cover. ”Time for a Party.” First to put photos of artists on record labels in Australia.
7. Produces The Massed Bands of the Olympic games 1956 album. Award R.I.O.P. A. R.
8. Writes and cast in Australia’s first satire album ”Holt 007.”
9. Writes first musicals for Australian Television story ,words and music. ‘Why is a woman?” and “Story in six flats.”
10. Writes, and Produces Australia’s first full length ballet “Snow White.’ Record capacity run at Princess theatre. 5 successful productions. Compared favourably to “ Peter and the Wolf’ and ”Nutcracker suite” also wrote “Pygmalion Ballet” “Pinocchio,” “The Ugly Duckling.” Aurora Australis.” etc. Writes “The magic Skates” starring Spiderman and Humphrey B. Bear.
11. First all Australian Music album written by an Australian composer. “22 Football Marches.” Records worlds first Multi track/multi title album “30 Party songs.”
12. Wrote the first chronological history book of Australia “The World is Flat.” with cartoons by Peter Russel Clarke. His City exhibition “The history of Australia” opened by Sir Rupert Clarke.
13. ‘Wild man of the 50s puts on the worlds biggest dance at Leggets, Creates biggest jazz shows ever; many with over a hundred jazz musicians on stage. Writes and stars in the first “American History of Jazz” in Australia. Becomes vice president Musicians Union. Voted top Jazz vocalist in Australia. Named “The King” by fellow musicians as a nick name. It stuck. Writes “The Norman Lindsay musical with Doug Surman.” Produces the first “Teddy Bears Picnic.”in oz.
14. About to release album titled “How to speak Australian and ‘ a rewrite of the release of 61 of the best selling comedy of all time then. 40,000. Co writes spectacular “Australia the Opera.”
15. Designs the amphitheatre in the Fitzroy Gardens and puts statuary in Queen Victoria gardens such such as the “Pathfinder” and the “Phoenix.”. Promotes the City of Melbourne for retailers in four major “Downtown.” promotions praised by retailers association. Some stated dramatic sales increases. Retailers association state nobody else should ever do them.
16. First to produce over a hundred shows at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Joins the “Italian Opera Co.“ as an extra. Produced the first International Women’s year reception in 1975 for the state of Victoria at the Premiers request. His Book titled “Australia’s greatest Folk Hero” (Ned Kelly.) Turns out to be the longest ballad ever written in the Southern Hemisphere.( 345 eight line stanzas.) Made ” Sponsor of United Nations.” writes “Riding High.”
17. First Australian to do multi voices in a long play album titled “Scrooges Screwy Xmas.”
18. Tours New Zealand lecturing for the New Zealand Government on Community entertainment. Key note speaker in National and international seminars. Stars in film “Remembering Elvis.” Known as Victoria’s “Grand father of Rock n’ Roll” in some circles .” Lady Diane Spencer refuses to play Snow White.” ”He forms choir for Spike Milligan. The Australian national commission for U.N.E.S.C.O report on entertainment in Australia had this to say about Crawford ‘.Melbourne is lucky to have Bob “King Crawford. writer, composer, producer, organiser, scrounger, salesman, wit, A veritable multifaceted diamond, human dynamo. His protest poem went round the world as it complained at France’s atoll bomb.
19. First to produce a 100 major productions at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Many with crowds over a 100,000. An arts and administrative nightmare .FEIP alone had up to 37,000 artists a season. Opens his Childrens theatre in Acland street St.Kilda with “Mystery of the Mill.”
20. Poem “The Whipnel Footie team’ claimed as a classic. Stars in Pantomime “Cinderella. ” as Baron Von Twit. Voice overs and actor T.V. series ”Bellbird” etc. Three decades of work as an artist opened by the Minister of arts at the Helen Gory galleries celebrating 640 works, mainly Australian history going on the internet. ’ With Billy Sneddon was involved with the World Highland Games. A highlight has been the involvement with the service clubs in a shifting thousands of older people from all over the state by all forms of transport to a show at the bowl which he tailor made for them. Another first was the show with guest leaders of shires and suburbs all over the state. Creates theatre circuits in the Community centres and life classes..
21. Produces, writes and co composers largest Australiana musical ever live “This is my country” as Victoria’s official celebrations for the Nations 200th Birthday. A huge cast of 300 plus animals
22. Produces and co /composers the states official 150 years Birthday Anniversary show.
23. Crawford writes the first Aboriginal blues song “Down Under Blues” recorded by legendary Aboriginal Georgia Lee along with his “Yarra River Blues.” Wrote ballet for Bwung Gul ;which Toured America. Produced 1st. public drawing of the Melbourne Cup. Howard Arkley dies before duo art series. Institutes annual free pie day for the people of Melbourne.
24. Writes the first Country music gospel opera ( Answer to “Jesus Christ Superstar”) ”Lady in Blue.” Presented with an award by the Country Music ass. of America. Writes 10 major musicals and 7 ballets. Writes Sonet Lumier “for Australia week and ’The Story of Australia.”. Creates the first Australia day eight day festival. Creates 1st. Living art /history/ live Exhibition at the Polly Woodside.” Writes fastest album in the world. Invents Ockerscapes.
25. First to produce over a 100 shows at the Melbourne Town hall. Does command performance for Queen Elizabeth . Worked with or did P.R. for Eartha Kitt, Gene Kruppa , Jimmy Edwards, Douglas Fairbanks jnr. Melvin Douglas, The Follies Bergeres., Shirley Bassey, Patrick Carghill, Melvin Douglas, Ted Heath big band, Shaun Weatherly (Miss Universe) Maurie Fields, Gus Mercurio, Val Jellay, Beverly Pinder (Miss Australia Universe) Jean Sablon,” Time out fpr Ginger”., etc.,etc ,etc. Invents “Talk a Story Jazz.” and “Daen or Aboriginal Jazz”. “The Jazz Party” released. Album all Crawford Jazz comps. Part of 18 various albums. First in the world to record all football teams in a series. Produces 8 successful productions in the Princess theatre. Produces annual Crucificions in Fitzroy gardens. Has 8 art exhibitions. ”Creates and produces the state of Victoria’s. official show to welcome the Tall Ships.” Bob Hawke ecstatic. Writes column for the New Smiths weekly “By George”” Gink Drofwark columns for magazines.
26. Writes and composes the first musicals for Australian T.V. on A.B.V. 2. “Why is a Woman” and “Story in six Flats.” His record of “Hail Mary” on his all composition album “He Sees’ on R.C.A..compared well by critics to Gounod and Bizzet versions.
27. Wins tri annual gold award for tourism twice and the Robin Boyd Environmental award. A Government certificate given for traveling internationally stating his importance to the Government as a citizen. The whole Russian Ballet company with their Gymnast Olympic Gold Medalists..“Sputnick” did one show in Australia,free for him at the Music Bowl for F.E.I.P. as international recognition, and no others, then returned home.
28. Composes first words and music album by an Australian composer “Meet Mr. Genius. Produces over 2,000 shows. Writes and produces with Doug Surman three major Australian musicals within 11 weeks. “The Eureka stockade Opera”,(Folk Opera) “ Term of his Natural Life” (Jazz Opera.) and “Robbery Under Arms “ (A country music opera.) Theme “This is my music” broadcast A.B.C. His compositions broadcast as early as 1947. Forms King Crawford Quintette for concert work. Opens his Children’s theatre in Acland st. St.Kilda.
29. Writes first Australian international satire album and does all four voices “The Wonderful whirled of Beeplemania” also Australia’s first 12” comedy album “The Australian.” Third clown, Simon Mc Nasty in Zig and Zag trio. His book “Awful Australian’ gets international collectors going wild. Writes major Musicals ‘Seven Dwarfs and a Princess” “The Time Machine” and “Paris by Night.” Records first Australian original cast album “For Entertainment only” and the worlds first first sterio original cast album “Sentimental Bloke.” Produces worlds first triple play album with Marcus Herman Refused fortune for invention keeping it for Australians.
30. As artist hailed as” Australian Van Gogh” which applied till his making the world breakthrough of Mesmeratic art ”The more you look the more you see.” The biggest break through in art since Jackson Pollock. Previously having also been compared Artist internationally to Nolan.
31. Stages 47 city marches overall and was part of staging of the first Football Final and first Melbourne Cup parades and even American Gridiron march. Revives St. Patrick day march after 30 years sleep. Sat on numerous Premiers committees including ten and a half years on the Australia day committee and chairman of state Premiers committees including “Salute to Australia.” the States forerunner to The Australia day committee, numerous community committees, “Children’s week, Garden State week, Hawaiin bi centenary celebrations, Tall ships comm. Governor Latrobe celebrations, Victoria’s sesqui, Norman Lindsay celebrations, Arts investigation committee., and the Melbourne Cup Carnival committee and the Royal Melbourne Zoo promotions committee. All as an inaugural member. Produces Opening and closing ceremonials for international Meets “World Bowls” and “World Hockey” and overall entertainment productions for Papal visit 1986 at the M.C.G. and Flemington. Given State receptions. Created Miss Melbourne Cup, Victoria Day, Melbourne Day and the first poets alley. Writes three books on Philosophy. Starts Talent City after Planet. Designed over 40 festival flags and 200 Australian flags. Creates first Melbourne comedy festival.
32. Has over a hundred recorded compositions. Hits “King Street Bridge. Barry O’Dowd and “Witch Girl “ The Mystry’s Writes for the all girl band the Contacts. His own vocal hit “Black and Blue.’ Re recorded for archives his “Blue Moon “ and “Candy store blues.” on “A Night at the Katherina.” Seventeen album productions already in archives produced by him. 2 more in process at Lyric. Painting also featured in the Media Museum and the” Red ribbon Rebelion” painting given the the people of Bendigo city. “The Eureka battle” planned for Ballarat.
33. Other albums include “Mans best friend’, “Strilyan”,” An Aussie meets Shakespear,” “On his Majesties Secret Surface” “I’ve never heard such rubbish”, “How to be an Australian.” and ”How to speak Australian one.” ”Stages re enactments of the Eureka stockade in Treasury Gardens.
34. Tours with ‘Les ballets Africains”, “ Carnival in Rio”( International co.s) & “Up among the stars.” writes “Raindrop ballet” for “Les Ballets Enfants.” Lady Diane Spencer kicks wife. Tribute spectaculars include “The Elvis Presly story”, ‘,Beatles,” “Robert Stigwood “,“Sinatra,” “Jolson”, “Buddy Holley”, “Johnny O’Keef” “The Seekers.” etc.etc. Produced “The Dave Allenby show.” for the Lido and ‘ A voice for the Animals” at the Dallas Brooks hall with Derryn Hinch . Compere/Narrater for the “Glenn Miller story” season, at Dallas Brooks.. Features twice as narrater in productions of “ War of the worlds.” Creates awards for “The King or queen of Jazz, Entertainer of the year, Australian folk music, Arranger of the year. Best country band, singer etc.. Amateur theatre awards, Envirpnmental Schools of dance, Oz music band of the year. etc. Builds the largest art branch in local govt. to service the city and state at a community level.
35. Responsible for the complete change of the image of Melbourne nationally and internationally. Planet label was the first Australian record company to a have policy to only record Australians or naturalised Australians. First Australian indy. company to also press in New Zealand. Wins fight with the international record cos which helped save the Australian record and radio industry.Takes community centre productions to the people of the city.
36. CURRENTLY. New album to be released. “How to speak Australian and.... Promoting “Australian Independence day” 10 th October plus a new anthem. “The Australians.” Also promoting “The flag of Unity” for a new Australia. Documentary in production “Five flags and a rebel” Design material in process of featuring in museums. Film “The Story of Planet Records.” and “Man the Earth Animal” shortly to go into Production. Working on Autobiography “Rebel without a Pause” and “Hairy Potter and the Galloping Mermaids.”. Presently also standing for the position of Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Age now 81. |
