Ted Mulry

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English-Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist (1947–2001)

title: "Ted Mulry" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1947-births", "2001-deaths", "australian-pop-singers", "australian-bass-guitarists", "musicians-from-oldham", "musicians-from-sydney", "australian-rock-bass-guitarists", "australian-male-bass-guitarists", "australian-rock-guitarists", "australian-people-of-english-descent", "english-male-singer-songwriters", "english-emigrants-to-australia", "deaths-from-brain-cancer-in-australia", "deaths-from-cancer-in-new-south-wales", "20th-century-bass-guitarists", "acoustic-guitarists", "20th-century-australian-male-singers", "australian-male-singer-songwriters", "20th-century-australian-singer-songwriters"] description: "English-Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist (1947–2001)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Mulry" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary English-Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist (1947–2001) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

FieldValue
nameTed Mulry
landscape
backgroundsolo_singer
aliasSteve Ryder
birth_nameMartin Albert Mulry
birth_date
birth_placeOldham, Lancashire, England
originSydney, New South Wales, Australia
death_date
death_placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
genre
occupationSinger-songwriter, musician
instrumentVocals, bass guitar, guitar
years_active1969−2001
label
::

| name = Ted Mulry | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | background = solo_singer | alias = Steve Ryder | birth_name = Martin Albert Mulry | birth_date = | birth_place = Oldham, Lancashire, England | origin = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | death_date = | death_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | genre = | occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician | instrument = Vocals, bass guitar, guitar | years_active = 1969−2001 | label = | associated_acts =

Martin Albert Mulry (2 September 19471 September 2001), known professionally as Ted Mulry, was an English-born Australian singer, songwriter, bass player and guitarist. As a solo artist, his second single, "Falling in Love Again" (February 1971), reached No. 11 on the Go-Set National Top 60. From September 1972 he led his own band, Ted Mulry Gang, which were also credited as TMG. They had a number-one hit single on the Kent Music Report with "Jump in My Car" (September 1975) and top ten appearances with a cover version of "Darktown Strutters' Ball" (February 1976), and with "Jamaica Rum" (January 1977) and "My Little Girl" (May). Their second album, Struttin (May 1976), also reached the top ten. The group disbanded in 1986, although periodically reformed. Mulry announced in February 2001 that he had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. In the next month numerous music artists responded with Gimme Ted, a series of benefit concerts, which were recorded for a 2×DVD video tribute album, Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts (May 2003). Mulry died of his brain tumour in September 2001.

Early career

Martin Albert Mulry was born on 2 September 1947 in Oldham, Lancashire, England. His younger brother, Steve Mulry, was also a musician. Mulry started learning guitar from the age of ten. On 5 April 1966 Mulry arrived in Sydney as a cotton weaver intending to work at Carinya Farm, Bargo. By 1969 he was working for the Department of Main Roads, driving a bulldozer.Ted Mulry entries:

  • First edition (Ted Mulry): Note: birth year is incorrectly given as 1949.
  • First edition (Ted Mulry Gang):
  • Second edition: Note: birth year is incorrectly given as 1951.

He sent a demo tape of his own compositions to Albert Productions in Sydney and intended to gain work as a songwriter. The company persuaded him to release his own recordings. He gained notice as a solo singer-songwriter with his pop ballad, "Julia" (February 1970), which reached the Go-Set National Top 40 in mid-May. However, the single's airplay and charting was adversely affected by the 1970 radio ban, which was a "pay for play" dispute and prevented commercial radio from playing some works (including Mulry's). Mulry's next single, "Falling in Love Again" (February 1971), was written by Vanda & Young (ex-the Easybeats), which reached No. 11.

During his solo career Mulry was typically backed by ad hoc groups. For the Canberra Day Pop Concert, in March 1971, the line-up was local musicians Russ Corkhill on piano and organ, Bob Martin on guitar, Paul Reynolds on bass guitar, and Tony Simon on drums. In June of that year he supported visiting English pop group, the Kinks at a performance in Canberra. He used the same backing musicians, who The Canberra Times Michael Foster described as "very good Canberra musicians." He also felt that "Best of his presentations were probably 'Julia' and 'Louisa', with everyone happy to hear 'Falling in Love Again'. I would have enjoyed 'Take Me Back', if it had finished when the statement had been made."

Mulry released his debut solo album, Falling in Love Again (September 1971), and returned to England in the following month. While there he issued a single, "Ain't It Nice" (May 1972), as Steve Ryder for the Blue Mountain label. It did not chart and he returned to Sydney by mid-1972. Mulry was a prolific songwriter and provided material for other artists, including John Farnham and Alison MacCallum. Pop band Sherbet had a top 20 hit with a cover version of his song, "You're All Woman" (August 1972). He issued his second solo album, I Won't Look Back (February 1973). Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described how "[it] featured a rockier sound than heard on [his] early singles, and augured well for the future."

Ted Mulry Gang

Mulry, on lead vocals and, initially, on rhythm guitar, formed his own backing group in Sydney, which became Ted Mulry Gang (TMG), in September 1972. Other founders were Les Hall on lead guitar, Steve Hart on bass guitar and Herman Kovacs on drums. Hall and Kovacs had been members of a "popular suburban dance band", the Velvet Underground (not the US band of the same name), which had formed in Newcastle in 1967 and had relocated to Sydney in 1969. They had previously included Malcolm Young (later of AC/DC) on rhythm guitar. One of TMG's first performances was in September 1972 at the Mattara Festival, Newcastle. Hall, Hart and Kovacs backed Mulry on ABC-TV's popular music series, GTK, in 1973 to promote his own version of "You're All Woman".

During a 1974 gig Hart stormed out leaving his bass guitar behind, Mulry picked up the instrument and finished the show on vocals and bass guitar. Ted Mulry Gang signed with Albert Productions in that year and released their first album, Here We Are (November 1974). Before the album appeared they recruited Gary Dixon on rhythm guitar (ex-Fat Harry). however, with his band's support he adopted a harder rocking style.

Their first major hit, and the biggest of their career, was the next single, "Jump in My Car" (September 1975), which spent six weeks at No. 1. According to McFarlane, "[it] set the tone for subsequent releases with its simplistic, 12-bar boogie guitar riffs, thumping beat, Mulry's gravelly, gregarious vocals and tongue-in-cheek lyrics." Over the next two years they achieved a string of top ten singles including a rocked up version of an old jazz song, "Darktown Strutters' Ball" (February 1976); followed by "Jamaica Rum" (January 1977) and "My Little Girl" (May).

Many of TMG's songs, including "Jump in My Car", were co-written by Mulry and Hall. By late in 1980 their chart success had ended but they remained popular performers on the Australian pub circuit until they disbanded in 1986. With his music career side-lined he started a business with his mechanic. In 1989 Ted Mulry Gang briefly reformed, with Mulry, Hall and Kovacs joined by sometime Rose Tattoo guitarist Mick Cocks. They released an album, Re-Union for Albert, on Sony. This marked their first on compact disc. Other CD reissues followed in the early 1990s. In 1998 Mulry, as a solo artist issued a CD, This Time, featuring songs co-written by himself and his brother, Steve.

Death

In February 2001, Mulry announced that he had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. Gimme Ted, two tribute concerts were organised for the following month, with numerous Australian musicians paying homage. Included was a reunion of the Ted Mulry Gang with Steve as lead vocalist. A double-DVD, Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts, was released in 2003. Mulry died of his brain tumour on 1 September 2001 in Sydney, one day away from his 54th birthday. Steve later fronted a rock band, Black Label, which performed in New South Wales and Victoria, including supporting the Angels.

David Hasselhoff recording

In January 2006 actor David Hasselhoff recorded a cover version of "Jump in My Car", whilst in Australia. Hasselhoff's version was released in the UK and went to No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart in October. It also went No. 24 in Ireland.

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table title="List of albums, with selected chart positions"] | Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | AUS | Falling in Love Again | I Won't Look Back | Here We Are (as Ted Mulry Gang) | ''Struttin''' (as Ted Mulry Gang) | Steppin' Out (as Ted Mulry Gang) | The T.M.G. Album (as Ted Mulry Gang) | Disturbing the Peace (as Ted Mulry Gang) | Locked In (as Ted Mulry Gang) | This Time | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 72 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Live albums

::data[format=table title="List of live albums, with selected details"]

TitleDetailsTMG Live (as Ted Mulry Gang)
::

Compilation albums

::data[format=table title="List of compilation albums, with selected details and chart positions"] | Title | Details | Peak chart positions | AUS | Greatest Hits (as Ted Mulry, TMG) | Backtracks Eighteen All Time Favourites (as TMG) | Reunion (as TMG) | The Essential The Essential Ted Mulry & TMG (as Ted Mulry, TMG) | The Very Best of Ted Mulry Gang: 40th Anniversary | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 90 | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | ::

Extended plays

::data[format=table title="List of EPs, with selected details"]

TitleDetailsJuliaLive on Tour (as Ted Mulry Gang)
::

Singles

::data[format=table title="List of singles, with selected chart positions"] | Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | AUS | US | "Julia" / "So Much in Love" | "Falling in Love Again" / "Louisa" | "Marcia" / "Love You" | "Memories" / "Remember Me" | "Ain't It Nice" / "If You Should Change My Mind" | "I Won't Look Back" / "Just Another Day" | "Sunday Evenings" / "Here We Are" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Jump in My Car" / "I'm On Fire" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Darktown Strutters' Ball" / "She's for Me" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Crazy" / "Help Me Out" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Stepping Out" / "It's All Over Now" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Jamaica Rum" / "Wanted Man" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "My Little Girl" / "You've Got It" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Naturally" / "Sha La La Lee" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Lazy Eyes" / "Set Me Free" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Heart of Stone" / "I Miss You" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "You've Got the Devil in You" / "Disturbing the Peace" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Save Me" / "How Long" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Can't Take It All" / "Home to You" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Captured" / "I'm Down" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | "Take a Look Inside" (as Ted Mulry and friends) | "Old Habits" (as Ted Mulry Gang) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1970 | 24 | — | Julia / Falling in Love Again | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1971 | 7 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 48 | — | Julia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25 | — | Falling in Love Again | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1972 | — | — | I Won't Look Back | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 83 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1975 | 87 | — | Here We Are | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1976 | 3 | — | ''Struttin''' | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42 | — | Steppin' Out | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1977 | 8 | — | The T.M.G. Album | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1978 | 33 | 91 | Disturbing the Peace | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 37 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1980 | — | — | Locked In | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1981 | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1990 | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Awards and nominations

''Go-Set'' Pop Poll

The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set which had been established in February 1966. It conducted an annual poll from 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.

|- | 1971 | himself | Best Male Vocal

4th

Notes

References

  1. Mulry, Lenore. (6 September 2011). "Ted Mulry Memorial Plaque Unveiling – Thank You". newsmaker.com.au.
  2. "'Jump in My Car' at APRA search engine". [[APRA AMCOS]] (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society).
  3. (5 April 1966). "View digital copy: NAA: A1197, MOSTYN-MUNRO H". [[National Archives of Australia]] (NAA).
  4. (2008). "Ted Mulry / Ted Mulry Gang". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions.
  5. "Ted Mulry (Ted Mulry Gang)". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing.
  6. (16 May 1970). "National Top 40". Waverley Press.
  7. "Ted Mulry". [[Australian Rock Database]].
  8. Munson, Christobel. (16 May 1970). "Entertainment and the Arts: The Radio Record Ban: Bang Go Our British Sounds". [[The Canberra Times]].
  9. (5 June 1971). "National Top 60". Waverley Press.
  10. (13 March 1971). "What's On". The Canberra Times.
  11. (15 March 1971). "Canberra Day attracts nearly 30,000". The Canberra Times.
  12. Foster, Michael. (1 June 1971). "Ted Mulry Backs Up the Kinks". The Canberra Times.
  13. (2 June 1971). "'Professional' tag fits". The Canberra Times.
  14. (14 October 1972). "National Top 60". Waverley Press.
  15. (2016-11-24). "Ted Mulry Gang - This One's for Ted {{!}} EAO Entertainment".
  16. It reached the [[Kent Music Report]] top 100 albums chart. Its first single, "Sunday Evenings" (March 1975), also appeared in the lower reaches of the singles chart top 100. Due to low sales the record company wanted Mulry to go back to his solo career,''Pop Scene'' – Australia's International Pop Magazine, issue No. 2, [[Gordon and Gotch]], 1977.
  17. Miranda, Charles. (3 December 1992). "Ted's Struttin' Again". The Canberra Times.
  18. Cashmere, Paul. (22 December 2009). "Rose Tattoo Founder Mick Cocks Dies from Liver Cancer". Undercover.
  19. (July 2001). "Ted Mulry Benefit". [[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA).
  20. "''Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts''". Australian Rock Database.
  21. "Ted Mulry - Australian Music Database". australianmusicdatabase.com.
  22. "Black Label Australia - Aussie rock band, Sydney". blacklabelaustralia.com.au.
  23. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
  24. (22 January 1977). "Smooth Sailing".
  25. "T.M.G. Chart History: Billboard Hot 100".
  26. "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1947-births2001-deathsaustralian-pop-singersaustralian-bass-guitaristsmusicians-from-oldhammusicians-from-sydneyaustralian-rock-bass-guitaristsaustralian-male-bass-guitaristsaustralian-rock-guitaristsaustralian-people-of-english-descentenglish-male-singer-songwritersenglish-emigrants-to-australiadeaths-from-brain-cancer-in-australiadeaths-from-cancer-in-new-south-wales20th-century-bass-guitaristsacoustic-guitarists20th-century-australian-male-singersaustralian-male-singer-songwriters20th-century-australian-singer-songwriters