Australian music legend Michael Gudinski (AM) has died age 68.
Mr Gudinski died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Melbourne, said a statement from Mushroom Records; the Record Label he founded at just 20 years old. It went on to become the largest independent record label in Australian music.
He managed a number of up-and-coming bands in the 70’s, including Chain and Skyhooks. Both acts went on to produce number one hits, but it was the Skyhooks which went on to cement the future success of Mushroom Records. Their debut album, ‘Living In The 70’s’, spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in Australia, selling 240,000 copies. No Australian album had sold more at that point in time.
Gudinski also signed Split Enz onto the record label when they moved to Australia, and although they had only moderate success for the first few years, they scored huge success in 1980 with the release of their album True Colours and the hit single ‘I Got You’.
It was thanks to Michael Gudinski that the world got to know Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes and many other iconic Australian acts.
Over the years Gudinski diversified his business interests to include most sections of the music industry including venues, concert promoting, merchandise, publishing and recording. In 2006 he was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, and in In 2012 was listed in the #1 position in the AMID Power 50, a list of the top 50 most influential people in the Australian music industry.
“Michael’s legacy will live on through his family and the enormously successful Mushroom Group – an enduring embodiment of decades of passion and determination from an incredible man” the statement from Mushroom Records reads.
