Molly Meldrum Walk of Fame Star – Hollywood

Hot off the press!

Molly Meldrum has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after celebrating 50 years in entertainment tonight.

Congrats Molly! You’re a living legend.

More about the night courtesy of Max Sessions:

Foxtel’s music channel MAX last night celebrated Ian Molly Meldrum’s 50 years in the music media business ahead of its premiere of the special The Molly Meldrum Story which screens later this month and then again on MAX’s Molly Meldrum weekend in early December. The event was held inside Crown’s Club 23.

With an A-list of speakers perhaps the most memorable and funniest speech of the night came from Sony Music Australia Denis Handlin who remembered meeting Molly in 1976 when Meldrum had “all the charisma of a blocked drain”. Handlin remembered a launch of War of the Worlds at the Melbourne Hilton when Molly stormed off and was then confronted by Handlin who put him in a headlock. “The launch then went off spectacularly.” Handlin joked about falling in love with Molly at Sydney’s Tool Shed and recalled some of the sights during visits to Molly’s home. Handlin listed many major acts who broke first in Australia because of Meldrum’s enthusiasm for their music. “All of us in the music industry today are enjoying his legacy. But he’s lost more passports than a South American drug dealer. He is irreplaceable. The single most important and influential person in the music industry in Australia. As Russell [Morris] says…you are the real thing.”

Other speakers included Foxtel’s Brian Walsh who has long been an employer, friend, fan and supporter of Meldrum’s. Walsh recalled that Bill Collins was the first talent he hired at Foxtel, Molly was the second. Daryl Somers spoke for a long time but was also very funny, Michael Gudinski spoke via video-link from a Rolling Stones concert and his former Countdown executive producer Grant Rule, now at Seven, also spoke.

A massive music industry guest list included the great Brian Cadd in his favourite embroidered stage jacket and his lovely wife/producer/promoter Amanda Pelman, Greedy Smith and his very long, very grey hair, former Skyhook Greg Macainsh, Lindsay and Paula Fox, Countdown’s Rob Weekes, Colleen Hewett, Mark Holden, Denise Drysdale, Jon English, Brian Mannix, Glenn Wheatley, former Hey Hey It’s Saturday colleagues Jackie McDonald and John Blackman, HHIS producer (now doing Family Feud) Pam Barnes, Jim McKay and manager Ralph Carr.

Foxtel executives included Music Channels manager Rebecca Batties, Presto boss Shaun James, Rhonda Dawson, Graham Burrells and Jamie Campbell. Other Sony Music execs included Gil Roberts and John Parker.

There were performances of two songs that Molly produced back in the 60s – Russell Morris did “The RealThing” and Jessica Mauboy performed “Ciao Baby”. Molly said last night Mauboy should release it as a single.

Molly was presented with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and there is speculation it could be laid in a Melbourne laneway that could be renamed after the music guru.

Guests received a MAX goodie bag on leaving that included a copy of Jeff Jenkins’ Meldrum biography and a DVD of the MAX Meldrum special.

More about Molly:

Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum is a legend in the history of Australian music, described by musical writers Toby Creswell and Samantha Chenoweth in 1001 Australians You Should Know as ‘the single most important person in the Australian pop industry for 40 years’.

If there was ever a need for Molly’s standing in the Australian community to be proven it was in late 2011 when Molly suffered serious injuries after a fall. The nation, from the Prime Minister down, followed every step of Molly’s treatment and recovery, and the support shown for him was unprecedented in Australia. Initially interested in studying for a law degree, he has since the 1960s presented the best and latest in music and music news to Australian audiences. A critic, journalist, record producer and entrepreneur, his efforts have led to close friendships with most of the big names in the music industry.

As a regular ‘interviewer of the stars’ from David Bowie to Prince Charles to Madonna, all feel at home when talking with Molly. Some of Molly’s interviews are ‘true classics’ and have included a number of world exclusives including Madonna and Michael Jackson, and the 24 program series The Meldrum Tapes, televised on the ABC in Australia and subsequently aired in the USA, Europe and Japan.

Molly’s interest in music began during his school days, and his growing up in an era caught up in Beatlemania. Like so many of his generation, Molly truly identified with their form of music.

Responsible for the institution that was Countdown, for 13 years Meldrum showcased the finest the music world had to offer, becoming a hugely influential promoter of new talent. Countdownestablished itself almost immediately in 1974 as world-class and introduced the ABBA phenomenon to the world. By 1975 Countdown was world-renowned and any performer of note visiting Australia appeared on the show. Many local groups made their mark on Countdown, including ACDC, Skyhooks, John Paul Young and Sherbet.

‘’Go out and do ya self a favour” was the catch cry that Molly conceived and used on Countdown to win over millions of viewers and made his popularity rise. Following his role on Countdown Molly went on to host a regular segment on the hilarious TV show ‘ Hey Hey Its Saturday’, by this time Molly Meldrum had genuinely become an Australian household name.

As a record producer, Molly Meldrum scored top ten hits for Russell Morris, Ronnie Burns, Colleen Hewett, Supernaut and The Ferrets.

Molly continues to identify and mentor current day performers including Delta Goodrem, Darren Hayes, Kylie, Ash Grunwald, to name a few.

Molly’s strong support of charities is ongoing, dating back to 1985 hosting the Australian leg of Live Aid, Oz for Africa. His support of the St Kilda Football Club and Melbourne Storm ARL team are also legendary.

Molly was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the fostering of international relief and to youth in January 1986 and his contributions have been acknowledged with an ARIA Award for Special Achievement in 1993 and the APRA Ted Albert Award in 1994.

Today Molly reports for the Seven Network’s morning show ‘Sunrise’ and hosts MTV’s ‘Mastered by Molly’ segment. Highly respected amongst his peers, Molly Meldrum remains one of the strongest names in the music business.

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