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Monday 19 January 2009

Post 60 - Eric Jupp – Skippy E.P.

Eric Jupp (7 January 1922 - 2 January 2003) was a British born musician, composer, arranger and conductor who gained wide popularity in Australia after settling here in the 1960s. He hosted a long-running light music TV show and composed for film and TV. He is best remembered for his theme music to the TV series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. Eric Jupp was born in Brighton in 1922 and began to study piano at the age of seven. He left school and started his musical career at fourteen, playing in nightclubs. He joined the R.A.F. at the outbreak of World War II. When the war ended, he went to London, where he soon became a prominent member of several leading big bands, working as a pianist, composer and arranger. Jupp first visited Australia in 1960 under short-term contract to the ABC, and during his visit he arranged the music for the single First Kiss / My Secret (July 1960) by pop duo The Allen Brothers, which included Peter Allen. His last major TV credit was the score for the early '90s remake of Skippy. In his retirement, Eric Jupp and his family moved to Launceston in Tasmania. He died there in January 2003, after battling illness for several months. For you to download by popular demand is the “Skippy” E.P. (GEPO 70052) minus “My Pal Skippy” which you will find in post #19.

1 comment:

Debra said...

I grew up saying that Eric was my Uncle! I am a Jupp in Melbourne. I was thrilled to see his name upon the big Drive In screen! Musical memories to live forever.