Donnie Sutherland
Encyclopedia
Donald "Donnie" Sutherland OAM
(born 1946) is an Australia
n radio and television presenter, best known for being the host of Sounds on Australian television between 1975 and 1987. Sutherland has also worked extensively as a television producer and music journalist, and he is closely associated with the Australian greyhound racing industry.
Sutherland was born in Fairfield
, NSW in 1946. He commenced an apprenticeship as a horse jockey in the early 1960s but increasing weight and an increasing interest in music ended this career after four years. Between the mid and the late 1960s Sutherland completed numerous recordings with various ensembles. He released his first solo single entitled "Fairy Land" in 1969; this recording was notable for being one of the first stereo
singles to be recorded in Australia.
In the early 1970s Sutherland began his career as a radio disc-jockey with 2UW in Sydney
. Around the same time Sutherland began writing for the influential music magazine Go-Set
magazine, where Molly Meldrum was a colleague.
In 1975 Sutherland was engaged as the presenter of the Channel 7
Sydney music show Sounds Unlimited
(later shortened to Sounds); Sutherland took over from original host (and former radio DJ) Graham Webb
, who was also the show's producer. This show was broadcast every Saturday morning for twelve years until 1987, and was the only successful competitor during that period to the ABC
's Countdown. During the early years of its run Sounds was seen only in Sydney, but later in the series, when it was relayed nationally, the first hour (9am-10am) was seen in Sydney only, mainly due to time zone differences, and the following two hours (10-12) were seen nationwide.
During the middle years of Sounds, Sutherland also hosted the late-night music and chat show After Dark, which ran from 1982 to 1985 and was noted for its 'relaxed' style. This featured chat segments with Australian and overseas music and entertainment identities, interspersed with music videos; on occasions when Sutherland was unavailable, it was guest-hosted by music personalities Stuart Coupe or Glenn A. Baker
. Notable international guests on the show included Steve Marriott
, John Cooper Clark and Jello Biafra
.
From 1977 to 1980 Sutherland also hosted several hours of disco music presented on Sydney radio station 2UW. The show originally ran live only on Saturday night from 7pm to midnight, but due to the popularity of disco 2UW added a second show on Friday night and extended the broadcast until 3am.
At the conclusion of his tenure with Sounds, Sutherland worked with the emerging Sky Channel
until 1991.
In 2000, Sutherland was awarded the Order or Australia for his services to the Entertainment industries and for his charity work.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 1946) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n radio and television presenter, best known for being the host of Sounds on Australian television between 1975 and 1987. Sutherland has also worked extensively as a television producer and music journalist, and he is closely associated with the Australian greyhound racing industry.
Sutherland was born in Fairfield
Fairfield, New South Wales
Fairfield is a western suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Fairfield is located 29 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Fairfield and is also partly in the local government...
, NSW in 1946. He commenced an apprenticeship as a horse jockey in the early 1960s but increasing weight and an increasing interest in music ended this career after four years. Between the mid and the late 1960s Sutherland completed numerous recordings with various ensembles. He released his first solo single entitled "Fairy Land" in 1969; this recording was notable for being one of the first stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
singles to be recorded in Australia.
In the early 1970s Sutherland began his career as a radio disc-jockey with 2UW in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Around the same time Sutherland began writing for the influential music magazine Go-Set
Go-Set
Go-Set was the first Australian pop music newspaper, published weekly from 2 February 1966 to 24 August 1974, and was founded in Melbourne by Phillip Frazer, Peter Raphael and Tony Schauble...
magazine, where Molly Meldrum was a colleague.
In 1975 Sutherland was engaged as the presenter of the Channel 7
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
Sydney music show Sounds Unlimited
Sounds (TV show)
Sounds was a popular Australian television series featuring pop and rock music. It was broadcast on Saturday mornings on the Seven Network from the late 1970s to the late 1980s....
(later shortened to Sounds); Sutherland took over from original host (and former radio DJ) Graham Webb
Graham Webb (Australian broadcaster)
-Biography:Webb began his career in radio in Australia and hosted the first Top 40 radio show on Sydney radio in the late 1950s. After moving to the UK in the mid-1960s he became one of several Australian DJs who were prominent in the pirate radio scene that flourished at that time.He joined Radio...
, who was also the show's producer. This show was broadcast every Saturday morning for twelve years until 1987, and was the only successful competitor during that period to the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's Countdown. During the early years of its run Sounds was seen only in Sydney, but later in the series, when it was relayed nationally, the first hour (9am-10am) was seen in Sydney only, mainly due to time zone differences, and the following two hours (10-12) were seen nationwide.
During the middle years of Sounds, Sutherland also hosted the late-night music and chat show After Dark, which ran from 1982 to 1985 and was noted for its 'relaxed' style. This featured chat segments with Australian and overseas music and entertainment identities, interspersed with music videos; on occasions when Sutherland was unavailable, it was guest-hosted by music personalities Stuart Coupe or Glenn A. Baker
Glenn A. Baker
Glenn A. Baker is an Australian journalist, commentator, and broadcaster well known in Australia for his vast knowledge of Rock music. He has written books and magazine articles on rock music and travel, interviewed celebrities, managed bands such as Ol' 55 and promoted tours of international stars...
. Notable international guests on the show included Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
, John Cooper Clark and Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
.
From 1977 to 1980 Sutherland also hosted several hours of disco music presented on Sydney radio station 2UW. The show originally ran live only on Saturday night from 7pm to midnight, but due to the popularity of disco 2UW added a second show on Friday night and extended the broadcast until 3am.
At the conclusion of his tenure with Sounds, Sutherland worked with the emerging Sky Channel
Sky Channel (Australia)
Sky Channel is an Australian broadcaster specialising in live thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing. It is owned by Tabcorp Holdings. Sky Channel launched Australia's first ever satellite in 1985.- Channels :...
until 1991.
In 2000, Sutherland was awarded the Order or Australia for his services to the Entertainment industries and for his charity work.