Matt Flinders
Encyclopedia
Matt Flinders, born Sylvan Louis Bonett in Alexandria
, Egypt
, is a singer who rose to prominence in the late 1960s in Australia
.
Of French, English and Italian background, Flinders migrated to Australia with his family in 1951. Following National Service
training with the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) in the 1950s, he toured Australia, Japan
and England
as a double bass
player and singer, later being appointed as a bandleader
at the Chevron Hotel in Melbourne
. Born to a music loving family, Flinders' brothers also enjoyed the limelight of musical careers; the late Roland Bonet was a popular performer and dance band leader in Melbourne until his death in 2002; Arnold, the eldest, performed many roles as an operatic bass baritone for the National Theatre Opera and the ABC and was presented with an award by the Italian Opera Festival Organisation in 1961, before a career change to the corporate world; and Chris, the youngest of the four, was recruited by Dave Guard of the Kingston Trio in 1965 in Sydney, did a national TV series called Dave's Place on the ABC, then spent two decades as a singer and bass guitarist with rock and pop bands in Australia, London, the United States and at Club Med resorts in France, Switzerland and the Caribbean.
After singing on a few radio and TV commercials, Flinders was "discovered" by Ron Tudor of Astor Records
who suggested the name change to Matt Flinders (after the explorer Matthew Flinders
) which was deemed to be easier to pronounce and remember than his birth name.
Flinders had two top ten singles in Australia: "Picking up Pebbles" (1969) which reached No.1 in Melbourne and
"Butterfly"
(1971). He is the recipient of several recording awards and professional accolades for his talent, both as a performer and professional musician.
Flinders appeared on his own television show, Matt Flinders and Friends (1972-1973), as well as his own radio
show, both for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC).
Flinders is currently retired from the entertainment industry and now works as a civil celebrant with his wife, Coralie.
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, is a singer who rose to prominence in the late 1960s in 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...
.
Of French, English and Italian background, Flinders migrated to Australia with his family in 1951. Following National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
training with the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) in the 1950s, he toured Australia, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as a double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
player and singer, later being appointed as a bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
at the Chevron Hotel in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Born to a music loving family, Flinders' brothers also enjoyed the limelight of musical careers; the late Roland Bonet was a popular performer and dance band leader in Melbourne until his death in 2002; Arnold, the eldest, performed many roles as an operatic bass baritone for the National Theatre Opera and the ABC and was presented with an award by the Italian Opera Festival Organisation in 1961, before a career change to the corporate world; and Chris, the youngest of the four, was recruited by Dave Guard of the Kingston Trio in 1965 in Sydney, did a national TV series called Dave's Place on the ABC, then spent two decades as a singer and bass guitarist with rock and pop bands in Australia, London, the United States and at Club Med resorts in France, Switzerland and the Caribbean.
After singing on a few radio and TV commercials, Flinders was "discovered" by Ron Tudor of Astor Records
Astor Records
Astor Records was an Australian recording company that operated from the 1960s to the early 1980s. Astor was originally a trademark of the consumer electronics industries ltd. Radio Corporation Pty. Ltd., makers of Astor radios and radiograms and a range of electronic companies including gereral...
who suggested the name change to Matt Flinders (after the explorer Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
) which was deemed to be easier to pronounce and remember than his birth name.
Flinders had two top ten singles in Australia: "Picking up Pebbles" (1969) which reached No.1 in Melbourne and
"Butterfly"
Butterfly (Danyel Gerard song)
"Butterfly" is a pop song, written and recorded by the French singer-songwriter, Danyel Gérard in the late 1960s. It was firstly a hit in the French language....
(1971). He is the recipient of several recording awards and professional accolades for his talent, both as a performer and professional musician.
Flinders appeared on his own television show, Matt Flinders and Friends (1972-1973), as well as his own radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
show, both for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC).
Flinders is currently retired from the entertainment industry and now works as a civil celebrant with his wife, Coralie.