Peter Combe

Peter Combe OAM
Combe performing in July 2008
Background information
Birth name	Peter Charles Combe
Born	(1948-10-20) 20 October 1948 (age 76) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Genres	Children's
Occupation(s)	Entertainer, musician
Instruments	Vocals acoustic guitar piano ukulele
Years active	1969–present
Labels	ABC, Rascal Records
Website	petercombe.com

Peter Charles Combe OAM (/ˈkuːm/; born 20 October 1948) is an Australian children's entertainer and musician. At the ARIA Music Awards he has won three ARIA Awards for Best Children's Album, for Toffee Apple (1988), Newspaper Mama (1989) and The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert (1992) and four additional nominations (Chopsticks (1990), Little Groover (1996), Live It Up (2017) and Planet Earth 3rd from the Sun (2023)). His best-known tracks are "Toffee Apple", "Spaghetti Bolognaise", "Mr Clicketty Cane", "Juicy Juicy Green Grass" and "Newspaper Mama". His Christmas Album (November 1990) reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 50.

Biography

1948–1979: Early life

Peter Charles Combe was born in Adelaide on 20 October 1948 to Merle (née Holman) and Bern Combe,^[1] the third of four children. His early influences from the 1950s were the Springfields; he learned to harmonise from an early age. He was inspired by folk singers of the 1960s, including Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. He formed a folk group and taught himself guitar. Later he became fascinated by the Beatles and Billy Joel.^[2]

By 1969, Combe was a primary school teacher and in the early 1970s, he was a specialist music teacher. He taught junior school music at Prince Alfred College in the late 1970s.^[3] He started writing songs for his students and in 1973 he wrote his first "operettas" for them.^[3] One of the early ones, Bows Against the Barons, is based on Geoffrey Trease's novel of the same name, relating the legend of Robin Hood. The song, "Robin Hood's Dream", appeared on his 1988 album, Newspaper Mama.

In 1975, Combe moved to Sydney and aspired to be the next Paul Simon. There he appeared in the rock musical, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club.^[4] He taught at inner Sydney primary schools, performed in pubs and clubs as a singer-songwriter. He wrote a children's musical, Frederick WhatsHisName & his TwoLegged Six String Guitar, which provided the track, "Spangle Road". Another of his musicals is based on Norman Lindsay's book, The Magic Pudding.

In 1977, Combe migrated to England where he became a presenter on Music Time, a BBC Television educational program.^[3] He explained that "Someone in Adelaide had given me the name of a BBC producer. I rang and said I had just arrived [in England] and do you have any shows I can audition for. They wanted someone for Music Time, I auditioned, made the short list and got the job."^[3] Combe and co-presenter, Kathryn Harries, introduced musical concepts in an entertaining format. The show was used by teachers as part of their music programs and was a resource for other music educators. Besides being played in Britain for six years, it was re-broadcast on ABC TV. In late 1979, the Combe family moved back to Australia, where he presented Let's Have Music, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio program,^[3] which was used for primary school music education.

1980–1992: Commercial success

In 1980 he recorded his first album, Vagabond, which was aimed at adults.^[3] The title track had been recorded by ex-pat Australians, the Seekers, in 1977.^[5] After two more years teaching, Combe issued his second album, Songs for Little Kids.^[5] It was recorded and produced by Combe at Axent Recording Studio in Sydney and appeared on ABC Records on cassette.^[6]

At that time, children's albums comprised nursery rhymes, which were sung and played in a simple traditional style. Combe recalled, "record companies used to think anyone could write songs for children, anything was good enough. You would get whole albums where the only accompaniment was acoustic guitar."^[5] Combe introduced new concepts in children's songs, writing to appeal to children and their parents: they were funny and relevant. He arranged them with contemporary instrumentation, using his Music Time experience to introduce children to different musical concepts, genres and instruments. Combe started performing concerts in schools – about 200 school shows a year over three years. His next cassette, Spaghetti Bolognaise and More Songs for Little Kids (1985), was soon renamed as Spaghetti Bolognaise after its lead track.^[7]

In 1986, he returned to England for an eight-month stay – he wrote material for his next album, Toffee Apple (June 1987).^[3] Back in Australia he met Diana Manson, then the head of ABC Music, and they worked on the first ever children's music video filmed in Australia – "Toffee Apple" – to promote the new album.^[3] The music video was played during children's programming on ABC TV, and helped established Combe as Australia's first kids' pop star: he was referred to as King of the Kids.^[8] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1988 Combe won the inaugural ARIA Award for Best Children's Album category for Toffee Apple.^[9]

In 1989, he won his second ARIA for Best Children's Album, for Newspaper Mama (1988).^[9] The Canberra Times correspondent described him as "the master of loony tunes for kids"; with this album having "a selection of original songs with the title track accompanied by an imaginative video."^[10] His next album, Chopsticks (September 1989), was also nominated in that category in the following year but it did not win.^[9] Peter Combe's Christmas Album (November 1990) reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 50.^[11] His first live album, The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert (1991), won his third trophy for Best Children's Album, in 1992.^[9]

Touring highlights were selling out the Sydney Opera House (twice) and the Melbourne Concert Hall, Carols in the Domain in Sydney, Carols nights in Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart, filming Christmas Under the Stars at the Adelaide Festival Centre, Family Concerts with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at the Festival Theatre and Entertainment Centre – plus numerous television appearances and radio interviews. Combe's albums have received 7 gold and 3 platinum accreditations.

From 1989 to 1991, Peter presented another radio program, Ticklepot, on ABC Radio National. His co-presenter Henry Salter played the part of Monkey, and the 10-minute program followed the adventures of Peter and Monkey through songs and stories. In all, 420 programs went to air over a period of 3 years. Ticklepot was voted best children's radio program in the world in New York in 1991.

1993–present: Continued success

Combe in Adelaide, 2005

In 1993, Peter's musical version of May Gibbs' classic book "Snugglepot & Cuddlepie", was performed in the Adelaide Festival of Arts. This was originally performed as a cantata with orchestra, choirs and soloists. It was reproduced the following year in the Adelaide Festival Theatre with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra – and this was recorded and is still available on CD. There have been many subsequent performances around Australia, some as a cantata and others with an accompanying script.

Further albums of new songs were to follow Spook (1993), Little Groover (1996), Best Friends (1999), plus some picture books with CD by Scholastic – Wash Your Face in Orange Juice and Juicy Juicy Green Grass.

From 2003 to 2006, Combe read and sang a number of classic fairy tales. These were released on CD as Classic Fairy Tales Classic Fairy Tales Vol 2 and Classic Fairy Tales Vol 3.^[12][13][14]

In 2006, he crossed over to the genre of political commentary with his song "Free David Hicks".

Since 2005, Combe has started playing pub gigs around Australia aimed at young adults who grew up listening to his music.^[15] A clip of the live performance at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne is available showing a crowd of young adults singing along to lyrics such as "Wash Your Face in Orange Juice", and "Belly Flop on a Pizza? Ewww!".

Combe performs his classic songs to an audience of adults in 2012 during a pub show in Melbourne.

Live It Up, was released on 6 April 2017. Combe toured the album across Australia^[16]

In 2018 Combe performed his 1990 Peter Combe's Christmas Album in full across the country in a national tour.^[17]

Personal life

Combe resides in Adelaide, South Australia and spends time at his holiday house in Carrickalinga.^[18]

Combe and his wife Carol have four children - a son and three daughters - who have all performed with him over the years: Joni ^[a], Alice, Emily and Thomas 'Thom' ^[b]; and seven grandchildren.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25]}

Growing up, Combe's father would wake him up at 6am to play tennis and he admits he's quite a good player.^[22][23]

Combe's favourite artists are Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary and The Springfields.^[22]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with release date, Australian chart position and certification

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Certification
		AUS [26][27]
Vagabond	Released: 1980 Label: Peter Combe (PC 106) Format: LP	-
Songs for Little Kids	Released: 1982 Label: ABC Music Format: LP	-	ARIA: Gold[28]
Spaghetti Bolognaise	Released: 1985 Label: ABC Music (L 27124) Format: LP	-	ARIA: Platinum[29]
Toffee Apple	Released: June 1987 Label: ABC Music (L 27206) Format: LP, Cassette, CD	86	ARIA: Platinum[30]
Newspaper Mama	Released: 1988 Label: ABC Music (L 28021) Format: LP, Cassette, CD	-	ARIA: Gold[31]
Chopsticks	Released: September 1989 Label: ABC Music (838416-2) Format: CD, LP, Cassette	-	ARIA: Gold[32]
Peter Combe's Christmas Album	Released: November 1990 Label: ABC Music (846597-2) Format: CD, LP, Cassette	49	ARIA: Gold[33]
Spook	Released: 1993[34] Label: Rascal Records Format: CD, Cassette	-
Little Groover	Released: 1996[35] Label: Rascal Records (RASC04-2) Format: CD, Cassette	-
Best Friends	Released: 1999[36] Label: Rascal Records Format: CD	-
Songs from a Telephone Box	Released: 2002[37][38] Label: Rascal Records Format: CD, Digital download	-
Re-invented	Released: 2003[39][40] Label: Rascal Records Format: CD, Digital download	-
Classic Fairy Tales	Released: 2003[12] Label: Bolinda Audio Format: CD	-
Classic Fairy Tales Volume 2	Released: 2004[13] Label: Bolinda Audio Format: CD	-
Wake Up It's Christmas	Released: October 2005[41][42] Label: Rascal Records Format: CD, Digital download	-
Classic Fairy Tales Volume 3	Released: 2006[14] Label: Bolinda Audio Format: CD	-
Kiddywinks	Released: 2009[43][44] Label: Peter Combe Format: CD, digital download	-
Quirky Berserky (The Turkey from Turkey)	Released: March 2012[45][46] Label: Peter Combe Format: CD, digital download	-
Live It Up	Released: May 2017[47][48] Label: Peter Combe Format: CD, digital download, streaming	-
Planet Earth: 3rd from the Sun	Released: September 2023 Label: Peter Combe, MGM Format: CD, digital download, streaming	-
A Frog in My Cheese Sandwich	Released: August 2024 Label: Peter Combe, MGM Format: CD, digital download, streaming	-

Live albums

List of live albums, with release date, Australian chart position and certification

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Certification
		AUS [27]
The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert	Released: April 1991 Label: ABC Music (846993-2) Format: CD, Cassette Notes: Recorded at ABC Studios, Adelaide 1990	69	ARIA: Gold[49]
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: The Musical - In Concert	Released: 1993 Label: Rascal Records Format: CD, Cassette Notes: Recorded at the Adelaide Festival Theatre, March 1993	-
Live at Jive	Released: 2008[50] Label: Peter Combe Format: CD+DVD, Digital Download Notes: Recorded at Jive, Adelaide, April 2008	-

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with release dates

Title	Album details
Greatest Hits	Released: 1994[51] Label: Rascal Records Format: CD, Cassette
Wash your Face in Orange Juice	Released: 2003[52][53] Label: Rascal Records Format: CD
Moovy Groovy Songs	Released: 2009[54] Label: Peter Combe Format: Digital download
Munchy Crunchy Songs	Released: July 2013[55][56] Label: Peter Combe Format: CD, Digital download, streaming

Box sets

List of box sets, with release dates and details

Title	Album details
Triple Pack	Released: 2006[57] Label: Peter Combe Format: 3x CD Featuring Toffee Apple, Spaghetti Bolognaise & Newspaper Mama
Triple Pack 2	Released: 2007[58] Label: Peter Combe Format: 3x CD Featuring: Live & Rocking, Little Groover & Best Friends
Triple Pack 3	Released: 2008[59] Label: Peter Combe Format: 3x CD Featuring: Wash Your Face in Orange Juice, Chopsticks & Spook
Christmas Triple Pack	Released: 2015[60] Label: Peter Combe Format: 3x CD Featuring: Peter Combe's Christmas Album, Wake Up It's Christmas & Backing Tracks (Backing Tracks is instrumental tracks from Peter Combe's Christmas Album & Wake Up It's Christmas)

Awards and nominations

APRA Music Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Year	Nominated works	Award	Result	Ref
1998	"Honey"	Most Performed Children's Work	Nominated	[61]
	"Thingth I Thay"		Nominated

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year	Nominated works	Award	Result
1988	Toffee Apple	Best Children's Album	Won
1989	Newspaper Mama		Won
1990	Chopsticks		Nominated
1992	The Absolutely Very Best of Peter Combe (So Far) Recorded in Concert		Won
1996	Little Groover		Nominated
2017	Live It Up		Nominated
2023	Planet Earth 3rd from the Sun		Nominated

References

Notes

1. From 1995 to 2000, Joni was the presenter of Nine Network television series Here's Humphrey, then she played the role of Rhapsody in all three home videos (The Fairies/Fairy Hello!, A Fairy Merry Christmas and Farmyard Magic) and four of the albums (The Fairies, A Fairy Merry Christmas, Farmyard Magic and A Magical Fairy Party) of The Fairies. Both of the shows were filmed in Adelaide.
2. Emily and Thomas performed together in the band The Finishing School.^[19]

Citations

1. "Family Notices". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 91, no. 28093. South Australia. 21 October 1948. p. 8. Retrieved 16 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
2. "Bio". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
3. Hobson, Karen (4 June 1987). "The Good Times Supplement: Peter Combe, Children's Songwriter: This Toffee Apple is not Tacky Candy". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 871. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 9. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "Features: How to Win Friends and Influence Children". The Age. 20 April 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
5. Winestock, Geoff (29 September 1989). "Life as the Bon Jovi of Kiddie Singers". The Age. p. 35. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
6. Combe, Peter (1992), Songs for little kids: 22 songs by Peter Combe, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 13 April 2016
7. Combe, Peter; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1985), Spaghetti bolognaise and more songs for little kids, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 13 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia
8. Bright, Chris (15 July 2011). "Peter Combe". Beat. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
9. ARIA Awards for Peter Combe:
   • Search Results 'Peter Combe': "Search Results for 'Peter Combe'". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 13 April 2016.
   • 1988 winners: "Winners by Year 1988". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
   • 1988 winners and some nominees: Middleton, Karen (3 March 1988). "Music Awards: A Scratch on the Record". The Canberra Times. p. 23. Retrieved 13 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
   • 1989 winners and nominees: "Winners by Year 1989". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 13 April 2016.
   • 1990 winners and nominees: "Winners by Year 1990". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
   • 1992 winners and nominees: "Winners by Year 1992". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 13 April 2016.
   • 1996 winners and nominees: "Winners by Year 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
10. "For the Record". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 183. 14 April 1988. p. 32. Retrieved 13 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
11. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Peter Combe". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
12. "Classic Fairy Tales (2003)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
13. "Classic Fairy Tales Vol 2 (2004)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
14. "Classic Fairy Tales Vol 3 (2006)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
15. "Combe Comeback". ABC Radio National Breakfast. 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
16. "Peter Combe Live it Up". Peter Combe. 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
17. Hot off the press (20 August 2018). "Peter Combe's Christmas Album Live In Concert". Hot Off the Press. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
18. "On the Couch with Peter Combe". Australian Arts Review. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
19. "Thom and Emily Combe". triple j Unearthed. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
20. Teurlings, Jasmin (12 June 2020). "Peter Combe is still doing it for the kids". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
21. "Complete DVD Collection - product | Peter Combe". www.petercombe.com.au. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
22. "/". The Music. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
23. Jacki. "Seven things you probably didn't know about Peter Combe". kidsinadelaide.com.au/. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
24. "Joni Combe". Theatre Bugs. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018.
25. "Theatre Bugs: Alice Combe". Archived from the original on 18 March 2012.
26. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 71. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
27. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
28. "Songs for Little Kids (1982)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
29. "Spaghetti Bolognaise (1985)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
30. "Toffee Apple (1987)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
31. "Newspaper Mama (1988)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
32. "Chopsticks (1989)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
33. "Christmas Album (1990)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
34. "Spook (1993)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
35. "Little Groover (1996)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
36. "Best Friends (1999)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
37. "Songs from a Telephone Box (DD)". Apple Music. 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
38. "Songs from a Telephone Box (2002)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
39. "Re-invented (DD)". Apple Music. 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
40. "Re-invented (2003)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
41. "Wake Up It's Christmas (DD)". Apple Music. October 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
42. "Wake Up It's Christmas (2005)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
43. "Kiddywinks (DD)". Apple Music. 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
44. "Kiddywinks (2009)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
45. "Quirky Berserky (The Turkey from Turkey) (DD)". Apple Music. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
46. "Quirky Berserky (2012)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
47. "Live It Up (DD)". Apple Music. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
48. "Live It Up (2017)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
49. "The Absolutely Very Best of (1991)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
50. "Live at Jive (DD)". Apple Music. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
51. "Greatest Hits (1994)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
52. "Wash your Face in Orange Juice (DD)". Apple Music. 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
53. "Wash your Face in Orange Juice (2003)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
54. "Munchy Crunchy Songs (DD)". Apple Music. 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
55. "Munchy Crunchy Songs (DD)". Apple Music. July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
56. "Munchy Crunchy Songs (2013)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
57. "Triple Pack (2006)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
58. "Triple Pack 2 (2007)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
59. "Triple Pack 3 (2008)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
60. "Christmas Triple Pack (2015)". petercombe. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
61. "Most Performed Children's Work", APRA