A brief history of The Executives
1970-present: Solo and reformed Executives

In August 1970, Ray would write what would become perhaps his most famous composition, ‘I Am Woman’, with Helen Reddy. Not long after, he and Gino decided to branch out as a duo. They released an album on Artie’s Family Productions label in November 1971 titled Strive, Seek, Find. Joining the two on drums was fellow Executive Rhys Clark.

Ray returned to Australia in March 1973, performing in a number of bands, including Friends and Ayers Rock, before establishing himself as a solo artist in the mid-seventies, where he supported Queen in 1976 and Joan Armatrading in 1978 and released three albums and a number of singles.

After Burton & Cunico, Gino settled back in Los Angeles, where he decided to concentrate on a solo career, writing his own songs. He released two self-titled albums, the first on the Kama Sutra label in 1974 and the second on Arista in 1976.

In mid-1980, he signed an exclusive artist/publishing deal with Robie Porter/Wizard Records, releasing a single in May 1984. He subsequently retired from the music business in 1993.

Gary went on to do some session bass guitar work before retiring from the music business in 1973. He returned to Australia permanently in 1999.

Rhys went on to become the Family Productions session drummer, spending the early seventies recording with numerous artists, including Peter Anders, Neil Merryweather, Gino Cunico, Kenny Laguna, Keith Ginsberg, Joel Krantz and Steve Jablecki. Interspersed amongst these songwriters were sessions for Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet, Elliot Eel Fingerling), Moby Grape, The Association, Doug Weston (Troubadour LA) and concerts with Bobby Bloom and Kyle Eidson.

His big break came when he was asked to join label-mate Billy Joel’s backing band in mid-1971. He played drums on Billy’s debut album Cold Spring Harbor, and, at Billy’s request, joined the tour band promoting the album.

Rhys toured with Billy for the next four years. He was the drummer at Billy’s first major performance, the Mar y Sol Festival in Puerto Rico on 2 April 1972. Two weeks later, he played on Billy’s breakthrough Sigma Sound concert, broadcast on Philadelphia radio station WMMR-FM on 15 April 1972. It was this concert, and in particular the performance of ‘Captain Jack’, that resulted in Billy’s signing to Columbia Records.

Towards the end of 1975, Rhys’ musical journey with Billy ended. Again freelance, he went on to work with many different artists over the next 40 years, including Captain Beefheart, Spencer Davis, Norman Greenbaum, Danny Hutton, Van Dyke Parks, Brian Ray, Brian Wilson, Hoyt Axton, Freddy Fender, and Sweethearts Of The Rodeo. He is still performing and recording today.

Brian and Carole returned to Australia in October 1971, where Brian entered the jingle business.

Sometime during 1972, Brian was offered the Musical Director role for Nuclear, a new Australian rock musical being produced. Nuclear was a reminder that society was becoming more and more dependent on nuclear power and nuclear force. Vocals on the album were by Carole and Erl Dalby, ex-lead singer of Sydney band Pyramid.

Brian and Carole subsequently formed an aptly named new group, The Transition, which became The Executives in June 1974. The new line-up included vocalist Jonne Sands, a former Sunshine label artist who at one stage was touted as a successor to Normie Rowe and who scored a sizeable hit with ‘Mothers And Fathers’ in October 1968. He took over Gino Cunico’s role as co-lead singer with Carole. The other new members of the band were Ron Smith (guitar), Alan Oloman (bass – formerly a member of legendary Lithgow band The Black Diamonds and more recently recorded with Brian on Nuclear) and Brian Kirby (drums).

The new band signed to the Polydor label and between July 1974 and October 1976 released three singles, although not all with the same line-up.

The first single release was ‘On The Road Back’ b/w ‘Uptown ‘N Down’. ‘On The Road Back’ was a catchy, upbeat number written by Larry King and featured Carole on vocals. It was a fitting title for the return of The Executives. The flipside featured the 1970 Inner Sense recording of ‘Uptown ‘N Down’, with a remarkable vocal from Carole.

In December 1975, Ron Smith left the band. Dennis Allgood (ex-The New Breed) joined on bass, with Alan moving to guitar.

Also in December, the band won a Gold Penguin Award from the Television Society of Australia for best regionally produced television program. The program, a one-hour music special called The Executives, featured the band performing 12 songs, plus performances by Jon English and Barbara Rogers. It was WIN4 Wollongong’s first colour television program.

In February 1976, the band released the country-flavoured ‘Let The World Go Round’ b/w ‘Country Lady’. ‘Let The World Go Round’ saw Brian and Carole again working with Pat Aulton, who produced the track. The flipside was composed by Alan Oloman. The single became the reformed band’s only chart success, reaching #49 in Sydney on 2 April.

The third and final single, released in October 1976, was the middle of the road ‘Tinker Tailor’ b/w ‘Songs Of Love’. By now, Brian and Carole had separated and Carole had started a new relationship with Jonne. ‘Tinker Tailor’ was written by Alan as a direct observation of these recent events. The song featured a string arrangement by William Motzing, known for arranging and conducting strings and horns on popular Australian seventies and eighties songs including Sherbet’s ‘Howzat’, Peter Allen’s ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ and Billy Field’s ‘Bad Habits’. The standout though is Jonne’s powerful vocals, along with vocals by Carole.

‘Songs Of Love’ was written by Alan with Glenn Bland and Darcy Rosser. The three had played together in the late sixties and early seventies in the band Tymepiece.

In between releasing singles, the band made regular appearances on TV variety shows, including the resurrected Bandstand, with new host Daryl Somers. They recorded the theme music for Grundy’s hospital soapie The Young Doctors, written by Brian and Alan, and occasionally appeared in the soapie as the house band at ‘Bunny’s’, the bar across from the hospital. They also appeared in the TV soap Number 96.

In late 1976, Carole and Jonne left The Executives. They were replaced by vocalists Julia Cohen and Doug Smith. Julia did not stay for long; she was replaced by Karen Lesley after only a month or so.

In early 1977, the new line-up contributed three tracks to the Number 96 Party Music album, produced by Brian and released in April (Karen Lesley appears in the group photo on the front cover). The band also provided the rhythm section and vocal backing for the two Chelsea Brown and two Michael Howard tracks. The main purpose of the album’s production was to provide music for the soap opera’s new setting – a wine disco bar.

When Karen left later in 1977, the band reverted to a five-piece all-male line-up. The all-male line-up continued until 1979, when Doug, Dennis and Brian Kirby left and Carole and Jonne returned. By now, the band had semi-retired from the recording scene, restricting themselves to club work and special guest performances.

When the band folded later in 1979, Brian and Carole continued to team for studio sessions. Jonne resumed a moderately successful solo career, mainly as a club performer. Bassist-guitarist Alan Oloman continued with session work and co-wrote with Brian the music for the 1979 horror film Alison’s Birthday, released two years later in May 1981. Brian subsequently composed and produced the bright and bouncy music score for the Australian film The Best Of Friends. Since then, he has worked mostly solo, with regular piano bar work on cruise ships, restaurants and clubs around Sydney.

Meanwhile, Carole and Jonne settled in Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast, where they owned a coffee lounge and performed as a duo. In 1985, Carole sold the coffee lounge and she and Jonne decided to re-form The Executives. They were joined by drummer Pip Lee, who also took on the role of manager, plus Jose McLaughlin (keyboards/vocals – ex-member of UK group Gerry and the Pacemakers), Maurice Sammons (guitar – formerly the Musical Director for country star Lee Conway) and local bass identity Wayne Newey. The band worked prolifically throughout 1985 whilst also holding down a four-night per week residency at The Lone Star Tavern, a major Gold Coast venue.

Through Pip, both Carole and Jonne became devout Jehovah’s Witnesses. Carole subsequently became a Minister and this gradually took over her direction. While the band played all the hits and a variety of other music, including originals, they never played songs where the lyrics clashed with Jehovah’s Witness beliefs. The band petered out in early 1986, after their contract with the Tweed Heads Golf Club ended, but during its time, the band was extremely popular in South East Queensland. Jonne still writes and plays guitar, but for himself, not to perform.

Summarised extracts from the book "The Executives: Their Aim Was To Please You" (P)(C) 2015 Jaesen Jones. Buy the book for the full story!

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