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Born in Oldham, England, Edward Mulry emigrated to Australia in 1969 at the age of 20 and took a job in the NSW Main Roads Department driving a bulldozer. Just before arriving in Australia Ted had developed an interest in songwriting, something which continued now. His friends and workmates were impressed by his songwriting efforts and encouraged Ted to take his songs to J.Albert and Son, mainstays of independent Australian music publishing for over a century, in the hope that someone might start recording Ted's songs. By accident EMI Records happened to hear Ted's demo tape and suggested Ted record one of the songs himself. The songwriter had never considered himself a performer, and it took a lot of persuasion before he agreed to record 'Julia' as his first Parlophone label single. Sydney fell in love with the story of the bulldozer driver-turned-singer and turned the middle of the road love ballad into a minor hit in May 1970. Ted's next single had the distinction of being the first release on the Albert label. Instead of a song of his own song 'Falling In Love Again' was written for him by Albert's star writers, Harry Vanda and George Young of the Easybeats. Another McCartneyesque ballad, the result was a national hit. While his third single, 'Marsha' was struggling in Australia, in October '71 Ted returned to the UK where he'd secured a recording contract with Blue Mountain Records, a subsidiary of Island. They liked his music, but thought his name was a bit boring. Four months in England produced one "Steve Ryder" single, 'Ain't It Nice', released in Australia under his old name. In February '71 he returned to Australia to go back to his career as Ted Mulry. In June 72 Sherbet scored what proved an important breakthrough for them, their version of Ted's song, 'You're All Woman'. For his own performances Ted Mulry had grown tired of the hit and miss process of picking up a backing band wherever he was appearing and began using Velvet Underground (same name, different band) as his regular backing band - just after their guitarist Malcolm Young left to form another Albert act, AC/DC. One night Ted's bass player decided to throw a tantrum, and stormed off stage. The singer picked up his instrument and completed the rest of the show on vocals and bass. It was the moment which changed everything. Ted started practicing bass and the band's guitarist Les Hall and drummer Herman Kovacs decided to become Ted's permanent band. Together they became the Ted Mulry Gang. Just prior to the release of the first group album, 'Here We Are', in November '74 rhythm guitarist Gary Dixon joined to make the gang a quartet. Much tougher and versatile now, the band struggled under the weight of their singer's old balladeering image. Their first single failed to make an impression, but then a Sydney radio personality suggested they release another of the album's tracks as a single. Eventually the record company relented. 'Jump In My Car' became a national #1 hit. The Ted Mulry Gang followed up with a souped up version of the 60 year old jazz standard 'Dark Town Strutters Ball'. They were scoring hit records, with their popularity greatly enhanced by their appeal on stage as a hard drivin' good time rock and roll band. They'd become Australia's Faces. When they switched to Mushroom in 1977 the Ted Mulry Gang become plain TMG, and the merriment on stage continued. They called their second Mushroom album 'Disturbing The Peace' The cover was a picture of suburban tranquillity being torn up. First the hits started drying up, then other acts took over TMG's mantle Australian rock and roll's party animals. TMG disappeared, but they'd left an indelible, happy mark. In February 2001 Ted Mulry revealed he was suffering brain cancer. Ted Mulry passed away on September 1, just one day short of his 50th birthday.
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