24 Facts About Bruce Woodley

Bruce William Woodley was born on 25 July 1942 and is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician.

Bruce Woodley was born on 25 July 1942 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Bruce Woodley attended Melbourne High School with fellow Seekers, Athol Guy and Keith Potger.

Bruce Woodley played guitar, banjo, and mandolin, as well as one of the four-part vocal harmony, and was the chief songwriter.

The Simon and Bruce Woodley collaboration provided "I Wish You Could Be Here" and "Cloudy".

Bruce Woodley's first solo venture was a production company called Pennywheel, which saw him release a number of products for children, including a "Build an Alphabet" set of blocks and the 1969 EP and board book, "Friday St Fantasy".

In 1969, Bruce Woodley headed off to America to sell the songs he had been writing, and was to remain there for several years.

In 1971, Bruce Woodley released his first solo album, entitled Just Good Friends.

Three years later, Bruce Woodley contributed to an Australian-themed album put out by Viscount cigarettes, called The Roaring Days Vol.

Bruce Woodley had a hit song called "Love Me Tonight Baby".

The album featured Bruce Woodley performing the traditional folk song "Eumerella Shore" and some of his own compositions, including "The Bush Girl", which he would later re-record for a double album in 1987, with The Seekers in 1997 and 2000, and with his daughter Claire Bruce Woodley in 2001.

Bruce Woodley reunited with the Seekers, composed of fellow original members Athol Guy and Keith Potger, and 23-year-old Dutch-born Louisa Wisseling.

In 1977, Bruce Woodley left the group and was replaced by Buddy England.

Bruce Woodley continued to focus on song-writing and advertising, producing many TV jingles including one for Courage beer.

Bruce Woodley's first, back in 1971 was a solo single called "The ANZ Bank Travelling Man", and was given out free to employees of that institution as part of the promotion.

The year 1987 saw Bruce Woodley involved in the preparations for the Australian Bicentenary, and the release of an Australian-themed double album, songbook and cassette tape, featuring covers of traditional songs and some of Bruce Woodley's own compositions.

The only studio recordings by this line-up are the Bruce Woodley written songs "Fools Tonight" and "Bright Star", sold as a cassingle at concerts.

When original lead singer Judith Durham returned to The Seekers fold in late 1992 for the group's 25 Year Silver Jubilee, the theme song and CD-Single of the reunion was Bruce Woodley's composition "Keep A Dream In Your Pocket".

At the 2001 celebrations for the Centenary of Federation, Bruce Woodley performed the song with daughter Claire and co-writer Dobe Newton.

Bruce Woodley divorced in the '80s after a 14-year marriage, and he and former wife Sally have two children, Claire and a son, Dan.

Bruce Woodley has since recorded an ANZAC themed version of "I am Australian", titled "The Anzac Song", and appeared on Melbourne radio advertising the release of a CD-Single several weeks before Anzac Day in 2005.

In 2005 Bruce Woodley was interviewed by music journalist Debbie Kruger for a new book entitled Songwriters Speak, focusing on influential and successful Australian singer-songwriters.

At the National Day of Mourning on 22 February 2009 for the victims of the Victoria bushfires, Bruce Woodley unveiled two new verses for "I am Australian".

Bruce Woodley is a member of the Advisory Board of the organisation TLC for Kids, and was for a time, beginning in 1997, the chairman of the Victorian branch of the Variety Club.