The Three to One Band | Looking Back

Jun 30, 2020

OVER the years dances were extremely popular in the various halls in the area with many bands formed by young enthusiastic musicians.

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The Three to One Band was formed in 1965 when some of the original members of the Orbits Band had moved on.

The members of the renamed group at that time were lead guitarist Graham (Jacko) Jackson, bassist and lead singer Max Thompson, drummer Bill Parkinson and rhythm guitarist Matt Iannacone.

It was not long after the band was renamed that Jeff Richardson, a young Free Press reporter, offered to manage the band.

Some time later Mr Iannacone retired and Campbell King joined the band.

Other members of the band were singer Sonya Stacey and singer/organist Trevor Stacey who joined in 1967.

The name was derived after a long debate where the group could not agree to a new name.

Each suggested name ended in a three to one vote.

Finally, a choice was made to name the band Three to One.

The band was later managed by John Rutherford and practice was held in an old shed at the Merrigum orchard.

The band regularly played at Kyabram Town Hall, St Mary’s Hall in Echuca and Hurley’s Hotel - also various halls in the district and 21st birthday parties.

Many performances were organised by a Bendigo agent in places further away like Charlton and Birchip.

The group introduced Go Go dancers to their band – Pamela Smith (Engelen), Janice Smith (King) and later Sue Andrews.

They were extremely popular with the crowd when they performed on the back of a truck at the Kyabram Show in 1966.

A few of the popular hit songs of that decade performed by the group were Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison, The Letter by the The Box Tops, Mr Tamborine Man by The Byrds, San Francisco by Scott McKenzie, Spicks & Specks by The Bee Gees and No Milk Today by Herman’s Hermits.

The band made a decision to disband in 1968.