Melbourne promoter Laurie Richards will be farewelled with a service in the city this Friday.
Richards was one of the innovators of Melbourne’s live music scene. Laurie created The Tiger Room, The Crystal Ballroom, The Jump Club, Tropicana Club and The Kamikaze Café and turned Melbourne into the live music capital of Australia.
Richards started booking bands when he was in high school in Hamilton. The first act he ever booked was Daddy Cool. “It was an amazing feeling for me, a mere high school kid, to be responsible for something that had set the entire town on its ear,” he said a 1981 interview.
Laurie said he started at the top of the business and slowly worked his way down. He ran country tours with Brain Cadd, Russell Morris, Spectrum and Sherbet at their peak of their fame.
One of Richards first major Melbourne successes was The Jump Club. “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved with The Jump Club,” he once said. “It’s as good as any new York or London rock club.”
The funeral of Laurence J. Richards will be held at Collins Street Baptist Church at 174 Collins St, Melbourne at 4pm on Friday, March 21.
Laurie had a strong connection with the Church in his latter years. He volunteered at Café Credo run by charity Urban Seed behind the church. It supports and feeds the homeless people of Melbourne.
Laurie’s service will be followed by refreshments at Café Credo.
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