A new exhibit in East Hawthorne showcases the previously unseen watercolour paintings of Australian rock legend Jim Keays of The Masters Apprentices, best known for their 1970 hit single “Turn Up Your Radio.”
Keays was lead vocalist, harmonica-player and guitarist of The Masters Apprentices, who released six records including Masterpiece from 1965 to their disbandment in 1972. The band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1998, honoured for their blues-influenced rock sound and political anthems including “War or Hands of Time”, which protested conscription in the Vietnam War.
After The Masters Apprentices, Keays released several solo albums and later, in 2000, performed as part as Cotton Keays and Morris, a supergroup with Darryl Cotton and Russell Morris. He continued to record music until he passed away from cancer in 2014.
Yet few fans would know that Keays was also an avid painter. Keays on-stage confidence was not carried through to his watercolours, which he hid sheepishly from friends and fans alike. For the first time, Keays carefully constructed landscapes will be displayed at Hawthorne Studio and Gallery, offering an intimate insight into a multifaceted artist.
This is a must see for any fans of The Masters Apprentices, Keays, or those interested in the uncovered histories of Australian rock.
Jim Keays: The Secret Life of a Rock Legend will be exhibited at Hawthorne Studio and Gallery, 635 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria, from 14 July to 6 August. For more information visit HERE
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