Kamahl The Triumph of Hope

Kamahl’ s journey from where it all began in 1953 as a chronically shy Tamil teenager named Kandiah Kamalesvaran. He arrived in Australia at the height of the White Australia policy, to complete his education. Little did he know where or what he would beome by choosing to study in Australia. For what was supposed to be a short term stay in Australia turned his world into a life most people could only dream of in the music industry. Kamahl has been in the music industry for over 70 years. He was one of the first people to appear in concert at the Sydney Opera House and has graced world stages such as London Palladium and Carnegie Hall to name a few. It has been reported Kamahl has sold more than 20 million records worldwide. He recorded more than 30 albums and earned more than 100 Gold and Platinum records. This isn’ t however just a story of how a show business identity became famous, it is a quintessential migrant success story. It also chronicles how much Australia has changed over the last seventy years. Armed with a unique talent, priceless friendships he made along the way, and unflinching hope he trans- formed into one of Australia’ s most talented and loved performers. The larger than life Kamahl

Keith Cameron lives on the Central Coast of NSW with his wife of over forty years, Amy. He was born in Sunderland in the North East of England before emigrating to Australia with his family as a 12 year old child. He began his working life as an advertising copywriter in the late seventies. In the years that followed, his role has broadened into developing advertising, PR and creative marketing strategies for some of Australia’ s best-known brands. As a self-described ‘ ten-pound pom’ , he has always been fascinated by the role that migrants have played,

Foreword 7 To a brave new world 13 Challenges presented – challenges accepted 18 Beginnings 23 From anchors away to g’ day 42 Nature boy 50 The evolution of a lyrebird 58 The wind beneath my wings 81 Home sweet home 92 A dark journey 101 Of risk and reward 106 Sound and vision 144 A jumbo hit 167 A high tea 178 The kamahlcoholics 184 That fine line between pleasure and pain 191 The two subjects to avoid at dinner 201 Friendship 224 The royal ‘ We’ 255 What would I do without my music? 267 He ain’ t heavy… 281 What is Australia to me? 290 Listening with your eyes 310