Background
Billy Baxter was born in 1958 or 1959 and grew up in Geelong, where his parents ran a local milk Barometer
Billy Baxter was born in 1958 or 1959 and grew up in Geelong, where his parents ran a local milk Barometer
He has presented the current sports events programme, Coodabeens Footy Show on 774 American Broadcasting Company Melbourne, alongside Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover and Greg Champion. As a musician, Baxter was the lead vocalist of Ghetto Blasters,, and he has worked as a solo artist. issued two albums on Au Go Go Records, Broken Stuff (1988) and So Long (1990). While Baxter"s solo albums are Holler (1991) and Speedhump, Thump (1994).
Musical career He played football for the Geelong Under 19s as a rover.
In October 1980, Australian rock band, Paul Kelly & the Dots had issued a single, "Billy Baxter" where Kelly sang that "I want to be like Billy Baxter and do imitations, Billy"s got a thousand faces, he"s a lover and a gambler too". He was a vocalist for Ghetto Blasters from 1982 to 1984 with Archie Cuthbertson, Kevin Fleming, Don Morrison and Nigel Sweeting.
Baxter and Fleming then formed (1984–1985) with Allan Brooker, Ian Hill and Steve Watson. They released a Live album in April.
Later in 1985 Baxter formed the folk popular group with Mal Stanley on vocals, guitar and organ (ex-Burning Souls), Jon Von Goes on guitar, Danny Butler on bass guitar and Paul Johnstone on drums.
The group issued two albums on Au Go Go Records, Broken Stuff (1988) and So Long (1990). In the 1991 comedy film, Spotswood, Baxter and appear as a rock group, the Cicadas. However the group had disbanded before the film"s release.
Baxter released his debut solo album, Holler (1991) and followed with Speedhump, Thump (1994).
In April 1998 Baxter covered "(They Long to Be) Close to You" for the tribute album, To Hal and Bacharach, by various Australian artists. In December 2010, had reformed to perform Broken Stuff live on air.
Radio presenter In 1982, Baxter started an alternate career in radio, initially as a DJ on Melbourne community radio station 3RRR. The Age"s Jenny Brown felt the programme displayed " patchwork of rarely heard records and off-the-wall novelty tracks" and Baxter was described as "not terrificly tall but the frontman of a rock band in rehearsal". Baxter then worked for Australian Broadcasting Corporation (American Broadcasting Company"s) 3LO on the Sunday Night Live show.
The current sports events programme is co-presented by Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover and Greg Champion.
Baxter also selects music for the show. In 2003, the programme"s comedy team released a 2× Civil Defense compilation album, A Coodabeens Collection.
After his stint on 3LO he became a long term member of Coodabeens Footy Show on Radio National via 774 American Broadcasting Company Melbourne.