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Vale: Darryl Cotton

Pop star, actor and TV host Darryl Cotton has died, following a brief battle with liver cancer, aged 62.

Pop star, actor and TV host Darryl Cotton has died, following a brief battle with liver cancer, aged 62.

Cotton died early this morning after only being diagnosed in May while he was still working solidly as a musician alongside Jim Keays and Russell Morris.

A founding member of Australian rock group Zoot including with Beeb Birtles and Rick Springfield and later wrote songs Olivia Newton-John and Shaun Cassidy, during a stint in the USA.

In addition to his TV performances as a pop star he later turned to acting, including on The Young Doctors before he became a presenter on TEN’s Saturday morning children’s program The Early Bird Show in the 1980s. He also hosted Summer Rock on Adelaide’s Nine Network.

Friend and former manager Jeff Joseph said, ‘‘He was philosophical from the outset when told of his condition, but was determined to fight it until the very end and maintained a very positive attitude.

‘‘Darryl was much loved and highly respected by men and women alike, both in and out of the entertainment industry,’’ he said.

Jim Keays told ABC Radio that of the three, he thought Cotton would be the last to go.

“We’ll just go on, and play a couple of songs in his honour,’’ he said.

Rick Springfield, who saw Cotton last week, said on his Facebook page.

‘‘He now knows what we all want to know. Bless your great spirit my friend. Keep a spot in the band for me up there. All my love to your great life and your beautiful family.’’

Source: The Age

3 Responses

  1. That is so sad! I loved him back in the early ’80s, not only as a singer but on the Young Doctors and on the Early Bird Show with Maree and Marty the Monster. He came to my school (in 1980 I think) and did a concert. After he finished he talked to all the kids and gave out kisses to the girls (doubt that would be allowed now!). I had lip gloss on so I then kissed the page of my autograph book next to his name and his lip print is still there to this day. And as I have heard many times today, I can say that he was so nice, very friendly and with absolutely no airs. I had always intended to go and see him performing with Jim Keays and Russell Morris but had put it off, figuring I would eventually get there. Sadly now it will never be….

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