CLIVE HODSON
(Alto sax, trombone, trumpet)
“Clive’s concern with the environment is a long standing one, being one of the founders and organizers for one of the biggest concerts “Turn Back the Tide” (1989) ever held on iconic Bondi Beach to raise awareness of Ocean pollution and its long-term effect on both human and marine life. This concert was supported by the cream of Australia’s contemporary musicians and raised a significant amount of money to help with the continued push toward a cleaner/greener environment.”
Clive Hodson was born in Perth, Western Australian and started playing cornet at the age of 8 in the first school band in that state, East Victoria Park. He then moved to trumpet and at age 9 formed his first band called the Orbiteers, a three-piece band comprising Clive on Trumpet/T-Chest Bass/Vocals, guitar and drums.
Clive developed a friendship (which continues to this day) with fellow music student Brendon Darby and asked him to join the Orbiteers. When they were both 11 they formed another band called The Young Brass. Adding a drummer and a keyboard player they were in demand for backing international and national artists due to our ability to read music.
The Young Brass morphed into SSARB (Brass backwards) adding more players and dividing our repertoire between original compositions and songs by other horn bands such as BS&T, Chicago, Tower of Power, etc. The band was signed to Colombia Records and were in demand as supports to International acts such as Paul McCartney’s Wings & Osibisa.
After many years of playing/touring, recording and backing, Clive joined the Australian Regular Army Band Corp and switched from Trumpet to Oboe/Cor Anglais (Alto Sax when marching) tutored by the principal oboist of the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. After completing his military service, he joined up again with Brendon and toured Australia with another horn band, ‘Thrust’, this time playing Alto and Oboe.
Clive was given the opportunity of working in the recording industry in 1978 as a representative for PolyGram Records. He held several key executive positions with PolyGram Records/Universal Music (A&R/Marketing/GM) for 25 years, after which he was appointed Head of Music at the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Clive moved to the publishing side as GM of Shock Music Publishing before starting his own publishing company Perfect Pitch Publishing.
During this time Clive also continued to perform/record with Sydney surf chill band Expand & Surrender (playing Trumpet/Sax and Valve Trombone). Clive’s connection with Mark Trueack goes back to his record company days and through their friendship developed a business relationship with Clive’s company Perfect Pitch Publishing, representing Mark’s publishing globally. As a horn section Clive & Brendon have played many live gigs and recordings (now for over 50 years) … and continue to do so.
Clive is a registered songwriter, Deputy Chairman of AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association) and also sits on the board of AMCOS (Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society).
Clive and partner Deb now live (back) in Perth Western Australia. Clive’s has two sons; Nathan who resides and works in London and Jordan who lives in Sydney and is a label manager for EMI Music.
