1945
TONIGHT 7th DECEMBER at Fremantle R.S.L. Hall, South Terrace. Dancing 8 p.m. till 1 a.m. Supper Provided.
Items by such well-known artists as Arthur Murray, ace crooner; Chris Gosper, king of the keyboard. LUCKY SPOT DANCES. DOT WINTON’S BAND. Photographers in attendance.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Friday 7 December 1945, page 16
1947
FIRST JAZZ JAMBOREE – JIVE TONIGHT
Hot music’s deepest groove in years will lead to the Capitol tonight, when 8 leading bands will stage Perth’s first Jazz Jamboree. Outstanding combinations of Merv Rowsfcon, Chris Gosper, Sammy Sharp, John Stirling, Henry Cochrane, Ray Harley, Bill Kirkham and the Hounslow group will present a programme ranging from earliest jazz to modern swing.
Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 – 1955), Sunday 12 October 1947, page 11
MUSIC SWIM
SURFERS at North Cottesloe will have music while they swim next Sunday. An eight-piece band — ‘Chris Gosper and his Music for Moderns’ — will give a jazz concert on the beach on Sunday afternoon. The concert, presented by the North Cottesloe Surf Life-Saving Club, will be the first live-artist musical show to be held on a beach in W.A. A stage is being built on the sand at North Cottesloe on Saturday and a public address system is being arranged so that people on all parts of the beach will be able to hear the music. If this venture is a success, Chris Gosper in conjunction with the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, will repeat it periodically and may even establish a permanent band for beachgoers.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Thursday 27 November 1947, page 6
1948
Open Air Theatre Built
A big, floodlit open-air theatre has been built for tonight’s Radio Star Show at lower Supreme Court Gardens. The largest of its kind ever to be erected in Perth, the stage has been built among the trees, shrubs and flowers. Among those who will appear are Roy (‘Mo’) Rene, Hal Lashwood, Theo Walters and Jack Burgess. Gates will open at 7 p.m. — an hour before the concert is scheduled to start. Special squads of police will patrol the fences. Motor cycle police will escort the entertainers to the grounds when they arrive here by tonight’s A.N.A. Skymaster. The local artists include Wally Hadley, Ante Soljanic, Nell Shortland-Jones and Chris Gosper and his orchestra. Reserved seats are 6/6 each. Other seats are 3/ each. Money raised by tonight’s concert will aid the Australian Surf Life Saving Association and will boost the Miss Australia Surf Girl contest.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Saturday 31 January 1948, page 18
PERTH RADIO STATIONS USING MORE BANDS AND LIVE ARTIST SESSIONS
Quick survey of local musicians currently airing programmes in Perth shows what a keen interest is being shown by local radio stations, both national and commercial, in presenting “flesh and blood” shows, especially by members of the dance band fraternity. Here are where a few of our leading “outfits” can be heard over the local ether. Sammy Sharp’s Band (featuring a 15 piece combination) and vocalist Peter Boyd are prominent each Thursday evening over station 6PR with a Band Presentation and “Talent Quest” show. Over the same network from Perth Town Hall, Chris Gosper and his “Music for Moderns” are relayed from their weekly midday sessions, which have proved a huge success, and shows signs of developing into something really big. From the same network come many other “live” shows including pianist Warrick Lever, Henry Cochrane and Jimmy Beeson. George Hay and his “Hawaiians”, Billy Barnes’ Hill Billys, Accordionist Harry Bluck, saxophonist Jack Pateman. On the Nationals the weekly show features the “Rhythmettes”, a novelty outfit led by Harry Bluck, while the Jackie Harrison Quintette and Emil also give occasional broadcasts, not forgetting of course, soloist Henry Cochrane. Quick roundup of the other stations tells us of a weekly Sunday Show by the “400 Swingtette” over 6KY, where Chris Gosper and Ralph St. Clair play solo piano sessions, while a prominent Hill Billy movement is also aired by this station.
TONIGHT Patricia Wainwright’s VARIETY SHOW
His Majesty’s Theatre, by Jeff Manion, Chris Gosper, Henry Cochrane and thirty other well known -artists including The Gable Williams Tumbling Rascals. It’s forWooroloo.
Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 – 1955), Sunday 19 September 1948, page 6
1948 The Second Jazz Jamboree
Already the bands concerned in this year’s “Jazz Jamboree” are working on their numbers for this colossal programme which shows every promise of superseding last year’s magnificent turn out. The bands listed to appear so far are – Merv Rowston’s, Jack Harrison’s, Ron Jenkin’s, A Jazz Group, Bill Kirkham’s, Chris Gosper’s and Sammy Sharp’s bands. This year a box plan will be opened and so it is hoped to avoid the terrific crush and queuing that took place last year – the queue was four deep, entirely encircling a complete city block – and was there for a couple of hours in pouring rain. Also – at last – proceeds from this year’s Jamboree go to the Musician’s own Benevolent Fund. Music Maker October 1948
SUNDAY OCTOBER 31st – JAZZ JAMBOREE OF 1948 Capitol Theatre, Sunday Night October 31 – eight leading bands led by Merv Rowston, Sammy Sharp, Chris Gosper, Harry Bluck, Ron Jenkins, Bill Kirkham, Jack Harrison, Ken Murdoch. Box plan at Nicholsons. Adm 2/6 Proceeds to Charity. Harry Bluck, who heads the A.B.C. Rhythmettes, is the brains behind the business and all proceeds go to the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund. The Mirror Saturday October 23 1948 Vol 25. No. 1379
1949 – MELBOURNE
Followers of the Gosper combination will be with me in wishing Chris, who is now studying with the Melbourne Conservatorium, all the best. They tell me that while Keith Whittle (Embassy drummer) and Chris were marking time in Melbourne recently, it was jointly decided to take on a temporary occupation with the South Melbourne Aviation Engineering Supply Co. transferring nuts and bolts by wheelbarrow from one part of the factory to another. In 3 days, the musicians ran into no end of humorous strife. Climax Came when Chris was accidentally ‘crowned’ with a 5foot crow-bar. Chris has been sitting in with the Stork Club and is now with George Watson’s Academy of Music teaching modern pianoforte.
Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), Saturday 30 April 1949, page 14
PERTH PIANIST IN MELBOURNE
Appears Perth pianist Chris Gosper is now well established in Melbourne. He is studying at the Conservatoriom, is on the teaching staff of ex-Perth drummer George Watson. Chris has chosen the trombone as his second instrument of study. He is playing piano at the Colchester night dob. Chris wishes to be remembered to Perth friends.
Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), Saturday 17 September 1949, page 12
1950
Popular former Perth pianist and bandleader Chris Gosper, who took his son Karl, a spastic cripple, to Melbourne 12 months ago for treatment, would have had to return here but for the Red Cross. Mr. Gosper had tried for eight months to find accommodation reasonably close to the Spastic Centre at the Carlton Children’s Hospital. Discouraged, he decided to bring four -year-old Karl back to Perth for treatment. When the Victorian branch of the Red Cross heard of his predicament, it offered to help by caring for Karl at its Welfare House, East St. Kilda,
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Monday 1 May 1950, page 9