Chris Harriott
Chris is a self taught Composer and Musician who dropped out of Art School in 1977 to pursue a “career” in rock and roll. Forming the Adelaide band ‘Scandal’ with like minded students and friends, he basically learned how to play keyboards after deciding to form a band. Not the ideal way to do things,but why let mere technicalities get in the way.
Six months after their first gig ‘Scandal’ signed with Mushroom records,released several singles and an album. They toured constantly, appearing regularly on Countdown and supporting 10cc and E.L.O. On their national tours.
After ‘Scandal’ and various post ‘Scandal’ bands finally bit the dust, Chris found himself in Sydney - and with a new musical direction. Theatre! During the 1980’s Chris , along with lyricist Dennis Watkins wrote four musicals- Dingo Girl, Beach Blanket Tempest ,Pearls Before Swine ( Directed by Geoffrey Rush), and Burger Brain ( Toni Collette’s debut). During this period Chris became the first Mr. Music for Theatresports, improvising music scores on stage every Sunday at Belvoir St Theatre. He also was international Mr Music for theatresports at Expo 86 in Canada, playing for all the teams - not just Aust.
Theatresports led to TV, where he became composer for several Network Ten childrens shows, before immersing himself in the world of Comedy at the ABC. Blah, Blah, Blah, Money or the Gun ( Yes, he was responsible for all those Stairways to Heaven) Live and Sweaty, McFeast and more. At the same time however ,were major documentary series such as Nobody’s Children, the Big House and Without Consent - going back to back with several series of Bananas in Pyjamas and Bananas CD’s.
Near the end of the 90’s, Posie Graeme - Evans - for whom he had scored Elly & Jools, Miraculous Mellops and Mirror Mirror - and Helena Harris- from Bananas in Pyjamas- asked him if he could write Top Ten pop songs for the 2-6 age group. With that simple
challenge Hi-5 was born . Twelve series later the show is as popular as ever, with American and British versions on , and more countries to follow. In the midst of the Hi5 frenzy, the prime time Channel 9 series McLeods Daughters got the go ahead . A long time ambition of Chris was to write original songs for a drama series. With Posie the producer morphing into Posie the lyricist, this became a reality. The songs were written to forward the plot, or to give emotional background to the characters, and were woven in and out of the score. So popular in fact that the first Soundtrack album has sold over 75,000 copies- achieving Platinum, and the second has gone Gold.
On top of all this he composed the songs and score for the feature film “The Magic Pudding” whish reunited him with his old theatre friend Geoffrey Rush, and gave him the opportunity to work with a lifelong idol - John Cleese.
And now full circle, with the new Bananas in Pyjamas series going global, and a New Musical " 100 Feats of Strength" in development.
Aria Awards - Best Comedy Album, Stairways to Heaven
- Best Childrens Album - Hi5 - 2000 , 2001 , 2002, 2004, 2005
Multiple Gold & Platinum albums ( Hi5, Bananas , McLeods , Stairways )
APRA music awards - Most performed childrens work
Chris has Produced over 30 Albums
He has his own recording studios in Sydneys inner-west, and The Blue Mountains