Patsy Biscoe


Patsy Biscoe AM (born 21 March 1946) is an Australian children's television personality, singer and guitarist. She regularly appeared on children's national television shows, Here's Humphrey and Fat Cat and Friends. She has released many children's music albums containing nursery rhymes and similar children's songs and has sold in excess of 500,000 units in her musical career.

Patsy Biscoe (AM)
Born (1946-03-21) 21 March 1946
Shimla, India
NationalityAustralian
Occupation
  • Television personality
  • singer
  • musician
  • local government politician
Years active1958–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • acoustic guitar

Early life and training

Biscoe was born in Shimla, India, to a British army officer and a civil servant. She came to Australia and settled in Sydney with her family during the Partition of India, and they moved to Sandy Bay in Hobart when she was nine. She won a classical singing scholarship after making an unscheduled appearance at the St Mary's College annual eisteddfod. While studying medicine at the University of Tasmania, she sang and played some guitar at a Sunday night jazz club. Her studies and fledgling career were interrupted by a car accident which damaged her eyesight.[1] She covered a scar on her face from the accident with what became her distinctive long-fringed haircut.

Biscoe was a finalist in the Starflight International talent quest of the Australian television show, Bandstand, competing for an overseas trip and a recording contract. She recorded her first LP in Sydney in 1965 with CBS records.[1]

Television

She gained fame in her adopted home of Adelaide when she regularly appeared on the Nine Network children's show, Here's Humphrey (1965–2008), which she hosted from September 1970.[2] Later she was a presenter on local TV children's show, Channel Niners. She also appeared as a singer on another children's TV show, Fat Cat and Friends (1972–91), on SAS-10. In October 1980 she promoted wearing seat belts for children in a TV ad campaign by the Road Safety Council in South Australia.[3]

Political career

Biscoe has been Deputy Mayor of the Barossa Council local government area, a naturopath, and Chair of the Tanunda Town Committee.[4]

Parody

During the early 1990s, Biscoe was parodied by Adelaide comedian Glynn Nicholas who played Paté Biscuit on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television comedy show, The Big Gig. Biscoe appeared in several episodes with Nicholas, one time tying up Biscuit and taking his place on the show with Bongo, Biscuit's hand puppet. She also appeared on the show using her own hand puppet, Bongette—the female counterpart of Bongo. When on screen together, neither Bongo nor Bongette could hide their attraction for the other.

Recognition

Biscoe was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 for her services to music and her local community.[5]

Discography
  • The Voice of Patsy Biscoe
  • Patsy Biscoe: 50 Favourite Nursery Rhymes Volume One
  • Patsy Biscoe: 50 Favourite Nursery Rhymes Volume Two
  • Patsy Biscoe: 50 Favourite Nursery Rhymes Volume Three
    • These are available as a boxed set as 150 Favourite Nursery Rhymes.
  • Patsy Biscoe: Rock'N'Roll
  • Patsy Biscoe: Once Upon A Time
  • Patsy Biscoe: Who Built The Ark?
  • Patsy Biscoe: Songs For Sunday
  • Patsy Biscoe: Sings Favourite Children's Songs
  • Patsy Biscoe: A Lullaby For All Children
  • Patsy Biscoe: Kids Karaoke
  • Patsy's Christmas Album
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References
  1. Turnbull, Malcolm J. "The Folk Revival in Tasmania 1964–1972 Archived 3 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine", accessed 22 December 2007.
  2. "Films for the week". The Canberra Times. 45 (12, 702). 21 September 1970. p. 13. Retrieved 12 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Compact: Bringing a Message Through Song". The Australian Women's Weekly. 48 (19). 8 October 1980. p. 36. Retrieved 12 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "About". Patsy Biscoe's website. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  5. Opie, Rebecca (25 January 2016). "Australia Day honours: Children's entertainer Patsy Biscoe made Member of the Order of Australia". ABC News. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
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