Matt Flinders

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"Picking Up Pebbles" - single cover
"Picking Up Pebbles" - single cover

Matt Flinders, born Sylvain Louis Bonett in Alexandria, Egypt, is a singer who rose to prominence in the late 1960s in Australia.

Of French, English and Italian background, he migrated to Australia with his family in 1951. Following National Service training with the RAAF in the 1950s, he toured Australia, Japan and England as a double bass player and singer, later being appointed as a bandleader at the Chevron Hotel in Melbourne.[1] Born to a music loving family, Matt's brothers also enjoyed the limelight of musical careers; the late Roland Bonet was a popular performer and dance band leader in Melbourne until his death in 2002; Arnaud, the eldest, performed many roles as an operatic bass baritone for the National Theatre Opera and the ABC, and was presented with an Aademy Award by the Italian Opera Festival Organisation in 1961, before a career change to the corporate world; and Chris, the youngest of the three, spent more than two decades as a professional solo singer, bass player and recording artist with popular rock bands touring Australia, Club Med resorts in the pacific, Canada and USA until the late 70s.

After singing on a few radio and TV commercials, Matt Flinders was "discovered" by Ron Tudor of Astor Records who suggested the name change to Matt Flinders (after the explorer Matthew Flinders) which was deemed to be easier to pronounce and remember than his birth name.[1]

Matt had two top ten singles in Australia: "Picking up Pebbles" (1969) which reached No.1 in Melbourne[2], and "Butterfly" (1971). He is the recipient of several recording awards and professional accolades for his talent, both as a performer and professional musician. As a consumate musician and composer of some of his hits, (see 'Susan Walks Away'in the archives) Matt Flinders' recording repertoire displays a perrenial musical creativity rarely found on the international stage. [3]

He appeared on his own television show, Matt Flinders and Friends (1972-1973), as well as his own radio show, both for the ABC. [1]

Currently he is retired from the entertainment industry, and now works as a civil celebrant with his wife, Coralie. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Matt Flinders. (accessed through Internet Archive). Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  2. ^ Matt Flinders - Picking up Pebbles. poparchives.com.au. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  3. ^ Matt Flinders - Butterfly. poparchives.com.au. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.