Bobby Bright Has Died

Australian pop singer Bobby Bright has died. He was 80.

Bright passed away on July 18, in Melbourne, Australia.

He is best known for being one-half of the pop duo Bobby & Laurie.

The duo had several popular singles, like top-10 hit “I Belong with You” in 1964 and the Australia #1 hit “Hitch Hiker.” The two were regular performers on various Australian TV shows, which elevated their profile enough to send them on giant national tours.

“Hitch Hiker” was such a hit in Australia that ABC gave them their own 1966 TV show in the country titled It’s a Gas, which was shortly renamed to Dig We Must. The half-hour sketch comedy series was hosted by the duo, and each episode usually began or ended with a performance from the two.

After the TV series flopped, the two men parted ways and took up solo careers in 1967. They reunited in 1969 with their cover of Porter Wagoner’s classic country song “The Carroll County Accident.” Shortly after, in 1971, they split up again.

The duo performed their final concert together on June 1, 2002 at the Kingston City Hall, and Laurie Allen died from a heart attack at age 60 just a few days later on June 13.

Bright continued to tour around Melbourne, Australia until his death.