Publications

Autobiography

Australia's ‘Mr Music’ launched his autobiography to celebrate his 50th year in the music industry. The Tommy Tycho Story: Music, Maestro Please was published by Melbourne based Brolga Publishing Pty Ltd in 1995.

‘His love of life and music sings out in this autobiography’

This is the story of one of Australia’s most eminent and respected musical directors.

Born in Budapest, Hungary and of Jewish descent he was sent to labour camps during the Nazi regime of World War II. His love of music carried his spirit through one of the darkest periods of the twentieth century.

Playing for the Shah in Teheran; immigrating to Australia; becoming a storeman at David Jones; being smuggled out of work (with help of his work mates) to play afternoon concerts at the ABC; Tommy’s story is marked by extraordinary crescendos.

As well as his personal story he tells us about the development of television in Australia from its humble beginnings to the glorious golden years of the 1960s and 1970s.

Tommy Tycho has played with the best international stars: Frank Sinatra, Peter Allen, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lewis, Henry Mancini.

He has also had an enormous influence on the Australian entertainment industry working with: Julie Anthony, Jackie Love, Anthony Warlow; and doing musical scores for films such as Young Einstein and Reckless Kelly.

The Tommy Tycho Story will have you applauding and calling ‘Music, Maestro Please’.

Forty Years of Television: The Story of ATN 7

Compiled by Julia Morrell, text by Helen Everingham and Simon Francis.

Published by Lansdowne in 1996.

A pictorial history of Australian Television Network 7 (Channel 7) from 1956 through to 1996. Offering a glimpse behind the scenes, it showcases the productions and technology that shaped ATN 7 before the advent of digital technology and is interspersed with anecdotes from actors, directors and ATN 7 staff.

Maestro Tommy Tycho played a pivotal role in early Australian television production, as the Musical Director of the Seven Network from 1956–1971. During his 15 year directorship he arranged, orchestrated and composed hundreds of musical items - everything from country to jazz, to classical music and beyond.