Glenn Shorrock - Early Years

Early Years

Glenn Barrie Shorrock was born on 30 June 1944 in Chatham, Kent, United Kingdom. His family migrated to Adelaide, South Australia in August 1954 when he was ten. His father was a Yorkshire-born fitter and turner at the Weapons Research Establishment in Salisbury. The 1954–55 summer had days of 42 °C (108 °F) and Black Sunday bushfires ravaged the Adelaide Hills in January 1955. His London-born mother was not impressed with Australia, she took Shorrock and his younger sister back to UK, they returned for a second attempt in 1956. The family settled in Elizabeth 20 km (12 mi) north of Adelaide.

Shorrock's first public performance took place in 1958 in a Lutheran church hall—he was miming to Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" on a gramophone and strumming on a cardboard guitar when the player stopped—he was forced to continue singing by himself and realised he had a good voice.

In 1962, Shorrock formed his first band, The Checkmates, with Clem McCartney, Mike Sykes and Billy Volraat. They were a doo wop harmony group covering The Platters and The Crew Cuts material. Sometimes teaming up with instrumental groups, The Vector Men or The Hurricanes, The Checkmates performed in Adelaide cafes and folk clubs. As a result of The Beatles' popularity, members of The Checkmates and The Hurricanes merged to form The Twilights in 1964.