Stan Rofe - Legacy and Influence

Legacy and Influence

Generations of musicians will remember him best as adviser, mentor and guru. He helped start Johnny O'Keefe's career when he was the first DJ to play O'Keefe's first record, "You Hit the Wrong Note Billy Goat", and recommending he cover the Isley Brothers' "Shout", which became JOK's signature hit.

Johnny Chester, Ronnie Burns and Russell Morris and Normie Rowe all credit Rofe for advice and direction. "He would encourage young groups to pursue their careers, and he would try and find a gig for them through the influential promoters he knew," said Ian Meldrum, whom Rofe dubbed "Molly" (after office boy Frank Howson suggested the name) when they worked together at Go-Set magazine. "At times he would actually pay money out of his own pocket, which today is unheard of."

Rofe actually produced a single for Frank Howson, "Seventeen Ain't Young" that made the Melbourne charts.

"He was an exceptional, warm man", said singer Russell Morris, who credits Rofe for suggesting he do a cover of "Hush", the first hit for his band, Somebody's Image. "He was such a huge star, but his door would always be open for any 16-year-old kid who came into his studio with a record."

In 1994, Rofe's services to the music industry were honoured when the Australian Record Industry Association presented him with a special achievement award.

At his funeral service on Wednesday 21 May 2003, more than 200 people packed the Trinity College chapel in Parkville, Victoria to overflowing and they heard Rofe eulogised as a friend, a brother, an uncle, a mentor, a passionate supporter of Australian artists and an even more passionate supporter of the Essendon Football Club.