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==Early life==
==Early life==
Hay was born in [[Kilwinning]], [[North Ayrshire]], Scotland, and emigrated to Australia with his family at age 14 in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|title = Colin Hay|publisher = allmusic.com|url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p85265/biography|pure_url=yes}} | access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref>
Hay was born in [[Kilwinning]], [[North Ayrshire]], Scotland to parents James and Isabela.<ref name="Bio>{{cite web|url=https://colinhay.com.br/bio|title=Biography of Colin Hay|website=colinhay.com.br|access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> In 1967, at the age of 14, the Hay's emigrated to Melbourne Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title = Colin Hay|publisher = allmusic.com|url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p85265/biography|pure_url=yes}} | access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="Bio/>


==Career==
==Career==
===1978–1986: Men at Work===
===1978–1986: Men at Work===
{{main|Men at Work}}
{{main|Men at Work}}
In 1978, Hay met [[Ron Strykert]] and the men began playing [[acoustic music]] as a [[duet (music)|duo]]. Hay and Strykert formed the core of the band [[Men at Work]], with Hay on vocals, guitar and keyboards and Strykert on guitar, vocals and bass guitar. Hay and Strykert added [[Jerry Speiser]] (drums), John Rees (bass guitar and backing vocals) and [[Greg Ham]] (flute, saxophone, keyboards, vocals).<ref name="Holmgren">Entries at [[Australian Rock Database]]:
In 1978, Hay met [[Ron Strykert]] and they formed an [[acoustic music|acoustic]] [[duet (music)|duo]].<ref name="Bio/> In 1979, Hay and Strykert added [[Jerry Speiser]] and [[Greg Ham]] started composing songs for what was going to became [[Men at Work]].<ref name="Bio/><ref name="Holmgren">Entries at [[Australian Rock Database]]:
*Colin Hay/Colin Hay Band:&nbsp;{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930022330/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/h/haycolin.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/h/haycolin.html |title=Colin Hay |work=passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |first1=Magnus |last1=Holmgren |first2=Stefan |last2=Warnqvist |archive-date=30 September 2013 |access-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy}}
*Colin Hay/Colin Hay Band:&nbsp;{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930022330/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/h/haycolin.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/h/haycolin.html |title=Colin Hay |work=passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |first1=Magnus |last1=Holmgren |first2=Stefan |last2=Warnqvist |archive-date=30 September 2013 |access-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy}}
*Men at Work (1979–1986, 1995–present):&nbsp;{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927234251/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html |title=Men at Work |work=passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |first1=Magnus |last1=Holmgren |first2=Stefan |last2=Warnqvist |archive-date=27 September 2013 |access-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy}}</ref> The group released their debut album, ''[[Business as Usual (Men at Work album)|Business as Usual]]'', in 1981.
*Men at Work (1979–1986, 1995–present):&nbsp;{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927234251/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html |url=http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/m/menatwork.html |title=Men at Work |work=passagen.se |publisher=Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) |first1=Magnus |last1=Holmgren |first2=Stefan |last2=Warnqvist |archive-date=27 September 2013 |access-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy}}</ref>


The group released their debut album, ''[[Business as Usual (Men at Work album)|Business as Usual]]'', in 1981, which was followed by ''[[Cargo (album)|Cargo]]'' and ''[[Two Hearts (Men at Work album)|Two Hearts]]'' before breaking up in January 1986.
⚫
The success of Men at Work, and of their albums ''[[Business as Usual (Men at Work album)|Business as Usual]]'' and ''[[Cargo (album)|Cargo]]'', prompted Hay to relocate to [[Los Angeles]] in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.njherald.com/20160721/colin-hay-still-a-man-at-work#|title=Colin Hay still a man at work|access-date=2016-09-09}}</ref> He settled in the [[Topanga]] region of the city and has resided in the United States since. In January 2016 he became a US citizen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/76831-Colin-Hay-of-Men-at-Work|title=Crystal Ballroom|publisher=Mcmenamins.com|access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref>


Hay joined as guest vocalist with [[the Incredible Penguins]] in 1985 for a [[cover version|cover]] of "[[Happy Xmas (War Is Over)]]", a charity project for research on [[little penguin]]s, which peaked at No.&nbsp;10 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] in December.<ref name="Kent">{{cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book Ltd|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]]|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]] created their own [[ARIA Charts|charts]] in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.</ref><ref name="WhosWho">{{cite book|title=The Who's Who of Australian Rock|last1=Spencer|first1=Chris|first2=Zbig |last2=Nowara|first3=Paul|last3=McHenry|others=Notes by [[Ed Nimmervoll]]|url=http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm|chapter=Incredible Penguins |chapter-url=http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=103300|orig-year=1987|year=2002|publisher=Five Mile Press|location=[[Noble Park, Victoria|Noble Park]], Vic.|isbn=1-86503-891-1|access-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229232852/http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm|archive-date=29 February 2012|df=dmy-all}} Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.</ref>
In 1986, Hay joined as guest vocalist with [[the Incredible Penguins]] in for a [[cover version|cover]] of "[[Happy Xmas (War Is Over)]]", a charity project for research on [[little penguin]]s, which peaked at No.&nbsp;10 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] in December 1985.<ref name="Kent">{{cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book Ltd|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]]|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]] created their own [[ARIA Charts|charts]] in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.</ref><ref name="WhosWho">{{cite book|title=The Who's Who of Australian Rock|last1=Spencer|first1=Chris|first2=Zbig |last2=Nowara|first3=Paul|last3=McHenry|others=Notes by [[Ed Nimmervoll]]|url=http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm|chapter=Incredible Penguins |chapter-url=http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=103300|orig-year=1987|year=2002|publisher=Five Mile Press|location=[[Noble Park, Victoria|Noble Park]], Vic.|isbn=1-86503-891-1|access-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229232852/http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm|archive-date=29 February 2012|df=dmy-all}} Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.</ref>


===1986–present: solo career===
===1987–1993: solo career beginnings===
Following the breakup of Men at Work in 1986, Hay released his debut single "Hold Me" in 1986. The song peaked at number 40 on the Kent Music Report. His debut studio album, ''[[Looking for Jack]]'' was released in February 1987 and peaked at number 58.
Following the breakup of Men at Work in 1986, Hay released his debut single "Hold Me" in January 1987. The song peaked at number 40 on the Kent Music Report. His debut studio album, ''[[Looking for Jack]]'' was released in March 1987 and peaked at number 58.


⚫
Hay to relocate to [[Los Angeles]] in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.njherald.com/20160721/colin-hay-still-a-man-at-work#|title=Colin Hay still a man at work|access-date=2016-09-09}}</ref> He settled in the [[Topanga]] region of the city and has resided in the United States since. In January 2016 he became a US citizen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/76831-Colin-Hay-of-Men-at-Work|title=Crystal Ballroom|publisher=Mcmenamins.com|access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref>
⚫
In the mid-1990s, Hay also established his own recording label, Lazy Eye Records,<ref>{{cite web|author=Sue Kiesewetter |url=http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100224&sid=146365 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715110802/http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100224&sid=146365 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Singer Colin Hay comes to Fairfield Community Arts Center April 24 - Butler County News at Cincinnati.com |publisher=Rodeo.cincinnati.com |access-date=4 February 2010 }}</ref> somewhat incorrectly named for his own divergent ocular condition ([[exotropia]], or divergent strabismus; the usage of ''lazy eye'' generally refers to [[amblyopia]]).


In March 1990, Hay released "Into My Life", the lead single from his second studio album, ''[[Wayfaring Sons]]'', which was released in April 1990. Neither single or album reached the ARIA top 100.<ref name=aus2>*For ''Wayfaring Sons'' and "Into My Life"{{cite web|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2021/04/week-commencing-9-april-1990.html|title=Week commencing 9 April 1990|publisher=bubblingdownunder.com|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> The album was credited to The Colin Hay Band which consisted of Gerry Hale, Paul Gadsby and Robert Dillon.<ref name="Bio/>
In 2004 he contributed to the ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'' soundtrack with his solo song "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You".


In 1992, Hay released the acoustic album ''Peaks & Valleys''. The album featured Hay’s sister, Carol on vocals.<ref name="Bio/>
In December 2005, Hay and [[Heather Mills]] released "My Brilliant Feat" as a charity single as a tribute to football player [[George Best]], who died on 25 November of that year. Proceeds were forwarded to the Donor Family Network, supporting [[organ donor]] families and promoting organ and tissue donation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/4665402.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=14 June 2009 |date=20 December 2005 |title=BBC Breakfast&nbsp;— December's Information}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heathermills.org/charity_donor.php |access-date=14 June 2009 |title=Donor Family Network |publisher=Heather Mills |first=David |last=Nix}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


===1994-2004: ARIA Hall of Fame and Lazy Eye Records===
⚫
In 2006 Hay provided his voice for one of the characters in the animated movie ''[[The Wild]]''.
At the [[ARIA Music Awards of 1994]], Hay was inducted into the [[ARIA Hall of Fame]] as part of [[Men at Work]].<ref name="ARIA1994">{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109051551/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1994 | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1994 | title = Winners by Year 1994 | publisher = [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) | archive-date = 9 January 2012 }}</ref>


⚫
In 1994, Hay established his own recording label, Lazy Eye Records,<ref>{{cite web|author=Sue Kiesewetter |url=http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100224&sid=146365 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715110802/http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100224&sid=146365 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Singer Colin Hay comes to Fairfield Community Arts Center April 24 - Butler County News at Cincinnati.com |publisher=Rodeo.cincinnati.com |access-date=4 February 2010 }}</ref> and released his fourth studio album, ''Topanga''.
⚫
In May 2009, Hay performed at the Artist for the Arts Foundation benefit at Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, California. Performing alongside [[Curt Smith]] of [[Tears for Fears]], [[Fee Waybill]] of [[the Tubes]], [[Venice (band)|Venice]], and over 70 members of the [[Santa Monica High School]] Orchestra and Girls Choir, the benefit helped to provide funds for the continuation of music education in public schools. In August 2010, Hay performed in [[Missoula, Montana]] with a Los Angeles [[Roots rock]] band named [[Patrolled By Radar]].<ref name=twsS14>{{cite news |title=Colin Hay with Patrolled by Radar |newspaper=Missoula Independent |quote=when Colin Hay—formerly of the group Men at Work—plays the Wilma Theatre with Patrolled by Radar |date=2 August 2010 |url=http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/colin-hay-with-patrolled-by-radar/Event?oid=1284434 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>


In 1996, Hay reunited with Men at Work and toured South America, which lead to the live Men at Work album, ''[[Brazil (Men at Work album)|Brazil]]''.<ref name="Holmgren"/>
In 2009, Hay's former group, [[Men at Work]], was named in a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement by Larrikin Music, which owns the rights to the "[[Kookaburra (song)|Kookaburra]]" song. Larrikin Music claimed that part of a flute riff from the band's 1981 single "Down Under" was copied from "Kookaburra" originally written by a music teacher, Marion Sinclair, who died in 1988. In February 2010, a court ruled in favour of Larrikin Music. Although the petition from Larrikin Music requested 40% to 60% of royalties dating back to 1981 and future royalties, in July 2010 a judge awarded the plaintiff only 5% of royalties dating back to 2002 and the same amount of future royalties.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/06/2945781.htm |title=Kookaburra gets last laugh in Men at Work case}}</ref>


In October 1998, Hay released his fifth studio album, ''[[Transcendental Highway]]'' and in 1999 recorded and released the song "Misty Bay" with his girlfriend, Cecilia Noël.<ref name="Bio/>
⚫
In 2011, Hay commented on his early solo career, stating, "After Men at Work, for the better part of a decade, I was stumbling around being unfocused. It was pre-internet; I really had to try to find my audiences by going out on tour. Men at Work really didn't build a foundational audience. We came in as a [[pop music|pop]] band with enormous radio success; once that goes away and the band breaks up the audience tends to go away with it. You're left with what you want to make of it. When you start out doing those tours, you start again [and] you tend not to attract a very big number of people. I'd play to a hundred people or sometimes less."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/news/colin-hay-is-still-at-work/story-fn6c8sdb-1226058296461 |work=National Features |title=Colin Hay is still at work |date=18 May 2011}}</ref>

In 2000, Hay released his sixth studio album, ''[[Going Somewhere]]''.<ref name="Bio/> On 1 October 2000, Hay performed with Men at Work at the [[2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Alan Atwood and Michael |title=From the Archives, 2000: A perfect party to end the world's greatest Games |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/from-the-archives-2000-a-perfect-party-to-end-the-world-s-greatest-games-20200923-p55yhz.html |access-date=1 February 2021 |work=The Age |date=30 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2002, Hay released his seventh studio album ''[[Company of Strangers (Colin Hay album)|Company of Strangers]]'' and the video album ''Live At the Continental'' recorded in 2000.<ref name="Bio/>

In July 2003, Hay released his eighth studio album, ''[[Man @ Work]]'', re-recording some Men at Work hits and his solo songs.<ref name="Bio/> Hay toured North America with former Beatles [[Ringo Starr]], as a member of his [[Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band]].<ref name="Bio/>

In 2004 Hay launched his one-man show named ''Man at Work'', a mixture of songs and stories.<ref name="Bio/>

===2005-present: Continued success===
⚫
In 2006 Hay provided his voice for one of the characters in the animated movie ''[[The Wild]]''.<ref name="Bio/>

In April 2007, Hay released his ninth studio album, ''[[Are You Lookin' at Me?]]''.<ref name="Bio/> In 2008, Hay plays the role of Nick at the horror movie ''[[The Uninvited (2008 film)|The Uninvited]]''.<ref name="Bio/>

In May 2009, Hay performed at the Artist for the Arts Foundation benefit at Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, California. Performing alongside [[Curt Smith]] of [[Tears for Fears]], [[Fee Waybill]] of [[the Tubes]], [[Venice (band)|Venice]], and over 70 members of the [[Santa Monica High School]] Orchestra and Girls Choir, the benefit helped to provide funds for the continuation of music education in public schools.{{cn|date=January 2022}}

In August 2009, Hay released his tenth studio album, ''[[American Sunshine]]''.<ref name="Bio/>

In 2010, Hay released the live album, ''Live At the Corner'', filmed in 2007 at The Corner hotel in Melbourne, Australia.<ref name="Bio/>

⚫
In August 2010, Hay performed in [[Missoula, Montana]] with a Los Angeles [[Roots rock]] band named [[Patrolled By Radar]].<ref name=twsS14>{{cite news |title=Colin Hay with Patrolled by Radar |newspaper=Missoula Independent |quote=when Colin Hay—formerly of the group Men at Work—plays the Wilma Theatre with Patrolled by Radar |date=2 August 2010 |url=http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/colin-hay-with-patrolled-by-radar/Event?oid=1284434 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>

⚫
In May 2011, Hay released his eleventh studio album ''[[Gathering Mercury]]''.<ref name="Bio/> In 2011, Hay commented on his early solo career, stating, "After Men at Work, for the better part of a decade, I was stumbling around being unfocused. It was pre-internet; I really had to try to find my audiences by going out on tour. Men at Work really didn't build a foundational audience. We came in as a [[pop music|pop]] band with enormous radio success; once that goes away and the band breaks up the audience tends to go away with it. You're left with what you want to make of it. When you start out doing those tours, you start again [and] you tend not to attract a very big number of people. I'd play to a hundred people or sometimes less."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/news/colin-hay-is-still-at-work/story-fn6c8sdb-1226058296461 |work=National Features |title=Colin Hay is still at work |date=18 May 2011}}</ref>


In December 2013, Hay announced on his website that he was done touring "for the time being" and would spend 2014 writing and recording.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colinhay.com/2013/12/18/a-message-from-colin/|title=Colin Hay » A message from Colin|publisher=Colinhay.com|access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref>
In December 2013, Hay announced on his website that he was done touring "for the time being" and would spend 2014 writing and recording.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colinhay.com/2013/12/18/a-message-from-colin/|title=Colin Hay » A message from Colin|publisher=Colinhay.com|access-date=22 November 2014}}</ref>


In February 2015, Hay released his twelfth studio album, ''Next Year People''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/colin-hay-to-release-12th-solo-album-next-year-people-20150202|title=Colin Hay To Release 12th Solo Album Next Year People|website=noise11|date=2 February 2015|access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> The album was preceded by the single "Trying To Get To You".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/new-colin-hay-trying-to-get-to-you-listen-20141226|title=New Colin Hay – Trying To Get To You LISTEN|website=noise11|date=26 December 2014|access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref>
In 2015 he joined the Last Summer on Earth tour with [[Violent Femmes]] and [[Barenaked Ladies]].


On 4 August 2015, ''Colin Hay: Waiting for my Real Life'', a documentary film about the singer, debuted at the [[Melbourne International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miff.com.au/program/film/colin-hay-waiting-for-my-real-life |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812043910/http://miff.com.au/program/film/colin-hay-waiting-for-my-real-life |archive-date=12 August 2015 |df=dmy}}</ref>
On 4 August 2015, ''Colin Hay: Waiting for my Real Life'', a documentary film about the singer, debuted at the [[Melbourne International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miff.com.au/program/film/colin-hay-waiting-for-my-real-life |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812043910/http://miff.com.au/program/film/colin-hay-waiting-for-my-real-life |archive-date=12 August 2015 |df=dmy}}</ref>


On 27 January 2017, he released the first single, "A Thousand Million Reasons", from his album ''Fierce Mercy'' which was released on 3 March 2017. He toured in support of the album throughout the US, UK and Australia. Also in 2017, Hay released his first audio book, ''Aesop's Fables with Colin Hay'', published by Devault-Graves Digital Editions, for which he narrated 24 of [[Aesop's Fables]] written by author [[Tom Graves (writer)|Tom Graves]].
On 27 January 2017, he released the first single, "A Thousand Million Reasons", from his thirteenth studio album ''Fierce Mercy'', released in March 2017. ''Fierce Mercy'' debuted at number 44 on the ARIA chart, becoming his second solo chart entry in Australia. The album was promoted with his segments on [[Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery]]'' and ''[[Sunday Night (Australian TV program)|Sunday Night]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/australian-charts-ed-sheeran-dominates-aria-albums-for-second-week-20170320|title=Australian Charts: Ed Sheeran Dominates ARIA Albums for Second Week|website=noise11|date=20 March 2017|access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref>


Also in 2017, Hay released his first audio book, ''Aesop's Fables with Colin Hay'', published by Devault-Graves Digital Editions, for which he narrated 24 of [[Aesop's Fables]] written by author [[Tom Graves (writer)|Tom Graves]].
⚫
== Personal life ==


In August 2021, Hay released his fourteenth studio album, ''I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself''. The album features 10 versions of some of Hay's favourite songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.colinhay.com/2021/08/06/new-album-from-colin-hay-i-just-dont-know-what-to-do-with-myself-is-out-now/|title=I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself is Out Now|website=Colin Hay|date=6 Aguust 2021|access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref>

⚫
== Personal life ==
Hay is married to singer Cecilia Noël,<ref>"[http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Man-At-Work-to-play-Towne-Crier-49620.php 'Man At Work' to play Towne Crier]", ''SF Gate'', 5:00 pm, Thursday, 8 April 2004.</ref> who often provides backup vocals at his shows. Noël has also helped with production on Hay's solo albums. Hay said of his album, ''[[Are You Lookin' At Me?]]'' "She was really crucial. She was a really great [[sounding board]] for me. She's a really good producer in the sense that she's very musical and has a great sense of song structure and so forth. So she was great to bounce ideas off. And she sang on nearly all the songs. So she was really a great part of this record.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Work-keeps-coming-in-for-Colin-Hay-68953.php#page-2 Work keeps coming in for Colin Hay], ''SF Gate'', 5:00 pm, Thursday, July 5, 2007.</ref> Hay and Noël live in [[Topanga Canyon]] in the [[Los Angeles, California]] area.<ref>Chris Johnston, "[http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/lunch-with-colin-hay-20130117-2cucf.html Lunch with Colin Hay]", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 19 January 2013.</ref>
Hay is married to singer Cecilia Noël,<ref>"[http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Man-At-Work-to-play-Towne-Crier-49620.php 'Man At Work' to play Towne Crier]", ''SF Gate'', 5:00 pm, Thursday, 8 April 2004.</ref> who often provides backup vocals at his shows. Noël has also helped with production on Hay's solo albums. Hay said of his album, ''[[Are You Lookin' At Me?]]'' "She was really crucial. She was a really great [[sounding board]] for me. She's a really good producer in the sense that she's very musical and has a great sense of song structure and so forth. So she was great to bounce ideas off. And she sang on nearly all the songs. So she was really a great part of this record.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Work-keeps-coming-in-for-Colin-Hay-68953.php#page-2 Work keeps coming in for Colin Hay], ''SF Gate'', 5:00 pm, Thursday, July 5, 2007.</ref> Hay and Noël live in [[Topanga Canyon]] in the [[Los Angeles, California]] area.<ref>Chris Johnston, "[http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/lunch-with-colin-hay-20130117-2cucf.html Lunch with Colin Hay]", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 19 January 2013.</ref>


Line 117: Line 144:
! Year !! Film/Show !! Role !! Notes
! Year !! Film/Show !! Role !! Notes
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''Wills & Burke'' || Publican ||
| 1985 || ''[[Wills & Burke]]'' || Publican || Australian black comedy film
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Raw Silk (film)|Raw Silk]]'' || Parker ||
| 1988 || ''[[Raw Silk (film)|Raw Silk]]'' || Parker || Australian film
|-
|-
| 1994-95 || ''[[Blue Heelers]]'' || Brad Fielding and George Patterson || 2 episodes
| 1994-95 || ''[[Blue Heelers]]'' || Brad Fielding and George Patterson || 2 episodes
|-
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Cosi (film)|Cosi]]'' || Zac ||
| 1996 || ''[[Cosi (film)|Cosi]]'' || Zac || Australian comedy-drama film
|-
|-
| 1997 || ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG: Judge Advocate General]]'' || Miles || Episode – "Trinity"
| 1997 || ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG: Judge Advocate General]]'' || Miles || Episode – "Trinity"
|-
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Heaven's Burning]]'' || Jonah ||
| 1997 || ''[[Heaven's Burning]]'' || Jonah || Australian crime film
|-
|-
| 1998 || ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]'' || himself ||
| 1998 || ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]'' || himself ||
|-
|-
| 1999 || ''[[The Craic]]'' || Barry ||
| 1999 || ''[[The Craic]]'' || Barry || Australian comedy film
|-
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Mick Molloy Show|The Mick Molloy Show]]'' || Gary Builder and himself || S1E2 and S1E4
| 1999 || ''[[Mick Molloy Show|The Mick Molloy Show]]'' || Gary Builder and himself || S1E2 and S1E4
Line 139: Line 166:
| 2006 || ''[[The Wild]]'' || Fergus Flamingo (voice) ||
| 2006 || ''[[The Wild]]'' || Fergus Flamingo (voice) ||
|-
|-
| 2008 || ''[[The Uninvited (2008 film)|The Uninvited]]'' || Nick ||
| 2008 || ''[[The Uninvited (2008 film)|The Uninvited]]'' || Nick || American horror thriller film
|-
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Jack Irish|Jack Irish – Bad Debts]]'' || Tony Baker ||
| 2012 || ''[[Jack Irish|Jack Irish – Bad Debts]]'' || Tony Baker || Australian television drama series
|-
|-
| 2017 || ''[[FishCenter Live]]'' || himself<ref name="Hay 2017">{{cite web|first1=Colin|last1=Hay|title=Colin appears on FishCenter|url=http://www.colinhay.com/2017/02/25/colin-appears-on-fishcenter/|work=Colin Hay|publisher=[[Tumblr]]|date=25 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> ||
| 2017 || ''[[FishCenter Live]]'' || himself<ref name="Hay 2017">{{cite web|first1=Colin|last1=Hay|title=Colin appears on FishCenter|url=http://www.colinhay.com/2017/02/25/colin-appears-on-fishcenter/|work=Colin Hay|publisher=[[Tumblr]]|date=25 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> ||

Revision as of 09:39, 1 January 2022

This article is about the musician. For the political scientist, see Colin Hay (political scientist).

Colin Hay
Hay in concert, 2018
Hay in concert, 2018
Background information
Birth nameColin James Hay
Born (1953-06-29) 29 June 1953 (age 70)
Kilwinning, Scotland
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1978–present
Labels
Websitecolinhay.com

Colin James Hay (born 29 June 1953) is a Scottish-Australian musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the band Men at Work and later as a solo artist. Hay's music has been used frequently by actor and director Zach Braff in his work, which helped a career rebirth in the mid-2000s.[1] Hay has also been a member of Ringo Starr's Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

Hay has made appearances in movies such as Cosi and in television shows such as The Larry Sanders Show, JAG, The Mick Molloy Show, A Million Little Things, and Scrubs.[2] along with episodes of ABC's What About Brian, NBC's The Black Donnellys, CBS's Cane, and the BBC hospital drama Casualty, have included performances of some of his previous songs; in Scrubs he performs an acoustic version of the Men at Work hit "Overkill".

Early life

Hay was born in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland to parents James and Isabela.[3] In 1967, at the age of 14, the Hay's emigrated to Melbourne Australia.[4][3]

Career

1978–1986: Men at Work

Main article: Men at Work

In 1978, Hay met Ron Strykert and they formed an acoustic duo.[3] In 1979, Hay and Strykert added Jerry Speiser and Greg Ham started composing songs for what was going to became Men at Work.[3][5]

The group released their debut album, Business as Usual, in 1981, which was followed by Cargo and Two Hearts before breaking up in January 1986.

In 1986, Hay joined as guest vocalist with the Incredible Penguins in for a cover of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", a charity project for research on little penguins, which peaked at No. 10 on the Australian Kent Music Report in December 1985.[6][7]

1987–1993: solo career beginnings

Following the breakup of Men at Work in 1986, Hay released his debut single "Hold Me" in January 1987. The song peaked at number 40 on the Kent Music Report. His debut studio album, Looking for Jack was released in March 1987 and peaked at number 58.

Hay to relocate to Los Angeles in 1989.[8] He settled in the Topanga region of the city and has resided in the United States since. In January 2016 he became a US citizen.[9]

In March 1990, Hay released "Into My Life", the lead single from his second studio album, Wayfaring Sons, which was released in April 1990. Neither single or album reached the ARIA top 100.[10] The album was credited to The Colin Hay Band which consisted of Gerry Hale, Paul Gadsby and Robert Dillon.[3]

In 1992, Hay released the acoustic album Peaks & Valleys. The album featured Hay’s sister, Carol on vocals.[3]

1994-2004: ARIA Hall of Fame and Lazy Eye Records

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994, Hay was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame as part of Men at Work.[11]

In 1994, Hay established his own recording label, Lazy Eye Records,[12] and released his fourth studio album, Topanga.

In 1996, Hay reunited with Men at Work and toured South America, which lead to the live Men at Work album, Brazil.[5]

In October 1998, Hay released his fifth studio album, Transcendental Highway and in 1999 recorded and released the song "Misty Bay" with his girlfriend, Cecilia Noël.[3]

In 2000, Hay released his sixth studio album, Going Somewhere.[3] On 1 October 2000, Hay performed with Men at Work at the 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.[13]

In 2002, Hay released his seventh studio album Company of Strangers and the video album Live At the Continental recorded in 2000.[3]

In July 2003, Hay released his eighth studio album, Man @ Work, re-recording some Men at Work hits and his solo songs.[3] Hay toured North America with former Beatles Ringo Starr, as a member of his Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.[3]

In 2004 Hay launched his one-man show named Man at Work, a mixture of songs and stories.[3]

2005-present: Continued success

In 2006 Hay provided his voice for one of the characters in the animated movie The Wild.[3]

In April 2007, Hay released his ninth studio album, Are You Lookin' at Me?.[3] In 2008, Hay plays the role of Nick at the horror movie The Uninvited.[3]

In May 2009, Hay performed at the Artist for the Arts Foundation benefit at Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, California. Performing alongside Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, Fee Waybill of the Tubes, Venice, and over 70 members of the Santa Monica High School Orchestra and Girls Choir, the benefit helped to provide funds for the continuation of music education in public schools.[citation needed]

In August 2009, Hay released his tenth studio album, American Sunshine.[3]

In 2010, Hay released the live album, Live At the Corner, filmed in 2007 at The Corner hotel in Melbourne, Australia.[3]

In August 2010, Hay performed in Missoula, Montana with a Los Angeles Roots rock band named Patrolled By Radar.[14]

In May 2011, Hay released his eleventh studio album Gathering Mercury.[3] In 2011, Hay commented on his early solo career, stating, "After Men at Work, for the better part of a decade, I was stumbling around being unfocused. It was pre-internet; I really had to try to find my audiences by going out on tour. Men at Work really didn't build a foundational audience. We came in as a pop band with enormous radio success; once that goes away and the band breaks up the audience tends to go away with it. You're left with what you want to make of it. When you start out doing those tours, you start again [and] you tend not to attract a very big number of people. I'd play to a hundred people or sometimes less."[15]

In December 2013, Hay announced on his website that he was done touring "for the time being" and would spend 2014 writing and recording.[16]

In February 2015, Hay released his twelfth studio album, Next Year People.[17] The album was preceded by the single "Trying To Get To You".[18]

On 4 August 2015, Colin Hay: Waiting for my Real Life, a documentary film about the singer, debuted at the Melbourne International Film Festival.[19]

On 27 January 2017, he released the first single, "A Thousand Million Reasons", from his thirteenth studio album Fierce Mercy, released in March 2017. Fierce Mercy debuted at number 44 on the ARIA chart, becoming his second solo chart entry in Australia. The album was promoted with his segments on Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery and Sunday Night.[20]

Also in 2017, Hay released his first audio book, Aesop's Fables with Colin Hay, published by Devault-Graves Digital Editions, for which he narrated 24 of Aesop's Fables written by author Tom Graves.

In August 2021, Hay released his fourteenth studio album, I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself. The album features 10 versions of some of Hay's favourite songs.[21]

Personal life

Hay is married to singer Cecilia Noël,[22] who often provides backup vocals at his shows. Noël has also helped with production on Hay's solo albums. Hay said of his album, Are You Lookin' At Me? "She was really crucial. She was a really great sounding board for me. She's a really good producer in the sense that she's very musical and has a great sense of song structure and so forth. So she was great to bounce ideas off. And she sang on nearly all the songs. So she was really a great part of this record.[23] Hay and Noël live in Topanga Canyon in the Los Angeles, California area.[24]

On 13 February 2009, former Men at Work band member Ron Strykert was arrested for allegedly making death threats against Hay.[25][26]

Colin became an American citizen in 2016. He also has a residence in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Discography

Main article: Colin Hay discography

Acting

After performing in Men at Work, Hay performed in a number of films and TV shows, usually in small roles.

Year Film/Show Role Notes
1985 Wills & Burke Publican Australian black comedy film
1988 Raw Silk Parker Australian film
1994-95 Blue Heelers Brad Fielding and George Patterson 2 episodes
1996 Cosi Zac Australian comedy-drama film
1997 JAG: Judge Advocate General Miles Episode – "Trinity"
1997 Heaven's Burning Jonah Australian crime film
1998 The Larry Sanders Show himself
1999 The Craic Barry Australian comedy film
1999 The Mick Molloy Show Gary Builder and himself S1E2 and S1E4
2002-2009 Scrubs 4 episodes
2006 The Wild Fergus Flamingo (voice)
2008 The Uninvited Nick American horror thriller film
2012 Jack Irish – Bad Debts Tony Baker Australian television drama series
2017 FishCenter Live himself[27]
2018 The Resident Rhys Barrett (musician) S2E4

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".[28]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 Colin Hay Distinguished Services Award[29] awarded

Countdown Australian Music Awards

Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.[30]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1982 himself (Men At Work) Best Songwriter Nominated
1983 himself Songwriter of the Year Nominated

References

  1. ^ Stewart, Allison (28 April 2011). "Colin Hay a working man from way back". Chicago Tribune.
  2. ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 July 2019). "Australian Singers Turned Actors". Filmink.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Biography of Colin Hay". colinhay.com.br. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Colin Hay". allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b Entries at Australian Rock Database:
    • Colin Hay/Colin Hay Band: Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan. "Colin Hay". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
    • Men at Work (1979–1986, 1995–present): Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan. "Men at Work". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
  7. ^ Spencer, Chris; Nowara, Zbig; McHenry, Paul (2002) [1987]. "Incredible Penguins". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Notes by Ed Nimmervoll. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2010. Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
  8. ^ "Colin Hay still a man at work". Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Crystal Ballroom". Mcmenamins.com. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  10. ^ *For Wayfaring Sons and "Into My Life""Week commencing 9 April 1990". bubblingdownunder.com. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Winners by Year 1994". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 9 January 2012.
  12. ^ Sue Kiesewetter. "Singer Colin Hay comes to Fairfield Community Arts Center April 24 - Butler County News at Cincinnati.com". Rodeo.cincinnati.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  13. ^ Gordon, Alan Atwood and Michael (30 September 2020). "From the Archives, 2000: A perfect party to end the world's greatest Games". The Age. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Colin Hay with Patrolled by Radar". Missoula Independent. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2011. when Colin Hay—formerly of the group Men at Work—plays the Wilma Theatre with Patrolled by Radar
  15. ^ "Colin Hay is still at work". National Features. 18 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Colin Hay » A message from Colin". Colinhay.com. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  17. ^ "Colin Hay To Release 12th Solo Album Next Year People". noise11. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  18. ^ "New Colin Hay – Trying To Get To You LISTEN". noise11. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Australian Charts: Ed Sheeran Dominates ARIA Albums for Second Week". noise11. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  21. ^ "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself is Out Now". Colin Hay. 6 Aguust 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "'Man At Work' to play Towne Crier", SF Gate, 5:00 pm, Thursday, 8 April 2004.
  23. ^ Work keeps coming in for Colin Hay, SF Gate, 5:00 pm, Thursday, July 5, 2007.
  24. ^ Chris Johnston, "Lunch with Colin Hay", The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 January 2013.
  25. ^ "Men at Work star arrested for threats". Digital Spy. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  26. ^ "Men at Work guitarist threatened to kill singer, police say". Los Angeles Times. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  27. ^ Hay, Colin (25 February 2017). "Colin appears on FishCenter". Colin Hay. Tumblr. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  28. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  29. ^ "Sia Presents Award to Fellow Aussie Colin Hay, Her 'Uncle Collie,' At Inaugural Global APRA Music Awards". Billboard. February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Countdown to the Awards" (Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colin_Hay&oldid=1063121582"