Stuart_Hughes

Stuart Hughes began his career in music playing with his school friend Don Shepherd in the lounge room of his parents home in Elsternwick. Over time their playing improved and around 1979 they decided to form a band and began advertising for players.

Some great talent came their way: Jim Moloney, vocal and harmonica, Ray Tully, drums and percussion and Steve Pierce, tenor and baritone sax. Stuart thought they were pretty ordinary in the beginning but with a lot of practice, and inspiration from the wonderful sounds that were around, the band continued to improve

Click on photos

They came up with the name 'Rocket 88's', taken from the title of a song by Ake Turner about the fabulous 1948 General Motors Rocket 88 with an overhead camshaft V8 that went like a rocket!

One of the records the Rocket 88's recorded was live at The Great Britain Hotel in Church Street, Richmond in 1990. The others were recorded in a sound studio in Richmond

The Rockets made the decision to become a 'blues band' and after eight years registered with a booking agency. From then on jobs flowed. They became a support band for many artists including George Thoughgood, Robert Cray and Buddy Guy and other international performers.

They played at Festival Hall in Melbourne, and at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. The Great Britain Hotel in Richmond was a regular venue, and also Phillip Island over the Christmas and New Year period. The variety of gigs was enormous and not all of them large.

One regular venue they played was the local hall in the Mallee town of Kotta, postcode 3565. Without regular publicised events in the town Kotta would lose its postcode so the group was hired to play once a year for four years in the local hall. Stuart says it was an amazing experience with people travelling from miles around to attend the events and staying all night.

The Rocket 88's played together for 16 years only finishing up in 1996.

In 1996 Stuart began another interesting sideline as a Rock and Blues Presenter on PBS radio. He worked from their studio in Fitzroy St, St Kilda, presenting a show about Blues and 50's Rock and Roll. Radio and collections of music had always been a part of Stuart's early life as his dad had been a ham radio operator and also boasted an enormous collection of music. Stuart's record collection was also large, at opposite ends of the spectrum to his dad's classical tastes, but perfect for material for blues and 50's rock. As well as recorded music his show boasted live performances from various artists, many of them travelling from interstate or playing at local venues. It was good promotion for everyone. The show time slot was usually on a Tuesday from 2 pm- 4 pm and it ran for an incredible sixteen years.

Stuart shifted to the island in March 2003. Before the move he had spent time cleaning up the block and installing water tanks and a caravan on his property on Centre Road . Having left the city he was initially uncertain of how his musical career would progress not knowing anyone in the music business in the Gippsland area. Stuart kept up his Melbourne contacts and occasionally musicians came down for a gig at the Paynesville Pub. In time he got to know other local islanders and others, including near neighbour, Peter Jones, who were into music.

When his Melbourne friends found it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up the travel to Raymond Island he began to look for work around the Sale area. Not long after 'Stuey and the Blues Cruise was formed. The group comprises Col Smith, from Swift Creek on drums, Colin Wilson on piano, Stuart Hughes on guitar and vocal, Peter Howell from Yarragon on bass and Don Shepherd now from Raymond Island also on bass. When travelling down to the island with the band Don had liked the island so much he had decided to buy a property on 12th Avenue. 'Stuey and the Blues Cruise plays most weeks at local clubs in Sale, Traralgon and Bairnsdale. Stuart also appears locally whenever he gets the chance.

Talking about his own playing Stuart sees Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton and Elmore James as his early inspiration. In retrospect he finds it amazing that Rocket 88's have done so well.

'As with everything, the more you are out there the better you become. A lot of my music has been picked up by ear. With a great music collection, which began way back when I had to mow lawns and do a paper round to get money together, it has grown into a huge resource.'

After all the years in music Stuart now has some old and treasured instruments: a late 1950's Fender Stratocaster, a 1964 Hoffner, a left handed Maton and a Dobro slide guitar.

'article compiled from an interview with Stuart Hughes conducted by the Raymond Island History subcommittee, 2011

The track you are listing to is part of " Gettin Hi " his own composition.
Every one of the track is a toe tapping adventure. It is my understanding that Stuart still has some disks for sale. Phone him on 5156 0170
Peter J.

'article compiled from an interview with Stuart Hughes conducted by the Raymond Island History subcommittee, 2011