Kevin Borich
Kevin Nicholas Borich[2] (born 27 October 1948, Huapai, North Island, New Zealand)[1][3][4] is a New Zealand-born Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter.[5] He was the mainstay of the La De Da's, the leader of Kevin Borich Express, and a founding member of the Party Boys, as well as a session musician for numerous acts.[5][6]
Borich wrote "Gonna See My Baby Tonight"[2] for the La De Da's, which became a top 10 hit in 1971 on the Australian singles chart.[7] He performed at some of Australia's biggest rock events including the 1972 Sunbury Pop Festival and the late 1970s Rockarena tours with 60,000 people, featuring Fleetwood Mac, Santana and The Little River Band.[5] He played in two New Year's Eve celebrations at the Sydney Opera House with 70,000 people as well as support shows for international acts including Elton John, Status Quo, Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy.[5]
Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane has described Borich as "one of the most celebrated guitar players in the history of Australian rock. He also remains an underrated songwriter, and his live reputation has rarely been reflected in record sales".[5]
His son Lucius Borich joined Kevin Borich Express as a drummer and was later a member of Sydney-based progressive rock band Cog.
Early years[edit]
Kevin Borich was born in 1948[1] in Huapai north west of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island. He attended secondary school at Rutherford High School in Te Atatū Peninsula, a suburb of Auckland.[8][9] In 1961, at the age of 12, Borich recorded a private single on Astor Records with sisters Judi and Sue Donaldson (later as New Zealand duo The Chicks).[8] As a guitarist, Borich formed The Mergers in late 1963 with fellow students Brett Neilsen on drums and Trevor Wilson on bass guitar.[3][6] Initially they performed covers of The Shadows' material as an instrumental band after school and on week-ends.[3][8]
Personal life[edit]
Borich has been married twice and has six children, the youngest three with his second wife Melissa Borich.[14]
He was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in May 2005 and undertook radiation and chemotherapies.[14][15] The treatments resulted in the loss of his salivary glands and some hearing.[15]