TV’s long-reigning musical maestro Geoff Harvey dead at 83

Gemma Najem
Mar 30, 2019, updated Mar 30, 2019

Showbiz legend Geoff Harvey, who worked on some of Nine Network’s most popular TV shows, has died at the age of 83.

Mr Harvey, a fixture on Australian television, spent 38 years at the Nine Network where he also composed many theme songs for the network, such as those for The Sullivans, A Current Affair and Today.

“Geoff Harvey was a man of enormous talent as a musician and an entertainer,” Nine CEO Hugh Marks said in a statement.

“He was funny and generous, entertaining Australians as the musical director of choice on so many of our programs across the decades, alongside the likes of Kerrie-Anne Kennerley, Don Lane, Ray Martin and Mike Walsh.

“Our condolences go out to his family and close friends at this sad time.”

The man behind the songbook of Australian television – Geoff Harvey – has died aged 83. @MarkWBurrows #9News pic.twitter.com/FLBtxoPhq7

— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) March 30, 2019

Mr Harvey became a familiar TV identity through his 22 years at The Midday Show – a 90 minute variety program which featured numerous musical performances.

He also worked on The Don Lane Show, Bob Roger’s Tonight Show and Bandstand.

So so sad to lose my brother in law Geoff Harvey and amazing uncle to my boys Alex & Will. So many great memories of holidays at Geoff and Trina’s farm at Berrima where both the boys learned to ride motor bikes and drive cars down the long driveway. A life well lived old friend. https://t.co/dqW6pJxZON

— Richard Davison (@wizardwash) March 30, 2019

Author and former radio host Mike Carlton remembered the days when he played in a rival media rugby league competition.

“What fun we had trying to stomp on his fingers so he couldn’t play piano the next week. He took it in good part,” Mr Carlton said.

Ray Martin paid tribute to the musical “maestro” following his death.

“He was a one-off character, he was amazing…He was just a barrel of laughs,” he told the Nine Network.

“If there was a face of television, it probably isn’t Bert [Newton] or Graham [Kennedy], it’s Geoff Harvey.”

“Every time you needed someone to rescue a program, Geoff would come in … he was always there, he was the maestro.”

After leaving Nine, Mr Harvey worked with orchestras around the country and spent 19 years as the musical director of the Carols by Candlelight, held in Melbourne on Christmas Eve.