About Galapagos Duck

Galapagos Duck appears in the pages of many jazz history books and has received awards both in Australia and internationally. With their unique approach and extraordinarily wide popular appeal their name has become well known and has had a significant influence on young musicians over the years. They have a wide body of experience due to many recordings, volumes of original music scores, performances in night-clubs, concert halls, TV, jazz festivals and various movies. They have also appeared in frequent school concerts and workshops all over the country and overseas.

The Name

The most commonly asked question is “Where did you get the name?”
The inspiration came from Spike Milligan and was somehow derived from one of his comedy sketches involving the auctioning of a “Giant Galapagos Turtle upon wheels with clockwork revolving eyes”. The connection between this and a jazz band and a duck may seem a little tenuous, however it is a fact that Spike, the creator of most of the lunacy of the Goon Show, a jazz musician himself, became a friend and admirer of the band during his many trips to Australia, and even appeared on national TV with the group. Spike said “Galapagos Duck are the sort of group which play the sort of music, which if you haven’t heard them for four years, and hear them again, they’re still ahead. They play the music, man. And they play it great.”

The Lineup

Over the many years of Galapagos Duck’s life there has been the occasional change in the group’s lineup but The Duck prides itself on being able to choose from the finest talent Australia has to offer. The present lineup is no exception. All are respected performers and music writers who in combination, still being mostly long time members, are able to maintain The Duck’s unique flavour, versatility and wide popular appeal which has always been the hallmark of this group.