Australian rock singer Brian Cadd appointed member of the Order of Australia

IT took five decades of being a music legend but Brian Cadd has finally been appointed a member of the Order of Australia, as the rocker reflects on his rise to stardom and his epic life since.

WHEN Brian Cadd informed his family at 18 he was going to be a musician, his father said “I give it a year” and he should consider a career in surveying.

“What really brought him around was he came to one of the awards shows and a Channel 9 crew wanted to interview him,” Cadd said, laughing.

More than five decades later as he is appointed a member of the Order of Australia, Cadd celebrates the Queen’s Birthday Honour still doing what he loves most, performing with his best mate Russell Morris on the APIA Good Times tour.

Brian Cadd has been honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his significant service to the music industry. Picture: AAP Image/Paul Jeffers

The legendary rocker is recognised for more than 50 years as a singer, songwriter, producer, record label executive and mentor to hundreds of musicians he has inspired to pursue their dream of a life in music.

From his star turns in seminal 60s and 70s rock outfits The Groop and Axiom to composing timeless classics including A Little Ray Of Sunshine, Ginger Man and Don’t You Know It’s Magic.

The Order of Australia recognition, which Cadd said “isn’t one of those things a musician thinks about getting” would have been made to Brian Caine if Molly Meldrum had had his way.

He was honoured for his work as a singer, songwriter, performer, mentor and producer, and to professional associations. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

The rock critic and producer insisted Cadd change his surname and take on the moniker of the leading Hollywood box office star of the time Michael Caine.

“Back in the days of flares and big hair, everyone had a cool name and when I first joined The Groop, Molly had been the original roadie — although the only thing I think he ever carried was drinks,” Cadd recalled.

“He changed my name and my family flipped out so badly I had to go to Molly and tell him he couldn’t do this because I couldn’t go home, I couldn’t even park in the driveway.

“Brian Caine lasted for all three editions of the Go Set magazine which listed all the band member’s names and then it went back to my original name.”