‘The star maker’: Kate Ceberano pays touching tribute to late hit maker Michael Gudinski

Musician Kate Ceberano has paid a touching tribute to late music legend Michael Gudinski saying “bereft doesn’t even begin to explain” the loss.

Musician Kate Ceberano was in the Mushroom Records orbit as a teenager, singing on the Models’ Out Of Mind Out of Sight – a No. 1 hit in 1985 for Michael Gudinski’s label.

She’d also have the band I’m Talking a year later – whose one and only album Gudinski’s label reissued in 2018.

After I’m Talking split Ceberano joined the Mushroom family officially. Her 1989 album Brave went triple platinum, scoring four major hits including Bedroom Eyes and the title track.

Ceberano would stay on the label for a decade, scoring hits like Pash while also being allowed to explore her creativity through genres including soul and jazz.

Musician Kate Ceberano

Ceberano and Gudinski always remained close, with the singer appearing on both Music From the Home Front and The Sound last year – part of Gudinski’s initiatives to not only give new and established acts exposure, but also employment when their live work had dried up.

“It’s devastating to have lost such a giant in our industry,” Ceberano said.

“Especially in these recent times he responded with such ‘Michael Gudinski’ energy and power. His response to everything that’s been happening to the world around us was to continue to put music first and at the forefront of the culture. Leading us all into action as an ‘essential service’! 

“He has always put the artists in a place where they could be most valued. And be of most value. Any time that there are society trials be it bushfires or drought or simply just putting the culture of Australia up there with all of the international heavy weights, he has been our champion. 

Michael Gudinski died aged 68 in his sleep earlier this week

“Michael was the talisman, the hit maker, the star maker, the great make believer in everything that makes music a career, that in turn becomes a life! My life in music was created by my connection with people like Michael. 

“People who had the power to put their money behind their mouth. But more than that who invested their hearts. Michael had so much heart invested. I’m not sure I will ever meet another man like him. It has been a gift to be a part of one of his ‘discoveries’ and to have been sustained throughout my career by his support.

“Bereft doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel … it will take a long time to fill the hole left by his absence.”