otway ross


born at the local hospital in esperance in south western australia

grew up in the country town of brookton until moving to the hill suburb of lesmurdie in perth at age 10

father was a stockman, farmer, carpenter, mechanic, plumber, builder who starred as the policeman in gilbert&sullivan's "pirates of penzance" (brookton town hall edition 1984).

semi-hippie mother from greneda (that’s the caribbean yeah) who played humpback whale music to all her 3 children while they were in the womb. his mother also played the nylon string guitar at the local sunday school.

was exposed as a child to various celebrated artists (other than the humpbacks) such as cliff Richard, don fransisco and liberachi. admits to owning a don francisco cd.

learned classical piano from six years old but changed to guitar at the age of 17 when the piano teacher finally agreed to let go

shared a bedroom with his older brother for nine years and was subjected to elton john, robert palmer and supertramp. ended up liking elton and supertramp

was given an instruction tape by his mother on the sinister art of back-masking at the tender age of 13 but unfortunately he never perfected the skill.

studied chemical engineering (with poetry / floristry double major)

first original song performed live was actually intended as a joke. was called "smooth" and was a dig at a mate who 'stole' friend's girlfriend. ended in a three part harmony about camels.

lived in paris france since 2002.