Issi Dye Explained

Issi Dye
Birth Name:Israel Dyzenhaus
Birth Date:12 June 1946[1]
Birth Place:Austria
Occupation:performer
Known For:
  • releasing pop music in 1960's and 1970's
  • performing on television variety programs
  • hosting a midnight to dawn block of films on television
Notable Works:"Incense", "One Last Kiss", "Personality"
Television:In Gear with Issi Dye, Issi Dye Presents Late Movies
Children:3 (including Bianca Dye)

Issi Dye (born 12 June 1946) also known as Issi Dy and Issi Di, is an Australian entertainer.[2]

Early life

Dye was born Israel Dyzenhous in Austria to Dr Ben Dyzenhaus and Edith Dyzenhaus (née Wrobel).[3]

Dye's mother Edith had been interned in the Auschwitz concentration camp, where her mother and aunt were murdered by the Nazis.[3] She met Dr Ben Dyzenhaus after he was sent to Austria from Poland to help rescue survivors of The Holocaust.[4] The couple later migrated to Australia with their three-year-old son Israel Dyzenhaus.[4]

After the family settled in Melbourne, Dye attended Mount Scopus Memorial College and sang in the choir with his father at the Toorak synagogue.[4]

Career

Changing his name by deed poll in 1969 to the "showbiz name" of Issi Dye, he had moderate success as a pop singer.[3] His most successful hit was a song called "Incense", released in 1969.[1] Other minor hits included "One Last Kiss", "Personality", "I Wonder Where You Are" and "I'm Counting On You".[5]

In 1970, Dye was ranked at #6 on the Go-Set pop poll.

Throughout the 1970's, Dye regularly appeared on television programs including Bandstand,[6] The Go!! Show,[6] Kommotion,[6] The Ernie Sigley Show,[7] The Penthouse Club,[8] The Maumill Show,[9] Celebrity Squares[10] and Happening '72. Dye performed on the final episode of Happening '72, footage of which was discovered in 2022 and was subsequently restored and preserved by the National Film and Sound Archive.[11] Dye also performed on a television special in 1975 to celebrate the third anniversary of TattsLotto.[12]

Dye went on to host his own television programs including In Gear with Issi Dye, a fashion show on ABC TV and Issi Dye Presents Late Movies, an overnight block of films on the Nine Network.[13] [14]

While hosting Issi Dye Presents Late Movies from the mid 1970's to the early 1980's, Dye garnered a cult following and became well known for his work on late night television.[15] In what were essentially wraparound segments, Dye would introduce films but would also host live commercials with the owners of the advertising businesses coming into the studio to accompany Dye while he hosted the advertisements.[16] When the comedy cabaret act North 2 Alaskans released a single, 'Gonks go Beat', in 1982[17] it featured a cover of Dye's first single, 'Incense', which quoted his advertising catchphrase 'Call Rita or myself'. Another oft repeated phrase It's just a little after midnight... was ranked in a "Top Ten Lines from Australian TV" list, compiled by the Coodabeen Champions in 1987.[18]

In the late 1980's, he relocated to the Gold Coast and began appearing on NRTV where he continued introducing late night movies on Friday nights as well as hosting a lotto draw.[19] [20] It was there that Dye helped organise a "vibe in" benefit for Steve Gilpin, the former lead singer of Mi-Sex who suffered serious injuries in a car accident near Mullumbimby, but later died.[20]

Dye began starring in an Al Jolson tribute show in the late 1990's, touring nationally.[21]

After living on the Gold Coast for 15 years, Dye moved back to Melbourne in 2001.[22] That same year, he continued touring with his shows Crooners and the Rat Pack and Best of Al Jolson.[22]

Personal life

Dye is the father of three children, including radio presenter Bianca Dye, with whom he performed a show in 2007 called The Singing Yid and His Famous Kid.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: . June 2022. Birthday Bulletin: 12 June 2022. Jocks Journal. Issi Dye born in Austria - 1946. Australian singer. He had his biggest hit in 1969 with Incense. He's hosted late night movies on Channel 9 in Melbourne and Sydney. In 2003, he was touring in Mammy - a stage show tribute to Al Jolson.
  2. News: Harris. Sarah. Sarah Harris (journalist). Hildebrand. Joe. Joe Hildebrand. Rowe. Jessica. Jessica Rowe. Drysdale. Denise. Denise Drysdale. Dye. Bianca. Bianca Dye. 15 July 2016. Issi's long musical career . Studio 10. Network 10. 19 January 2023.
  3. News: Lang. Kylie. 21 July 2019. I'm in love with this man, but I can only have a baby with my ex. U on Sunday. 17 January 2023.
  4. News: Landsman . Lexi . 4 May 2007 . To Dye For . . 19 January 2023.
  5. News: Voogt. Luke. 21 June 2021. Dyed-in-the-wool rocker returns. Geelong Independent. 19 January 2023.
  6. News: Knox. David. 21 July 2016. Studio 10 catches up with Issi Dye. TV Tonight. 19 January 2023.
  7. News: . 28 February 1974. TV: Tuesday, March 5 1974 . The Age. 19 January 2023. GTV9... 9.0 The Ernie Sigley Show - variety series hosted by Ernie Sigley... With guests: Judy Stone, Tony Bruce, Issi Dye and friends....
  8. News: . 19 December 1974. TV: Saturday, December 21, 1974. The Age. 19 January 2023. HSV7... 8.0 Penthouse Club - variety series compered by Michael Williamson... With guests: Frank Sedgman, Jimmy Connors, John Newcombe, Dinah Lee, Issi Dye, The George Brothers.
  9. News: . 3 June 1974. TONIGHT: Something for Everyone . The Age. 19 January 2023. 9.30 The Maumill Show... Special guests: Mike Schildberger, Dutch Swing College Band, Maureen Kelly, Mark Davis, Issi Dye, The Singing Kettles.
  10. News: . 9 October 1975. TV: Tuesday, October 14, 1975 . The Age. 19 January 2023. GTV9... 6.0 Celebrity Squares - Game show based on noughts and crosses, compered by Jimmy Hannan with guests: Dave Gray, Issi Dye, Norman Gunston....
  11. News: Knox . David . 17 January 2023 . Opened up like Pandora's Box.. the last episode of black & white pop television in Australia . TV Tonight . 19 January 2023 . a group farewell with ’70s pop icons Allison Durbin, Debbie Byrne, Issi Dye and a young Ian Meldrum..
  12. News: . 19 June 1975 . Lotto winners report back . The Age . 19 January 2023.
  13. News: . 8 November 1974. TV: Friday, 8 November 1974 . The Age. 19 January 2023. ABV2... 6.55 In Gear with Issi Dye - First of five color programmes looking at the young fashion scene, with Issi Dye..
  14. News: . Sun-Herald TV Guide: Thurs June 8 1978 . The Sun-Herald. 19 January 2023. TCN9... 12:00: Issi Dye Presents Late Movies....
  15. News: Wilmoth . Peter . 14 July 1983 . The other side of midnight. The Age . 19 January 2023.
  16. News: Crawford . Anne . 21 May 1998 . Where do ya get it? In the midnight hour... . The Age . 19 January 2023 . The tight-jeaned, beady-eyed pop singer Issi Dye took over from Todd on Channel 9 in 1976... Dye convinced the station in Melbourne to let him bring in a troupe of amateur advertisers, owners of small businesses promoting themselves... The ads in the 70's and 80's gave Dye a status and a following he'd never had as a moderately successful pop singer.
  17. Mark Dodshon,'Some bands that work in a satirical vein of rock/pop' Sydney Morning Herald 4 August 1982 p. 8
  18. News: Top Ten Lines From Australian TV . 2023-05-30 . The Age . 1987-11-13 . 45.
  19. News: Cockington. James. 12 September 1990. Whatever happened to?. The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 January 2023.
  20. News: Money. Lawrence. 16 February 1992. As if the recession were not enough. The Age. 19 January 2023.
  21. News: Gocs . Danny . 15 October 1999 . From rock to Jolson . The Australian Jewish News . 19 January 2023.
  22. News: Baden . Samantha . 16 March 2001 . Issi Dye is back . The Australian Jewish News . 19 January 2023.

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