User:Rankin73/DRAFT PAGE FOR ALSTON KOCH

ALSTON KOCH
ALSTON KOCH, born on [date]1951, is a Sri Lankan-born singer/songwriter, record producer, international recording and television star, and the Ambassador for Tourism for Sri Lanka. Born and raised in [place], Alston currently resides in Australia, and is of Burgher People ethnicity.

With a powerful stage presence and a distinctive voice, Alston is credited with bringing disco to Australia, after spending his teenage years singing with Mignonne Fernando and her Sri Lankan pop group ‘The Jetliners'.

Alston Koch is the only Sri Lankan born solo artist signed to an International Record Label [(BMG/RCA)] with chart success in most territories of the world.

'"Still one of this country’s most undiscovered talents, Alston is Asia’s answer to Elvis" Ben Mitchell, PEOPLE MAGAZINE'

Early career
Alston attended the renowned Wesley College, Colombo. As well as performances with 'The Jetliners', he played with "Gabo and the Breakaways" and "The Esquire Set" in Colombo in the late 60s, before emigrating to Australia in 1970.

In Australia, he formed his band Darktan, recorded three international hits under the RCA label, and toured the world, first with Darktan, then S-witch, and later as a solo artist on BMG/RCA and EMI touring London, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Americas.

With Darktan, Alston appeared on all the popular TV shows in Australia.

He was hailed as ‘Asia’s King of Pop’ in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, India and Thailand; even entertaining the monarchy and presidents of territories he toured. His first major hit ‘Disco Lady’ propelled him into the pop rankings, earning him his first gold record. The song also won him the ‘best new talent’ at the 1979 International Disc Jockey Association Awards. Disco Lady is thought to be the first original disco/dance song written in Australia and DJs were playing it to death across Australian dance floors. Disco Lady carried away a swag of awards and Darktan were feted as Australia’s leading original disco band.

Music critics including renowned rock critic Glenn A. Baker hailed Alston as "the purveyor of disco music in Australia".

The flagship of the P&O fleet, ORIANA, was temporarily re-named renamed the ‘DARKTAN DISCO CRUISE’ and the band enjoyed performing on board.

Alston also introduced ‘The Bus Stop’, which became a dance craze, when performing the song on the TV Show BANDSTAND.

Discography
18 singles, including:
 * ‘Don’t Stop it Now’ [date](written by Errol Brown of HOT CHOCOLATE fame) Alston & DARKTAN, Living Sound Records (RCA)
 * B-side: Kings of Soul
 * 'All the People Sing this Song' [date](written by Alston & DARKTAN) released on RCA’s Laser record label
 * Disco Lady [date](written by Alston and Chris Connelly) [Record Label?]
 * Island in the Sun [date] [writer] [label]
 * Gimme That Banana [date] [writer] [RCA/CINEVOX]
 * Closer to the Phone [date] [writer] [label]
 * Vanishing Lady [date] [writer] [label]
 * Danny Boy [date] [writer] [label]
 * Kookaburra [date] [Alston] [EMI]
 * Try Again [date] [Alston] [BMG/RCA]
 * Never Felt This Way Before [date] [Alston] [BMG/RCA]
 * With S-witch: I Want Your Love [date] {Alston] [BMG/RCA]

Three Albums


 * After Darktan [date] [writer/s] RCA
 * ALSTON AND THE FREMANTLE DOCTOR [date] [writer/s] EMI RECORDS

Awards and Accolades

 * 4 Platinum A.R.I.A awards
 * 2 Gold Discs [for 'Disco Lady' and ???]

Other roles
Alston's prolific music career is only part of his life. Since 2007, he has fulfilled a voluntary position as Ambassador for Tourism for Sri Lankaa and continues to help the country of his birth.

In 2007, he also wrote an official song for Muralidharan, the world champion Sri Lankan cricketer. The song was acclaimed by the BBC and ABC and the video is still used by sports TV channels.

In 2008, Alston wrote a song for Climate Change for a UNWTO presentation at The World Travel Mart Exhibition in London. He also presented the song at the ‘Live the Deal’ Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in front of 170 world leaders.

He is the Goodwill Ambassador for the campaign, and the song has been promoted throughout the World.

In 2009, he was appointed to the committee for the Cricket World Cup 2011 tournament staged in India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.

In 2010 he was inducted into the Hard Rock Hotel’s ‘HALL OF FAME’ at a ceremony in Pattaya, Thailand and his album ‘KOOKABURRA” was installed on the venue's wall of memorabilia. ‘Live to Air’ performances were staged at the HARD ROCK HOTEL’s famous Hard Rock Cafe and Alston was billed throughout the entire region as ‘Asia’s King Of Pop.’

In 2010 he was also appointed chairman of the organising committee for the launch of 2600 years of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, held in May 2011.