Hay was born in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland, but moved to Australia at the age of fourteen with his family.
In 1978, Hay met Ron Strykert and the men began playing acoustic music as a duo. Hay and Strykert formed the band Men at Work, adding Jerry Speiser (drums), John Rees (bassist) and Greg Ham (flautist/saxophonist). The group released their debut album Business as Usual in 1981.
Following the breakup of Men at Work in 1985, Hay released several major label solo albums
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Hay was born in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland, but moved to Australia at the age of fourteen with his family.
In 1978, Hay met Ron Strykert and the men began playing acoustic music as a duo. Hay and Strykert formed the band Men at Work, adding Jerry Speiser (drums), John Rees (bassist) and Greg Ham (flautist/saxophonist). The group released their debut album Business as Usual in 1981.
Following the breakup of Men at Work in 1985, Hay released several major label solo albums, including Looking for Jack (Columbia) and Wayfaring Sons (MCA), to some commercial success. In 2002 Hay appeared as the Troubadour in the Scrubs episode, "My Overkill", and in 2004 he contributed to the Garden State soundtrack with his solo song, "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You".
In addition to recording, Hay also established his own recording label, Lazy Eye Records,[3] named for his own strabismus (lazy eye) condition, and has made appearances in cult movies and television shows, such as The Larry Sanders Show, JAG, and The Mick Molloy Show. Hay also appeared on television in the ABC show Scrubs, which along with episodes of ABC's What About Brian, NBC's The Black Donnellys, CBS's Cane, and the BBC hospital drama, Casualty, have included performances of some of his previous songs.
In December 2005, Hay and Heather Mills digitally re-released "My Brilliant Feat" as a charity single as a tribute to the late footballer George Best, who died on 25 November of that year. Proceeds were forwarded to the Donor Family Network, supporting organ donor families and promoting organ and tissue donation. The single is available on iTunes with a bonus music video tribute to Best.
In 2006 he provided his voice for one of the characters in animated movie The Wild. Hay has also been a member of Ringo Starr's Eighth and Tenth All Starr Band. Hay's next album, American Sunshine, would be released in August 2009. He continues to perform regularly, including playing some folk venues.
On 13 February 2009, former Men At Work band member, Ron Strykert, was arrested for allegedly making death threats against Hay.
On 6 May 2009, Colin Hay made a cameo in the season 8 finale of Scrubs, in a non-speaking role as J.D. walks out of the hospital for the last time, seeing faces of those he's been with at the hospital over the years. Hay contributed music to the series, in the course of a number of episodes, including on-camera performances in "My Overkill" and "My Hard Labor".
From now on Colin tours with and without his band touring nations and bringing smiles wherever he goes, as well as sold out venues. So if you ever hear he is in town, pay him a little visit and im sure after a story and a song or two Mr. Hay would have uplifted your spirit and most likely made your entire day.
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…shrink me down again
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