Cotton Keays & Morris was formed in 2000. During the previous decade, Cotton and Morris had toured with another 1960s pop starRonnie Burns as Burns Cotton, & Morris. When Burns decided to leave the group, The Masters Apprentices frontman Jim Keays was invited to join Cotton and Morris in a similar band, bringing with him a sizeable catalogue of hits to add to the on-stage repertoire. The group toured throughout 2000s until Cotton and Keays died in 2012 and 2014. They released 2 'compilation' albums of their individual greatest hits as well as an 'acoustic' album in 2003 and a 'live' CD/DVD in 2004, which was recorded in The Basement, Sydney in 2004.
Darryl Cotton
Daryl Cotton was a founding member of rock band Zoot along with Beeb Birtles. Following the break-up of Zoot, Cotton worked overseas for several years before returning to Australia to pursue a solo career. He also enjoyed success as the lead in the Australian production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, appeared in television programs including The Young Doctors and hosted The Early Bird Show. Cotton's contributions to the setlist include Zoot hits "1x2x3x4" and a hard rock version of "Eleanor Rigby", Mississippi single "Will I?", and his solo songs "Don't Let It Get to You" and the award-winning "Same Old Girl". Cotton died from liver cancer on 27 July 2012.
Jim Keays
Jim Keays was the lead singer for Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices from 1965 to 1971. The band has re-formed occasionally for nostalgia and benefit concerts. Keays went on to forge a successful solo career. Keays, together with The Masters Apprentices, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2007 Keays was diagnosed with myeloma, which caused his kidneys to fail, but the cancer went into remission. Keays contributions include The Masters Apprentices hits "Living in a Child's Dream", "Elevator Driver", "5:10 Man", "Think About Tomorrow Today", "Because I Love You" and "Turn Up Your Radio". His solo hit "The Boy from the Stars" is also featured. Keays died from pneumonia related to multiple myeloma on 13 June 2014.
Russell Morris
Russell Morris first enjoyed success in 1966 when his band Somebody's Image achieved a hit with a cover of the song "Hush". Breaking out as a solo musician, Morris achieved instant stardom with his classic song "The Real Thing". Between 1969 and 1972 Morris released seven charting singles, with five reaching the Top 10. "The Real Thing" was featured on a 1998 Australian postage stamp. Morris was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2008. Morris rounds out the band's repertoire with his hits: "Hush", "Rachel", "Mr America", "Wings of an Eagle", "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", "Sweet, Sweet Love" and "The Real Thing".
