Alston Koch

Alston Koch
Background information
Birth name Alston Koch
Born Colombo, Sri Lanka(then Ceylon)
Genres Ambient, pop, jazz, blues, folk, trance
Occupation(s) Film Producer, Actor, Singer-songwriter, composer & entrepreneur
Years active 1975–present
Associated acts The Sherifs
Website alstonkoch.com
Alston Koch Facebook

Alston Koch is a Sri Lanka born Australian singer-songwriter, film producer, record producer and actor.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] He was awarded "World Artist of The Year" at the Global Officials of Dignity Awards presented at the United Nations in New York and also received State of California Senate's Certificate of Recognition and Certificate of Special US Congressional Recognition for improving the lives of the communities in America.[10]

Biography

Koch was honoured as the "World Artist of The Year" by the We Care for Humanity (WCH) at the Humanitarian Summit in association with the 2nd Annual Global Officials of Dignity Awards (G.O.D. Awards) in the United Nations, New York on 20 June 2014.

He migrated to Sydney, Australia where he was most successful in the entertainment and professional music industry while recording for RCA/Laser Records and the Australian TV Network Channel 9's "Living Sound" recording label.[11][12][13][14]

In Australia, he formed his band Dark Tan and recorded three international hits on the RCA label. He has performed internationally with Dark Tan, S-witch, and as a solo artist. One notable appearance was during 'The Stars & Stripes Concert' in 1976, perofming under the Sydney harbour bridge on a floating pontoon for Radio 2SM. Rock Brains Of The Universe and music historian Glenn A Baker has said that 'Alston & Dark Tan' were the originators of Disco Music in Australia. Since 1975 Koch has released 21 singles and 4 albums through record labels such as RCA, BMG, EMI and Sony.[11][12][13][14]

In 1986 Alston Koch was selected and commissioned by the Australian Task Force to write, produce and perform the America's Cup album,The Kookaburra Connection with the theme song "Kookaburra" released both as a single and music video broadcast during the race.[11][12][13][14]

His first self written major hit, "Disco Lady", earned him his first gold record. The song also won him and Dark Tan the 'Best New Talent' at the 1979 International Disc Jockey Association Awards (Before the ARIA'S ) and that same year Dark Tan won Australia's Observer newspaper's 'Best Disco Band' award.[11][12][13][14]

The Daily Mirror (Australia) presented them with the Best Disco Band Award in 1978 and the producers of the Channel 10 TV show Thank God it's Friday presented the band with a Gold Disc during the performance of "Disco Lady".[11][12][13][14]

Koch received his first ARIA (Accredited Award ) for Melissa 'Read My Lips' (1990). Three Gold Awards and one Platinum Award from ARIA (accredited) and a recipient of a Gold Disc from RCA/Laser Records in 1978 for "Disco Lady".

Alston Koch is with British Minister of State Barbara Follett.

Since 2007, he has been the Ambassador for Tourism for Sri Lanka.[15] In the same year, Koch wrote and performed an official song for The Sri Lankan cricketer and world record holder and world champion Muttiah Muralitharan.[16]

State of California Senate's Certificate of Recognition to Alston Koch
Certificate of Special US Congressional Recognition to Alston Koch

In 2008, Koch wrote a song about climate change for a United Nations WTO presentation in London. The song was also presented by Geoffrey Lipman Chairman of ICTP at the 'Live the Deal Climate Change' conference in Copenhagen to all the World's leaders. Alston Koch is the Goodwill Ambassador for the campaign, and the song has been promoted globally by ICTP in their campaign for green growth.Barbara Follet (Minister of State for Great Britain) certified it as 'A gift in song to the world suffering due to Climate Change' while the song received a standing ovation when performed by Alston Koch.[17]

Alston was commissioned by Cricket Australia to sing the National Anthem at the One Day International Cricket matches and the important Boxing Day Test.[11][12][13][14]

In 2009, he was appointed to the committee for the Cricket World Cup 2011 tournament staged in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and was the official 'GOODWILL AMBASSADOR' for the tournament.[11][12][13][14]

In 2010, he was inducted into the Hard Rock Hotel's 'Hall of Fame' at a ceremony in Pattaya, Thailand, when the album, Kookaburra was installed on the venue's 'Golden Wall of Memorabilia'.

In April 2012 his latest album "Don't Funk With Me" written and produced by Alston & the Sherifs, debuted at No. 42 on the official ARIA top 50 Albums chart, eventually peaking at No.2. He was also the first Australian recording artist to launch a single (official release) at an International Cricket final when his song "Soul Sounds" (From the album Don't Funk with Me) was launched during the Australia Vs Sri Lanka final.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Discography

Singles

Albums

Member of the 'Grammy Academy'

Alston was admitted to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in January 2014.

Filmography

Alston played the lead role opposite Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Alston Koch appointed Sri Lanka tourism envoy". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "Alston Koch song debuts at London WTM". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "'Priceless ball' – made in Sri Lanka". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Lankan cricketers – a big draw in Canberra". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Sri Lankan cricketers play for Hope project". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 29 December 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Sri Lanka Small Miracle". Upali Newspapers Limited. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Egypt's Red Sea Resort becomes a Tourism EarthLung". RIVIRA MEDIA CORPORATION LTD. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "ANew UN World Tourism Organization climate change initiative invites travel industry to 'Live the Deal'". Moodie International Limited. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "Alston Koch to perform in Cuba". Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "Reconciliation Initiatives Sri Lanka". RECONCILIATION INITIATIVES. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Alston Recognised As 'The World Artist Of The Year'". The Sunday Leader. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Alston". NOISE11. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Meet Alston Koch, Australia's grand pop of techno". Herald Sun. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Don't Funk With Me". JB Hi-Fi. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Eturbonews.com
  16. ↑ Top40-charts.com
  17. ↑ Wn.com/Livethedeal
  18. ↑ "Brett Geeves raps on anthem rotation disaster, Bird's likeness to a Pigeon and farewells Greigy". Fox Sports. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  19. ↑ "Sony international signs up Alston". The Sunday Leader. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "Alston Recognised As 'The World Artist Of The Year'". The Sunday Leader. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  21. ↑ "Meet Alston Koch, Australia's grand pop of techno". The Daily Telegraph. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "ALSTON RETURNS". Aus Pop. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "New UN World Tourism Organization climate change initiative invites travel industry to 'Live the Deal'". The Moodie Report. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "IIPT 25th Anniversary at World Travel Market". The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT). November 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "Australian star Alston Koch storms the charts with the Murali Song". Top 40 Charts. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2015.

External links

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