John Kovac, manager of Australian folk-rock band the Seekers, died of a heart attack in a Melbourne hospital yesterday (Dec. 8). He was 50 years old.
Italian-born Kovac began his career in the music business as a member of Melbourne R&B band the Ramrods. He later joined Ralph Carr Management, which represented singer Tina Arena and electro-pop band Pseudo Echo.
In 1992, Kovac set up his own management company DKM Productions and took over the business reins for Seekers singer Judith Durham.
The following year, he encouraged the band to reform for an anniversary tour to mark 25 years since their split in July 1968.
The Seekers were the first Australian act to top the U.K. singles or albums charts. From 1965 to 1967, they had a string of international hits on EMI, including “Georgy Girl” and U.K.-chart toppers with “I’ll Never Find Another You” and “The Carnival Is Over.”
An initial six shows on their farewell tour ballooned to 110 shows in Australia and New Zealand, and two appearances at London’s Royal Albert Hall. A studio album, “Future Road” (EMI), sold over 200,000 units (triple platinum), according to the label.
Ralph Carr told Billboard.biz, “He came from the old school of management, utterly believed in his act, and refused to take no for an answer.”
Kovac is survived by his mother, Franceska Cavic.
