Mostyn Rodda, stylish David Jones, Adelaide, store pianist from 1960s has brother Leon as Port Pirie's king of keyboard
Mostyn Rodda at the grand piano (inset) was a stylish part of the 1960s David Jones store, with its renowned food court, in Rundle Street/Mall in Adelaide city. Mostyn's older brother Leon was a king of the keyboard in South Australia's Port Pirie distict, with his band (main image) presiding over the local dance scene and events such as the queen of the ball competition in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
Main image courtesy Clan Rodda and Tina Hooft
Mostyn Rodda, long-time grand piano player adding glamour at the entrance to the food hall at David Jones original store in Rundle Street/Mall in Adelaide city, was from a talented music and art family in Port Pirie on South Australia’s Spencer Gulf.
Rodda and his piano added to the stylist modernity of the then-Rundle Street’s David Jones store, designed by Adelaide’s Hassell, McConnell and Partners and built in 1959-62. Besides the lure of its renowned food court, David Jones store added atmosphere with features such as the David Jones Staff Christmas choir, conducted by the Kevin Kitto and guest soprano soloists such as Genty Stevens.
The 1960s David Jones store was a victim of the John Spalvins Adelaide Steamship takeover of the retail group. It closed in 1981 and was replaced by a new David Jones store in Rundle Mall, taking over the John Martin’s store site in 1998.
Mostyn Rodda and the piano were not part of new store. (The piano was bought by Mark Guymer, a sales consultant at Allans Billy Hyde music store in Gawler Place, Adelaide city, for more than 20 years.)
Mostyn Rodda’s career as a pianist was enhanced with studies at Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium of Music from age 17. He was born in Port Pirie where his family had a prominent store on The Terrace, with his older brothers Leon, also a pianist and band leader, and Clan, an artist, making their mark.
Leon Rodda became the local king of the keyboards playing in big bands and with solo spots dazzling with virtuosity in genres from pop to jazz in and parish halls, town halls, and clubs across the Port Pirie mid north region. Leon Rodda’s dance band made its debut in 1947 at the Parish Hall. Leading on piano, Leon Rodda had a band featuring exceptional young talent: Barry Tapscott (clarinet and tenor saxophone), Bert Peddler (alto saxophone), Jack Woodward (trumpet), 15-year old Ken Pratt (E flat saxophone), 16-year-old Bill Mayfield (trumpet) and13-year-old John McLean (swing drummer).
Leon Rodda’s band became a fixture of Port Adelaide dance scene. In 1937, as a piano soloist, Leon Rodda was featured at the opening of a hall for the company excelsior band of Port Pirie’s main industry: the Broken Hill Association Smelters. He was a regular part of concerts at another Port Pirie phenomenon: the annual beach carnival concerts at Solomontown beach. Mostyn Rodd was also on the programme for these events in the early 1950s.
