Matt Flinders, born Sylvan Louis Bonett in Alexandria, Egypt, is a singer who rose to prominence in the late 1960s in Australia.
Of French, English and Italian background, Flinders migrated to Australia with his family in 1951. Following National Service training with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the 1950s, he toured Australia, Japan and England as a double bass player and singer, later being appointed as a bandleader at the Chevron Hotel in Melbourne.[1] Born to a music loving family, Flinders' brothers also enjoyed the limelight of musical careers; the late Roland Bonet was a popular performer and dance band leader in Melbourne until his death in 2002; Arnold, the eldest, performed many roles as an operatic bass baritone for the National Theatre Opera and the ABC and was presented with an award by the Italian Opera Festival Organisation in 1961, before a career change to the corporate world; and Chris, the youngest of the four, was recruited by Dave Guard of the Kingston Trio in 1965 in Sydney, did a national TV series called Dave's Place on the ABC, then spent two decades as a singer and bass guitarist with rock and pop bands in Australia, London, the United States and at Club Med resorts in France, Switzerland and the Caribbean.
After singing on a few radio and TV commercials, Flinders was "discovered" by Ron Tudor of Astor Records who suggested the name change to Matt Flinders (after the explorer Matthew Flinders) which was deemed to be easier to pronounce and remember than his birth name.[1]
Flinders had two top ten singles in Australia: "Picking up Pebbles" (1969) which reached No.1 in Melbourne[2] and "Butterfly" (1971). He is the recipient of several recording awards and professional accolades for his talent, both as a performer and professional musician.
Flinders appeared on his own television show, Matt Flinders and Friends (1972-1973), as well as his own radio show, both for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). [1]
Flinders is currently retired from the entertainment industry and now works as a civil celebrant with his wife, Coralie.