He started entertaining around boy scouts campfires and his first musical parody was written in Sunday School. At the endof World War 2 he was radio announcer for almost 2 years on WLG5, the voice ofthe Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan.
He started performing professionally in 1945 while still in the RAAF. Around this time, Geoff went to Japan and from there went onto Europe entertaining.
Geoff worked on radio and touring shows in London and north of England and performed in Germany for 3 years for the Occupation Forces. He met his wife Tabbie Frances in Germany. (Tabbie was a choreographer and comedianne)
They got around Germany other places across Europe on their motorbike.
In 1953,Geoff and Tabby rode their motorbike 13,000 miles back to Australia, where there worked on the Gold Coast for 3 years. In 1960 they bought out Sorlies Roadshow and for the next 6 years hit the roads of NSW and Queensland with their own 20 piece troupe called ‘Carol’s Varieties.
In 1959Geoff wrote ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ it was famously recorded by Lucky Star. He wrote the songs in Japanese, German, and of course English. This is when he earned the nick name Tangle-tongue Mack
It hit Number 1 on the US Country Charts in 1962 – in 1963 Geoff received a citation from the US CM fraternity for his great achievement in composing Hank Snow’s chart-topping version of the hit. There are more than 130 cover versions have been recorded. Other artist who have recorded the hit song include Lyn Anderson and Johnny Cash.
Geoff’s last tour came in 1966. AlthoughGeoff & Tabbie never recorded – they were just as big as Buddy, Slim, Chad and all of the not able artists. They were wealthy in friends. They just did what they loved doing which was entertaining. In later years he wrote a spin-off of his hit song and called it ‘I haveEverything’ a look and laugh at the many diseases around. Chad even asked for a copy of the lyrics – but Geoff couldn’t spell all the diseases.
He was inducted into the Hands of Fame in 1978 and Roll of Renown in 2009
He was born Roger Hogan, and began writing songs at the age of 16. His first song was believed to been ‘Little Log Cabin On The Plain’.
He never learnt the guitar until age 19.
It was 1946 he decided on a musical career which began on the famous Amateur Hour which had launched many early artist in their careers. He topped the poll and gain much work – even scoring a tour with Skuthorpes Rodeo which lasted around 12 months.
On one occasion in Melbourne, Dame Nellie Melba heard Roger Hogan sing, and praised the quality of his voice.
He recorded for EMI (Regal Zonophone) on August 5,1948. He only cut for more session over the next 13 years. he recorded 26 tracks for EMI and 23 were his own compositions.
He has also recorded albums for Hadley Records inTamworth in 1965. His best selling song was ‘Redwing’.
He has recorded many country favourites through the years – including ‘The Family Bible and Little Shirt My Mother Made For Me.
DustyRankin was honoured by Tamworth by induction into the "Hands of Fame"in 1980 and elevation to the "Roll of Renown" in January 1996, the same year that the citizens of Birchip recognised Dusty's musical contribution to the town by erecting a plaque in Birchip's main street, Cumming Avenue.
In1988 Dusty was presented with an "Australiana Golden Acoustic Guitar Bi-Centenary Award" acknowledging his contribution to Country Music, andhe also appears in the "Avenue of Honour" in Berri, South Australia
Richard (Rick)
Carey was born in Sydney on August 13th 1927. It was after his schooling of the Collage of
Technology – Rick trained as radio technician for a period of 3 years later he
would join the air-force as a radio technician for the last 2 years of the
second world war. During his time in the air-force – Rick learnt to play the
guitar.
It was 1949 – met his wife to be. (They met at Bar-20 Hillbilly shows, where
they paired as a couple ‘Sliprail Swingsters’).
Their first
major success was a win on the 1951 "Australia's Amateur Hour" in
Sydney.
Thelma (Thel)
Hoctor was born in Glossodia NSW (near Windsor) on October 9th 1929 –
where she lived on the poultry farm until she was at least 12 years old. The family moved to Sydney where Thel was
able to have secondary education.
Thel
was a self taught guitarist, and her music eventually brought her to the "Bar-20
hillbilly Shows" at Eden Park and then appearances on the Reg Lindsay and Slim
Dusty Shows.
After
the marriage in 1952 – Rick & Thel recorded for EMI Records (Regal
Zonophone) in January 1954 – ‘She Was Happy Until She Met You backed with I’ll
Never Be Fooled Again’.
They
toured with many Country Shows – Slim Dusty, Buddy Williams, Reg Lindsay – were
they also part of the All Star Western Show in 1958, the following year (1959)
toured with the Chad Morgan Show before starting their own Rick & Thel Show
in 1960. On these early shows, Rick
developed a comedy routine as Cousin Rat-Sack which became a crowd
favourite.
In
1967 – they once again joined up with Chad Morgan for another tour this time
with an All Star Western Variety Show. On this particular show – there were
Johnny Heap, Bill Barnard and his performing dog and Bryan Dennis who became
known as the nortorious Kevin Bloody Wilson.
They
were with EMI for a total of 24 years (leaving the company in December
1978). The two became a household name
known as Mr & Mrs Country Music. They would then signed and began recording
with Hadley Records in Tamworth in 1979.
They
were much loved duo of Country Music – singing serious ballads like ‘Fourteen
Red Roses For Jenny’ to comical songs ‘I’ll Take The Dog’.
The
husband & wife act was forced to retire during the early 1980s when Thel
developed cancer of the tongue. They lived in retirement in Denmark, Western
Australia, until Thel died of her illness on the 2nd October, 1998. Rick still
lives in Denmark. Rick although in
retirement have on many occasion made special appearances.
He bought his
own guitar in Maitland, NSW and learnt it at age 16.
Noel’s first
album ‘Along The Barrington’ was recorded in Tamworth’s Hadley Studios in August
1975 – released on his own label ‘Everett Records’. There were a total of five
albums all his of own compositions.
In 1977 Poley
married Rosemary Ninness. In 1980 Poley
started to build what was to be known as ‘Poley’s Place’ and with his wife Rose
developed the property for entertainment, camping and recreation for
tourist.
Poley named the
look out on the property ‘Grannies’ as a tribute to his grandmother who liked to
sit there and watch the river flowing.
This was to be the final resting place of Poleys’. After the death of Poley Everett (1999) the name of the property
was changed to ‘Ever-Rose’ with a camping ground known as ‘Poley’s Place’.
They have been calling him ‘The Sheik’for fifty eight years, and Chad still remains one of Australia’s biggest crowd pullers. His‘Sheik of Scrubby Creek’ was one of the biggest hits sold through EMI Australia,originally released in 1952.
Chadwick William Morgan was born at Wondai, Queensland onFebruary 12, 1933. It was during his enlistment in Royal AustralianAir Force Chad entered a talent quest in Brisbane as a dare and won the Brisbane heat.After winning the semi-finals in Sydney, EMI agreed to release‘The Sheik ofScrubby Creek on October 24th 1952. It instantly became a huge seller outselling the likes of Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby.
Chad’s second recording came in 1955,when he returned toSydney. He was in high demand and wherever he went he was a crowd pleaser.Although his first Country Show appearances were on the Reg Lindsay Shows,Morgan’s first Country tour was with The Slim Dusty Show.
In 1958 Chad became part of the All Star Western Showalong with Rick & Thel Carey, Nev Nicholls, Kevin King and Peter Mollerson.It wasn’t until 1959 Chad had his own touring show. He became the first mainstream Australian Country Music entertainer to be released on a 10inch LP, a genuine collector’s item. The Sheik was not only released in Australian, but also England and Ireland. He certainly made a huge impact fromthe very start.
During the last 1970’s he appeared in two Aussie films‘News front & Dimboola’ and had made countless radio and TV appearances.
As The Sheik entered the ‘New Millennium’ he decided to record an album as a tribute to his mates of Country Music which he titled‘Songs My Old Mates Sang’. The album showed a different side to the lovable larrikin with songs like – You Only Have One Mother, The Passing Of Cobber Jack,Pretty Quadroon, The Newsboy’s Message, Where The Lazy Murray River Rolls Along and many others. It certainly wasn’t the first time Morgan recorded straight Country Songs. During the late seventies he recorded Cobb & Co written bythe late Tex Hamilton and also a love ballad ‘I’m Pleading Tonight’ which he had penned himself.
It 1982 – EMI Music released an album consisting of 20 of Morgan’s biggest hits “Sheilas Drongos Dills & Other Geezers”. It out sold the King of Country Music (Slim Dusty). It immediately gone Gold in sales and Platinum shortly followed and had gone straight to No. 1 on the National CountryMusic Charts. Unfortunately the album was never recognized – which otherwise could have secured a Golden Guitar being the first ever for the Sheik.
It is strange how someone as popular as our first Clown Prince of Country Music had never received a Golden Guitar inTamworth CountryMusic Awards. One thing that cannot be taken away is the many loyal fans across Australia and overseas
Slim Dusty was born David Gordon Kirkpatrick on June13, 1927 in Kempsey NSW.
According to his 1979 biography ‘Walk A Country Mile’Slim was 10 years old when he composed his first song ‘The Way The Cowboy Dies’. Two other songs by Slim’s which were discovered in these later years in the National Archives were: ‘I’m A Yodeling Guy From Texas’ and ‘Beautiful Aussie Land’ they are both registered in 1942, although never recorded.
It was believed that at the age of 11, he took the name Slim Dusty. He previously called himself ‘Buddy Bluebird’ and his mate from up the Nulla Creek ‘Bobby Haberfield’ who became known as Shorty Ranger – called himself ‘Buddy Blackbird’. At the age of 15 Slim with Shorty tried their luck singing on radio 2KM – Slim singing ‘I’ll Be Hanged If They’re Gonna Hang Me’ which didn’t really impress anyone at that time.
In 1942 (age 15), Slim made his historic journey to Homebush (Sydney) with his father to audition for a possible recording with the Columbia Gramophone Company (Regal Zonophone) – Archie Kerr the records sales manager after hearing the young Slim Dusty singing was not impressed. He was told that he could make his own custom recording which he did for twenty-five pounds. His first recording was ‘Song For The Aussies’and ‘My Final Song’. This recording Slim had sent to various radio stations to get airplay.
His first commercial release through Regal Zonophone(EMI) was a session of 6 songs, including ‘When The Rain Tumbles Down in July’in 1946.
On December 21st 1951, Slim married JoyMcKean – best man being Gordon Parsons and Heather as bridesmaid.
Joy McKean was born in 1930. At the age of 4 she contracted polio of her right leg. It was 1940 Joy and her sister Heather first entertained as the McKean Sisters. In 1949 the sisters had their own radio show on 2KY which ran for 7 years. The following year – they did back-up vocals for Tim McNamara’s “Follow The Hill Billys Down The Main Street’. The McKean Sister’s first and only recording together was in 1951 for Rodeo Records – recording 18 sides.Then from 1953, they only produced solo recordings.
Slim and Joy’s first tour as ‘The Slim Dusty Show’ came about in 1953 and through the 1950’s they always had various artists on those shows. There were Gordon Parsons, Barry Thornton, whip spinner Larry Mason, Johnny Ashcroft and of course as a novelty act and one of the biggest crowd pullers the man they call ‘The Sheik’ Chad Morgan was invited onto the show at various times.
Slim Dusty was hardly known – until 1957, when he recorded ‘The Pub With No Beer’ that made him famous worldwide. The song ‘Pub With No Beer’ was a take-off from a Pub Without Beer by Dan Sheahan which was published 13 years earlier. Gordon Parsons who wrote the Pub With No Beer was given several lines of lyrics and may have thought it wasa anonymous ballad – at the time. Needless to say, Gordon completed the ballad one night while on tour with Slim, sharinga drink with Chad Morgan. Gordon started blurting out the words, and Chad wrote them down – and “The Pub With No Beer was born.
Slim recorded ‘The Pub’ in April 1957 as a ‘b’ side and it became EMI’s biggest seller with sales topping 30,000. Slim’s success eclipsed ‘The Sheik of Scrubby Creek’ which was recorded by Chad Morgan who until Slim recorded this monster hit, was EMI’s biggest Australian seller. The Pub With No Beer earned slim the first and last gold ’78 and it was believed that it had sold a quarter of a million copies in the UK.
Late 1957,Slim joined the showgrounds with sideshow alley promoter Frank Foster where he stayed for 6 years touring from Cairns to Hobart.
The first Australian Country Music Awards in Tamworth,Slim and Joy took out 3 Golden Guitar and over the years had dominated the Awards. Up until the day he died, Slim had obtained 36 Gold Guitars from 72 nominations.
April 1978 was one of the greatest night in Australian Country Music history, when Slim Dusty brought his music to the Sydney Opera House. On this historic even was Chad Morgan ‘The Sheik of Scrubby Creek’ – two of EMI’s biggest record selling artists back together. That night 2,500 people came to see the show. Both Slim and Chad’s performances were recorded live although only Slims recording was released ‘The Entertainer’ orat least 4 years before Morgan’s segment was released (more about this in Chad’s story). The show was a success – a tour shortly followed along the eastern seaboard.
August 1983 saw the filming of ‘The Slim Dusty Movie’it was a tribute to a man who in words and song had somehow captured the spirit of this country, it followed the life and times of Slim Dusty.
With this release Slim became the only recording artist in music history to have recorded 100 albums with the same label (however there were double ups on songs). The album went on to have 4 top10 country singles and to date has sold over 150,000 copies. He was working on his 107th album although it was never completed, however it was released in 2004 titled‘Columbia Lane, The Last Session’ containing the last 7 tracks of King ofAustralian Country Music.
The Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey –apparently discussions began in 1985, however the foundation was laid in 2003. In October 2009 the Federal Government has honoured the commitment of a previous government of a grant to the tune of $6 million for the building of the Slim Dusty Centre. Some locals were up in arms about this, as the money could have been put towards the local hospitals. . . . but you can’t please everyone.
Top Selling Singles
a) The Pub With No Beer – (original version 1957)
b) Duncan
c) When The Rain Tumbles Down In July – (original version 1947)
d) Lights On The Hill
e) Trumby --among others . . . .
Major Awards
a) Gold ‘78 – Pub With No Beer
b) 1970 – awarded an MBE
c) 1979 – roll of renown / Hand of Fame
On September 19th 2003 Slim passes awayafter a long private battle with cancer and on September 26th is honoured witha State Funeral in Sydney.
He was born Hebert Henry Dawson – in Collingwood ,Victoria on March 19th 1915.
He was abused as a child and he had run away from home at the age of 10, he walked the streets of the city as a frightened boy, with no love in his life and an abundance of fear. He sold newspapers (The Age & Argus) on the streets – no shoes on his feet jumping from trams selling papers to men in suits.
His early life was marred with sadness and tragedy – his mother died of a mystery illness, his brother Les, drowned in the Yarra River, Melbourne and a father who was a victim of war.
He was mere 13 – when he began to lay the foundation of what he had become in his later life. It was by day he was selling newspapers, by night he would earn his keep by playing the concertin a at local dances. It was by the year 1932, Smoky and his older brother Ted formed a double act and would perform out front of Melbourne’s silent movie theatres.
In his early 30’s Smoky’s big break came via radio station 3KZ – which also met his future wife Dot and after a nine year courtship – Smoky married Florence (Dot) Cheers on March 13th1944, and it was believed the Smoky had found the love he missed out on as a child. Smoky often had stated that his wife Dot, had been kissed by 3 Australian Prime Ministers – Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.
Dot is famous for many things how everone thing she will always be recognised for was being the founder of Melbourne’s Corals By Candle Light event in 1946. It was at this historic event it was arranged for Smoky to launch the big night shouting ‘Coo-ee’ from horse-back to a worldwide listening audience.
In 1941 – Smoky recorded his first session with EMI Records ‘I’m A Happy Go Lucky Cowhand’. He enlisted in the Australian Army serving with the first entertainment unit during WWII, he returned to Australia after falling ill in Borneo.
In the early part of the 1950’s they both travelled to America to record and perform at the Grand Ole Opry inTennessee. He signed with Acuff & Rosewho of course was the world’s largest Country Music publisher – and his first song for his American publishers was a success ‘The Last Supper’.
Whilst in America Smokey was to showcase Australian Films on the behalf of the Australian Government. He was also contracted to 20thCentury Fox in the promotion of the Australian film ‘Kangaroo’, also appearingin a Broadway Musical “Kiss Me Kate’ with his famous whip and knife throwingact. He also performed along side Burl Ives in ‘Paint Your Wagon.
By October 1952 he was back in Australia– where he signed with Kellogg’s with a radio serial on a 3 night a week basis.It was called ‘The Adventures of Smoky Dawson’ which was eventually broadcastedover 69 stations over a 10 year period at the annual cost of 196,000 pounds. More than a million children signed up for Smoky’s Wild West Club, he was the sheriff with a million deputies. It was a simpler and a more innocent era.
In 1957 for his 45thbirthday, Dot gave Smoky the keys to a block of land at Ingleside (Sydney) and was known as The Smoky Dawson Ranch. It became the home of TV Shows, ridding school and holiday camps. It was years later it sadly burnt to the ground in a horrific bushfire in which was a sad event.
In 1963 – Hop-along Cassidy comics in Sydney papers were replaced by own cowboy Smokey Dawson which ran five days aweek. Another sad moment in Smoky’slife was the death of his horse ‘Flash’ on April 22nd 1982 at theage of 35.
1977 – Hands of Fame, Tamworth
1978 – Roll of Renown, Tanworth
Awarded an MBE for his countribution to Australian Country Music
1985 – Wax Replica of Smoky and horse Flash added to the Gallery of Stars
1999 – Awarded an OAM
2005 - ARIA Hall of Fame
Smokey Dawson died in Sydney on February13th 2008, age 94. His wife Dot is being cared for an old people’s home at the age of 103.
At very young age Reg was given a mouth-organ from his father which he quickly mastered, along with guitar and banjo. It was a talent show on Sydney’s radio station 2SM that started this King of Australian Country Music. He won first prize and a recording session with Rodeo Records, his first single ‘Steamline Yodel’.
Along with fellow artist Slim Dusty and Chad Morgan, Reg was one of Australia’s most prolific recording artist, and has written more than 500 songs. His biggest success was ‘Armstrong’ which was about Neil Armstrong’s 1969 landing on the moon. The song had been placed in the world’s largest time-capsule buried at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas.
His achievements and credits include gold records, and many ‘firsts’. He was the first Aussie to perform on the Grand Ole Opry and made an honorary citizen of Tennessee in 1968 for promoting Country Music worldwide. He was the first to organize regular Country Music on Sydney Harbour; first full Country Show to tour the Pacific; appeared on the first Country Show in the Sydney Opera House; produced some of the largest ever Country Shows in Australia; recorded the first Country Music LP record and the first ‘Live’ LP record in Australia; the first Country entertainer to produce his own national television series . . . and many more.
His recordings have been released in the USA, New Zealand and Sweden. In 1968 he was honoured for his worldwide service to Country Music with an Honorary Citizenship of the State of Tennessee from the Tennessee’s Governor. In 1989 Reg made a special appearance at the Honeysuckle/Tidbinbilla 20th Anniversary of Apollo 11 in Canberra singing ‘Armstrong’.
Hi final recording ‘No Slowing Down’ (album #66) came in October 1994. The album proved to be a success picking up airplay around Australia and in Japan. Reg almost completed his No Slowing Down when in Tamworth following January (1995), he collapsed in his motel room suffering from a brain haemorrhage and was flown to The John Hunter Hospital.
Reg Lindsay died in Newcastle (NSW) on August 5, 2008 from pneumonia after suffering a long illness. A true Legend and Pioneer of Australian Country Music and in the United States where he had also lived promoting Australian Country Music. It was two days before he died a 4 CD box set was released ‘No Dress Rehearsal’ which is currently available.
He was inducted into the Hands of Fame in 1977 and elevated to Roll of Renown in 1984. Reg had won 3 Gold Guitars in Tamworth, 6 Gold Records. He was awarded the OAM (Order of Australia Medal) in 1989 for his service to Country Music.
Website: www.reglindsay.com.au
Entertainer/ Story Teller / Hypnotist / Sharp-shooter
Tex(Robert William Lane) Morton was born in Nelson, New Zealand on August 30,1916.
American style and later writing and established a style uniquely his own. On February 25, 1936 Tex recorded his first two songs for the famous Regal Zonophone (EMI) label and another 4 tracks within a fortnight. It’s believed between 1936 and 1943 Morton recorded93 78-rpm records for Columbia, on later recordings he was backed by his band‘Roughriders’ and recording duos with Sister Dorrie.
He traveled across Australia on various Traveling Shows and had gained experience while traveling with Lance Skuthorpe’s Traveling Rodeo Show. He learnt the showman’s craftsmanship and by1938 he started his own Wild West Rodeo. During the War years, Morton’sWild West Rodeo was forced off the circuit and Tex settled in a Dude Ranch in Penrith NSW until after the war. He would eventually sell out to Ashton Circusin 1949 and decided trying his luck in North America. It was not going well ashe was given his marching orders by immigration officers. He crossed over toCanada with his unique traveling show of singing, hypnotism, magic and sharp-shooting act.
Around 1959, Tex returned to Australia although it seemed that he was no longer attracting audiences he once did in the past. He disappeared off the scene in outback Australia for about 5years after which he made a recording comeback with the ‘Cat Came Back’. Hewould sing the song wherever he performed in that magical Tex Morton style. In1967 he left Australia once again, this time he went back to New Zealand and hosted the television show ‘Country Touch’. Returning to Australia onceagain in the early 1970’s Morton continued writing and recording songs.
Throughout the late 1970’s Mortonalso appeared in various television shows, and featured in movies ‘We of the Never Never, Stir and Waterloo Station. In January 1976, he was the firstto be elevated to the Roll of Renown in Tamworth.
Tex Morton died in Sydney on July23, 1983. His was laid to rest in Nelson NZ, alongside his parent’s grave. Atrue Showman and Entertainer.
Re: Tex Morton - the following are available at the local Music Store
1. Essential Tex Morton - 2 CD set
2. Regal Zonophone Collection - (Vol 1 & Vol 2) - 4 CD's
3. Australia's Yodeling Boundary Rider - CD
4. Tex Morton & Sister Dorrie (I'll Be Hanged if They're Gonna Hang Me) - CD
5. Tex Morton Song Book - a lot of information about Tex. -(price: $28 - postage included)
only available from New Zealand.
Gordon Spittle
PO Box 105981, Custom Street, Auckland NZ
6. Last Ride of Tex Morton - DVD
Available - by contacting the ACMF in Tamworth - 02 6766 9696
(Not sure if it is available in stores)
Buddy Williams was the first Australian to help pioneer Country Music in Australia. Like old Tex, Buddy started writing songs of rodeo and also started his own Travelling Rodeo Show. It became a rivalry between Buddy and Tex.
He was born Harold Taylor in Newtown (Sydney) on September 5, 1918. He spent his youth in an orphanage until he was sent to live with foster parents in Dorrigo.After running away at the age of 15 he worked in various jobs, and started to busk in the streets. While pursuing odd jobs, Buddy busked his way to Sydney where he ended up at Columbia Records.
His first commercial recording came September 7, 1939 where he recorded six songs for the Regal Zonophone label. His second recording came eight months later.During World War II, he enlisted and was badly wounded only weeks before the end of the war.
Buddy met Grace Maidment in 1945 and they were married in Brisbane in 1947. They had four children Donita, Harold, Kaye and Karen. While on tour in Scottsdale,Tasmania in 1948, their daughter Dontia was tragically taken from this world atage of 1 year and 9 months. Buddy wrote at least three songs about his daughter‘Little Red Bonnet’, ‘Another Angel Lost in Heaven’ and later he recorded ‘Our Sweet Little Girl’.
Buddy wrote songs about what he knew and through life experiences. His inspirations included, his family, his mother, war and the love of his country. He continued writing and recording for EMI until 1965 when he began to record for RCA. In 1972 Buddy joined forces with Tex Morton touring the eastern states. It wasan historical event, for nearly everyone in the music industry thought the two(Williams & Morton) were less than mates. They sure proved them wrong. They(Buddy & Tex) recorded a song together with Sister Dorrie titled ‘I LoveCountry Music’.
In1977 he was elevated to the Roll of Renown and with Tex and Smoky, was thefirst inductee into the Hands of Fame, corner stone, in Tamworth. In 1980he won the Heritage Award for his "What a Dreary Old World it Would Be". He finally stopped touring after heart attacks in 1977and 1978, and toured extensively from 1979.
Buddy died in Brisbane on December 12, 1986. He was laid to rest alongside his daughter Dontia at Lutwyche Cemetery, Queensland. He was later joined by his wife Grace in 1995.
Buddy Williams CD's Available today
1. The Happiest Days of My Life - includes snippets of interviews - 2 CD's
2. Regal Zonophone Collection
3. The Bush Balladeer
4. Down The Old Bush Track - (22 of Buddy's recordings)
Shirley Thomas was born in Toowoomba(Queensland) on January 12, 1925.
She started her career singing and yodeling Tex Morton songs. After winning a Talent Quest in Bundaburg singing‘Mocking Bird Yodel’ (a Harry Torrani song) Shirley was encouraged to write her own songs and learn to play guitar.
On May 25th 1941, Shirley recordedher first 6 songs for Regal Zonophone. She became the first female solo act to record Country Music in Australia. During the War years she toured with various variety shows.
It was during this period she keep onwriting and recording and later toured with Sole Brother’s Circus where she met her first husband, John Sole. Shirley soon decided to give up on show business for home and family.
After years of absents, Shirley was courage to come out of retirement in 1970, to appear on an All Star cast at the Tamworth Town Hall. She was greeted with a thunderous applause. She recorded her final two LPs(1970 – 1972) for Hadley Records, Tamworth, and re-released all her old 78’s.
Shirley was inducted into the Hands ofFame and elevated to the Roll of Renown in 1980. She died at Lake Macquarie on July 1, 1999.
Lenore Miller-Somerset was born in Queensland on February 17, 1931.
It was at a very early age Lenore learnt to play guitar and made her first recordings in 1945 with her uncle, the Yodeling Jackaroo ‘Buddy Williams’ these early recordings include; Bushland Paradise and Brown Eyed Sweetheart of Mine. She was known as Queensland’s Yodeling Jillaroo.
Around 1958, she moved to Melbourne with her husband and their son. It was with her husband’s encouragement Lenore resumed singing lessons and started performing again. Her love was folk music and she made numerous appearances including Reg Lindsay’s Country and Western Hour and Graham Kennedy. She recorded her first LP titled ‘Australia Past’ in1965 for W&G Records, Melbourne.
In 1967 Lenore was invited to entertain along side Patti Newton, Denise Drysdale and The Strangers in Vietnam. The concerts were held throughout southern Vietnam for the Australian troops at Nui Dat,right up to Pleiku for the American Defense Forces.
January 2006, Lenore was delighted to be inducted into the Hands of Fame. In Sydney she was to do an album with the help of fellow musician Doug Owen although it was never meant to be.
THE SINGING WANDERER’
The eldest of six children, EdwinHaberfeild was born in October 1925.
In 1951 he became a finalist in the Tim McNamara Show at Sydney Town Hall and received a contract to record for the Rodeo label. When he married his wife, Ruby and started a family, he insisted of being a family man. Although he wasn’t in the position to tour like hispeers, his love for song writing continued.
It’s believed that Shorty had written near five hundred songs some of which have been recorded by more prominent artists like Buddy Williams, Reg Lindsay, Rick & Thel and Slim Dusty.
In 1976, Shorty recorded for Hadley Records and later formed his own label ‘Wildwood Records’ to continue to release his own recordings.
It was 2001 Shorty had his wish come true – when invited to record with his old Nulla Nulla Creek mate, Slim Dusty.The album titled ‘Men From The Nulla Nulla’ bearing 22 tracks including Shorty’s famous ‘Winter Winds’ was worth waiting for.
He was inducted into the Hands of Famein 1977 and elevated to the Roll of Renown in 1993. In 2003 Shorty received the Order of Australia Medal for his service to Country Music. Shorty Ranger died at Kempsey on June22, 2007
Nev Nicholls spent his early life on his parents sheep property at Millthorpe and later Blayney. The youngest of 4, at the age of 12 he got his first guitar and became a country fan from the first time he heard the music over the radio. His main love was the early American artists Hank Snow and Roy Rodgers, although he did grow up listening to Buddy Williams.
In 1954, he recorded for EMI (Regal Zonophone) ‘RockAll Your Babies To Sleep’ backed with one of his own compositions ‘Why Don’tYou Leave Me Alone’. Having a record released made it a little easier to play on the Country scene. Be it in Sydney, or in Kempsey where he metthe McKean Sisters on their show at 2KY radio. He also met Slim on one of these occasions which was long before Slim’s marriage to Joy.
He continued recording for Regal Zonophone, and in1957 – he toured with Reg Lindsay throughout the North Coast of NSW. In March 1958 he became part of The All Star Western Show, along with Kevin King, Rick & Thel and Chad Morgan – afterpersonality clashes within the show, Nev left the show with Kevin King to rejoin with the Reg Lindsay Shows, and later out on his own doing the club circuit.
Nev continued recording with EMI and had the honour ofthe very last release of the old 78 disc which was ‘Love In The Shadows backedwith ‘Conscience I’m Guilty’. Around1972 Nev crossed over to the RCA label where he began recording Trucking albums, which earned him 5 Gold Albums. In 1975 – Nev and his band, won Gold Guitar for best instrumentalist offthe year.
It was 1968 the big break came. He auditioned for a spot at the Texas Tavernat Kings Cross and was accepted. Hebecame the first to take Country Music to Kings Cross and his show remainedthere for 10 years. His Nev and his band ‘Country Play Boys’ Through out his time at the Tavern, he hashad many guest artist on his show – these include: Diana Trask, Charlie Pride,Tom T. Hall and worlds best steel guitar player Buddy Emmons.
According toNev, The Texas Tavern wasn't a job. It was an unforgettable event. Playing for American servicemen on R&R from Vietnam, meeting celebrities who were making appearances at the Chevron Hotel across the street, and being acceptedin the local population, as country music had never been accepted before. The Tavern gigs closed in 1978 when new hands took over the business.
The next project for Nev was a National Radio Show“The Nev Nicholls Roadshow’ which had a successful run over 90 stations throughout Australia from 1978 – 1988.
In 1985 he launched his own record label ‘Nichols& Dimes’ where two winners from a Townsville Festival won a record deal with the label. They were ‘SaddleTramps’ and the ‘Gottani Sisters’. Other artists to record on the label were Reg Lindsay, Cowboy ‘Bob’Purtell, D’Arcy Lee Year (now part of the Wolverines), Lisa White and Desree Crawford.
A tribute album to Buddy Williams was released titled ‘Our Buddy’ with following artist singing along with a Buddy song – ShirleyThoms, Slim Dusty, Allan Hawkings, Smoky Dawson, Kevin King, Gordon Parsons –and of course Nev himself. It was agreat album and there is talk that a reissue of this album maybe released.
Over the years Nev has had his songs recorded by many in the industry – these include, Chad Morgan, Frankie Davidson, TruckenStevens, Johnny Garfield, Terry Gordon and the Wayfarers.
Nev’s final recording was with his old mate (who’s nolong with us) the late Lucky Grills who had became well known on the comedy circuit. The album is of a comedy nature titled ‘Ya Wanna Screwdriver?’ (It is still available today)
Hand of Fame – 1977
Roll of Renown – 2002
Released 29 albums
Nev officially retired from Country Music in 2002. However his albums are still selling rapidly particularly the Trucking albums. Together withall his activities and four marriages, behind him its little wonder Nev say "If I had my life to live over, I don't think I'd have the strength"
Rita, born on January 24, 1928 / Mary, born on October 25, 1932
The Schneider Sisters started as a country comical act in 1945 appearing on Australian Amateur Hour and recording for Regal Zonophone in 1950. As a duo Rita and Mary toured extensively in Australia also touring Asia during the 1950 and 1960’s. It was during the 1970’s they went their separate musical ways.
Rita would soon become Australia’s Loony Lady releasing comical albums (listed) which are currently available:-
RitaRaves On
Nutty As A Fruit Cake
Dingbats
Keep On Larfin’
Birdbrain Ballads
Big Belly Laughs
Rita has collected various Awards for hercomical songs, and in 2008, she was awarded a TSA Award for Children Song of the Year with “Why Does A Cow Go Moo?” At times Mary would join Rita in a recording session also Mary’s daughter Melinda.The late Smoky Dawson could also be heard singing along with Rita.
Mary went on becoming Australia’s Queen of Yodeling. She is loved in Australia, America and Europe. In 2002, Mary released a CD titled ‘The Ultimate Collection’ which consists of 25 greatest hits with her wonderful yodeling. Mary has also collected various Awards for her outstanding singing and songwriting talents.
TREVOR DAY Trevor Day was born on November 3, 1931.
His first recording session for EMI wasin 1959. His notable recording of that particular session was ‘The Boy Solider’,it retained its popularity for at least four decades and people still request the song. In the early 1960’s he toured with The Chad Morgan Show and today still maintains his friendship with the daring ‘Sheik’.
Trevor has written and recorded many songs over the past fifty years that everyone can relate to. One song that was written about the changing of our national flag surely was a funny song, in a comical way of what would happen if the Flag was changed. His songs have been recorded by Buddy Williams, Chad Morgan and Reg Poole.
In 2007, Trevor released a CD titled ‘DoIt All Over Again’ containing twelve tracks, seven were self-written. The title track was a duo with fellow artist Kevin King. Also in 2007 Bellbird Music released a CD containing 18 tracks of Trevor’s greatest songs from the Hadley Masters which is currently available.
Trevor is one Country Artist who canreally tell a story in a song, he has kept the tradition of the old balladeers which nowadays are truly numbered.
Trevor has a few accolades under hisbelt – they include:-
1978 - Hand of Fame
1996 - Norm Scott Pioneer Award
1996 - Australian Country Music Living LegendAward (Kempsey)
2004 - TSA – Comedy/ Novelty Song of the YearAward
2005 - TSA – Song Makers Award
Kevin Harrison King on December 19,1931
Kevin Harrison King was born the youngest of three children, in Roseville (Sydney)
At the age of 15, Kevin learnt to play guitar, three years later he won a heat of Tim McNamara’s 2SM Talent Quest in Sydney. Kevin was playing Hawaiian steel guitar although it seemed that he was convinced to change it for Spanish guitar.
He first came into prominence in Country Music with his smash-hit “Rub-a-Dub-Dub” selling around 20,000 copies. He was twenty-one at the time, and it was his first recording for EMI Music which was released February 1954.
Kevin started to appear as a regular on the Ted Quigg and Tim McNamara shows, and when on a short tour with Reg Lindsay. It was March 1958 he went on tour with the All Star Western Show – with Chad Morgan, Nev Nicholls, Rick and Thel Carey andCanadian Peter Mollerson on the fiddle. This tour lasted 14 months sand eventually going out as the Chad Morgan Show. Kevin returned to the Reg Lindsay show, being married and a decision to settle down which prevented him doing anything other than short tours.
During the early 1970’s Kevin was thrilled when asked by Slim Dusty to join him and his family on their show in New Guinea, which also included Michael Cook and Barry Thornton.
He was inducted into the Hands of Famein 1977. These days in retirement, Kevin and his wife Pat live in Queen
Kevin Harrison King was born the youngest of three children, in Roseville (Sydney)
John Harold Ashe was born on September 4, 1907 at Drummoyne (Sydney).
Over the years John Ashe has written many Aussie comical songs. He couldn’t get anyone to record his songs so he decided to record his own songs of Aussie humour. Many of his songs were well known around Australia including ‘Growin’ The Golden Fleece’.
Over the years John had written hundreds of Aussie comical songs, although he couldn’t find anyone to record them. Hence the reason he had started recording his own comedy songs through EMI. His song ‘The Beer, Boys, Is Here was believed to be the true sequel to ‘A Pub With No Beer’ made famous by the late Slim Dusty, and like ‘The Pub’ he had also used the old time tune ‘Beautiful Dreamer’.
Around 1960 while holidaying in Sydney, John noticed that a singing comedian named Chad Morgan had sold many thousand records through EMI. When ‘The Sheik’ arrived with his show in Townsville, John Ashe had to see what Morgan was all about. Needless to say, he was impressed and found Chad to be a first rate Clown. Various songs that John had written suited Chad’s style and in 1975 Morgan released an LP ‘Chad Morgan Sings John Ashe’ as Slim Dusty had done previously.
In 1968 he wrote a book of musical poems and became a member of the International Academy of Poets in Cambridge, England.
John was inducted into the Hands of Fame in January 1978
C.M.Legends
