WARREN WILLIAMS

Forming one of Australia's first rock & roll bands in the tradition of Bill Haley and His Comets, former child soprano Warren Williams formed Warren Williams and the Squares in January 1958. By April they were playing to 600 people each Friday night at the Mascot Masonic Hall. They made their TV debut in July 1959 on Six O'Clock Rock, a popular TV show hosted by Johnny O'Keefe, and soon became TV regulars on Bandstand and Teen Time. In 1959 he was the support act on Fabian's tour. Williams released his debut single, "My Teenage Love / Where My Baby Goes (She Goes With Me)" in December 1959 followed by "Kath-a-Leen/What's A Happenin' Baby" in April 1960, but by the end of the year had left the Squares.

He released the single "Lovely, Lovely Habit / Little Girl" on HMV and was voted the sixth most popular artist on Six O'Clock Rock. In 1961, Williams signed with the Leedon label and released several singles and EPs. A prolific songwriter, he formed his own publishing company Williams-Conde Music Pty Ltd with Franz Conde. In 1963 he supported Chubby Checker's tour of Australia. In March 1964, Williams joined the Courtmen, who backed him on his track "It's Party Time" (later recorded in French by Petula Clark). By now, Williams' popularity had begun to wane with the rise of Beatlemania that swept Australia. Williams took refuge performing in clubs and cabaret shows although he did get picked up by CBS and recorded three singles. All failed to chart. He resurfaced in the '70s and '80s on the nostalgia circuit. He released two singles, "Long Black Veil / Jimmy Brown the News Boy" (1971) and "I Was There / Just Call Me" (1984), before forming the Williams Family Show with his three sons.

SINGLES

''My Teenage Love / Where My Baby Goes (She Goes With Me)'' (#20) 1960 Festival
''Kath-A-Leen / What's A Happenin' Baby'' (#90) 1960 Festival
''Lovely, Lovely Habit (#97) / Little Girl'' 1960 HMV
''A Star Fell From Heaven (#23) / Why Do They Doubt Our Love'' 1960 Leedon
''Beautiful As You (#93) / Look Out, It's Me'' 1961 Leedon
''Too Proud To Cry / Girls Were Made To Love And Kiss'' 1962 Leedon
''Stand There And Cry / Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder'' 1962 Leedon
''Speak To Me Of Love / Heartache Queen'' 1963 Leedon
''Just Like A Child (#64) / Where My Baby Goes (She Goes With Me)'' 1963 Leedon
''It's Party Time (#77) / Great Balls Of Fire'' 1964 Leedon
''Breaking My Heart / Some Other Face'' 1966 CBS
''Only A Rose / I Wake Up Crying'' 1966 CBS
''Goodbye / Wimoweh'' 1967 CBS
''Suddenly (There Was You) / Red Leaves And Gold (Bush Theme)'' 1968 Festival
''Nobody Wants To Know A Loser (Quand Et Puis Pourquoi) / Like A Child'' 1971 M7
''Long Black Veil / Jimmy Brown, The News Boy'' 1971 Troubadour
''I Was There / Just Call Me'' 1984 Pomegranate

EPs

'The Shy Guy' 1960 Festival
'A Star Fell From Heaven' 1962 Leedon
'Warren Williams Sings Famous Tenor Solos' 1962 Leedon
'Speak To Me Of Love' 1963 Leedon
'It's Party Time' 1964 Leedon

References

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/