DIANNE HORDER

Dianne Horder was born in 1949 in the Hunter Valley of NSW. She started singing at the age of 5. In her late teens she was on Bandstand. She accompanied many overseas artists including Winifred Atwell and David Whitfield on their Australian tours. Dianne recorded two singles on the Spin label in the late 1960s before moving into live performances on TV shows such as The Mike Walsh Show, The Ernie Sigley Show and The Don Lane Show where she did regular appearances. She was very accomplished and had a definite feel for jazz tracks. She was still performing up north around Byron Bay as of 2009.

SINGLES

''Here Comes The Morning / Don't Bother Me'' 1967 Spin
''The Golden Days / Here At The Stagedoor'' 1968 Spin

THE JOHN HAWES JAZZ BAND

Looking back into our jazz history, The John Hawes Jazz Band (formed in 1960) together with The Red Onions and The Yarra Yarra Jazz Band were the top three Melbourne jazz bands during the 1960s. They gigged all around Melbourne and were very popular on the jazz scene. They drew 3000 at one concert held at the Melbourne Town Hall. 

Members

John Hawes (cornet, vocals), Graeme Davies (trombone), Hamish Hughes (bass), Dave McCallum (drums), Jeff Thomas (banjo), Ray Rickerby (clarinet), Des Bader (banjo)

SINGLES

''My Baby Left Me / I'll Never Let You Go'' 1966 In

EPs

'Hawes In Concert' 1963 Crest

'Here's Hawes' 1963 Crest

'Hawes-Powered Jazz' 1964 Crest

ALBUMS

'Let's Drop In On The Hawes Band' 1964 Crest

JOHNNY GREENWOOD

One of Queensland’s most enduring Country singers and entertainers, Johnny Greenwood was born in Brisbane and spending some of his earliest times with his family in Goondiwindi and Wagga Wagga as well as in the Brisbane suburb of Bulimba, he moved to a farm in the country at Bracewell, Mt. Larcom, Central Queensland when eight years of age. Here he learned to ride horses, milk cows, round up cattle and do the normal farm property chores. It was in this rural environment that he acquired a strong feeling for country music, including Australian Bush Ballad songs. Moving with his parents to a Garage and fuel depot in Mt. Larcom itself, he obtained a guitar in his teens, sang at local dances and concerts etc; before moving to Brisbane to further his career in the industry.

He became a popular performer throughout Queensland in the 60’s and 70’s as well as Northern NSW clubs. He also did numerous television shows such as ‘Brisbane Tonight’, ‘The Late Show’ and Reg Lindsay’s ‘Country Homestead’ etc – and at one stage spent nearly a year overseas performing in England, Scotland, Germany, Italy and Tripoli etc.

After earlier recording for Sunset and W&G Records, back in Australia he was contracted to RCA in the 70’s, having a number of successful recordings on the label, mostly his own compositions like the evergreen ''Tibrogargan'', ''The Singing Transport Man'' and Johnny’s own ''Goondiwindi Grey'' song which went very well in the charts. Later moving to Astor and Colonial Records, other songs such as ''My Dad Was A Road Train Man'', ''Jack O’Hagan'', ''This Lands A Part Of You And Me'', ''He Kept It All Australian'', ''The Man In Black Has Gone'', ''Our Old Flag'', ''How Ya Goin’ Mate'' and ''There’s Still A Country Boy In Me'' have also had quite an impact.

Johnny has done more than 4000 professional performances during his career in all types of venues in Australia and overseas (including New Zealand), sold more than 100,000 recordings and performed alongside the likes of Marty Robbins, Lorne Greene, Slim Dusty, Smoky Dawson, Keith Urban and The Bee Gees among others, and has visited and recorded an album ‘Here I Am Again’ in Nashville USA.

A Gold guitar finalist in 1993 for his ''Jack O’Hagan'' song, Johnny is a multi award recipient eg: ‘Hands Of Fame Tamworth 1980, Queensland Awards Of Recognition 1998, Tree Of Honour at Manilla 1999, Palms Of Honour Redcliffe 2002, TSA Songmaker Award 2003, Wall Of Honour LBS Tamworth and Gold Medallion Award 2008, and Stan Coster/Neil Beeby Bush Ballad Award 2010. He has also been recognised in the ‘Walk A Country Mile’ exhibit in Tamworth.

Johnny is well established as one of Australia’s genuine country artists and songwriters. He has sung quite a variety of material over the years but prefers the authentic style plus Australian songs and bush ballads and continues as a somewhat legendary figure in Australian Country Music appearing regularly at festivals and clubs etc. throughout the country.

SINGLES

''Loving Arms / Sweet Little Lonely One'' 1963 W&G
''Star Of The D.J. Show / Lonely Street'' 1964 W&G
''Detroit City / My Mother's Prayer [with Ellie Lavelle] 1966 Sunset
''The Goondiwindi Grey (#67) / Tibrogargan'' 1973 RCA
''Our Champion - Tony Mundine / Farewell To Gunsynd'' 1973 RCA
''The M.A.N. Song / Moorvale Music Centre The Talk Of The Highway'' 1975

EPs

'Johnny' 1964 W&G

'Just Another Mile To Go' 1969 RCA

'It's Time To Have Some Good Times) In The Nineties' 1992 Colonial

ALBUMS

'Tibrogargan' 1971 RCA
'The Goondiwindi Grey' 1973 RCA
'The Singing Transport Man' 1975 RCA
'Johnny Greenwood' 1977 Astor
'Big Rigs And Truck Stops' 1980 Colonial
'Here I Am Again' 1996 Colonial
'This Land Of Ours Australia' 2003 Colonial
'There's Still A Country Boy In Me' 2010 Colonial
'50th Anniversary Album' 2013 Colonial
'Johnny Greenwood In The 90's' Colonial

References

http://johnnygreenwood.com/

KEITH GLASS

Keith Robert Glass was born on 17 September 1946, received guitar lessons at Lou Toppano's Music School on his 'Alver' acoustic guitar. From 1958 Glass attended Brighton High School. In 1963 The Rising Sons were formed as a R&B band in Brighton with Glass on lead guitar, and three Brighton Grammar School students: Clive Davies on rhythm guitar, Dennis "Fred" Foster on drums and Russell Naughton on bass guitar. Their first gig was a dance for Brighton Grammar School. They played cover versions of instrumentals by The Ventures, Duane Eddy and The Shadows. They recorded material but none was released. Glass attempted first year of a law course at University of Melbourne but transferred to RMIT and starting a design course. By late 1965 The Rising Sons had disbanded.

In 1966 Glass and Foster a formed folk, baroque rock group, Eighteenth Century Quartet, with Frank Lyons on bass guitar; Hans Poulsen on guitar, vocals, bouzouki and mandolin; and John Pugh on guitar, violin, autoharp, harmonica and backing vocals. After issuing their debut single, "Rachel" in October, Poulsen left for a solo career. Glass wrote and sang lead on their second single, "Am I a Lover?" (December). Their live work "bore no relationship to the earlier folk-rock trappings" and they "began playing more uptempo soul/R&B/rock material". The group disbanded in March 1967.

In April 1967 Glass and Pugh formed a soul music group, Cam-Pact, with Mark Barnes on bass guitar, Bob Lloyd (aka Bob Tregilgus) on drums, and Chris Stockley on guitar. They released four singles, "Something Easy" (March 1968), "Drawing Room" (May), "Good Good Feelin'" (September) and "Potion of Love" (June 1969) and an extended play, 'Something Easy'. In late 1968 Barnes had left and Glass took on bass guitar before he and Stockley also left by mid-1969. Stockley joined Axiom and from June that year Glass appeared in the Australian stage production of Hair as Berger (replaced by Reg Livermore in 1970) starting an 18-month run in Sydney. In 1970 after finishing Hair, Glass returned to Melbourne and formed country rock group, Sundown, with Barnes (ex-Cam-Pact); Broderick Smith on lead vocals and harmonica, Kerryn Tolhurst on guitar; (both ex-Adderley Smith Blues Band); and Barry Windley on drums (Chessmen, Cherokees, Quinn). The group only issued one single, "This Country of Mine" (June 1972), before disbanding. The track was written by Glass and was later recorded by Slim Dusty.

In 1971 Glass and David Pepperell (journalist, and vocalist of The Union) were the owners of a Melbourne record store, Archie & Jughead's, which specialised in imported albums from Europe and America. In September 1973 Glass travelled to the United States to make business contacts for his store and with a view to getting his own songs published. Since 1977 he has pursued an intermittent solo career generally as a country musician. One such project was Keith Glass Band, an R&B and country rock group, which included Wayne Duncan on bass guitar (ex-Daddy Cool), Robert Souter on drums and Les Stacpool on guitar. With the addition of Wayne Burt (Daddy Cool, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons) on guitar in October that year, the group's name changed to The Living Legends.

In 1977 the retail store was renamed Missing Link Records. Glass and Pepperell also founded an independent record label of the same name. Pepperell soon departed and in 1978 Glass signed The Boys Next Door, a punk band featuring Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Phill Calvert and Tracy Pew, for whom Glass was also the manager. Missing Link issued the band's first EP, 'Hee Haw' (1979) and the album, 'The Birthday Party' (November 1980). Glass co-produced the album with The Boys Next Door and Tony Cohen, by the time of its release the group had relocated to London and renamed themselves as The Birthday Party. In May the label issued Ed Kuepper's alternate jazz-rock group,Laughing Clowns's debut eponymous EP, which was also engineered by Cohen.

In October that year Australian music journalist, Glenn A. Baker, writing for Billboard described the label which was "recognised for the cornerstone upon which much of Australia's new wave music movement has been built … Glass' understanding and appreciation of the grass roots level of rock music is considered impeccable". In November Missing Link Records promoted a concert at Sydney's Paris Theatre by Laughing Clowns and The Birthday Party – they were supported by Brisbane group, The Go-Betweens. Glass signed them to his label, which issued their fourth single, "Your Turn My Turn", in April 1981 and followed by their first official album, 'Send Me a Lullaby' in November. The retail store had been run by Glass with his then-wife Helena Glass until they sold it late in 1981 to siblings Nigel and Diane Rennard. In July the following year Baker reported that Glass had been fined $750 for having sold US punk rockers, Dead Kennedys' 1981 single "Too Drunk to Fuck" in his store. The judge, Patrick Street, described the track as "the vilest of trash ... likely to deprave and corrupt" – Glass responded that the store had held some 40 recordings that were similar.

In late 1981 and early 1982 Glass was observing Cohen who was working in AAV studio in Richmond with The Birthday Party on their album, 'Junkyard' (May 1982) when they were visited by The Go-Betweens. A jam session resulted in a single, "After the Fireworks", released by a short-lived super-group, Tuff Monks, which included members of both The Birthday Party and The Go-Betweens. Glass later recalled: Sessions for ... Junkyard were turning into a disaster. The Birthday Party was ill prepared and drugged up. Enter a few Go-Betweens to the sessions and a night of tomfoolery produced a whopping big session bill and a track eventually released on Au-Go-Go called 'After the Fireworks'. Lacking any B side to go with it, we resorted to a backwards vocal remix titled 'After, After the Fireworks'. Opportunist? Exploitive? We had bills to pay.

Glass worked as a songwriter in Nashville before returning to Australia in 1986. Under the pseudonym, Onie J. Holy, he issued an extended play, 'God, Guns and Guts', on Au Go Go Records. He followed with country, blues groups: Keith Glass Honky Tonk Band and Keith Glass and the Tumblers. Glass contributed three tracks to the soundtrack for the Nadia Tass-directed film, Rikky and Pete (1988).

In 1988 he signed with Virgin Records and issued his solo album, 'Going Over Old Ground', the following year. In 1990 Glass co-produced the album, 'Two Roads: Live in Australia' by US country rockers, Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. In 1991 he released another solo album, 'Living Down My Past'. He made several appearances at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in the early 1990s. Glass co-hosted a radio program, High in the Saddle, with Dave Dawson on 3RRR-FM. From the mid-1990s he was a member of the country music trio, Hamilton Glass and Young: with former Brighton High School mate, Mick Hamilton on guitar, and Gary Young (Daddy Cool, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons) on drums. They issued three albums: 'Rocking Cowboy' (Larrikin Records, 1993), 'Songs the Radio Taught Us' (Massive, 1995) and 'Unidentified Playing Objects' (Massive, 1996). Glass' third solo album, 'Smoke and Mirrors', appeared in 1997. Two years later he issued, 'Southerly Bluster' (3 May 1999).

In 2000 Glass and Hamilton combined for a CD, 'Clutching at Straws'. On 19 July 2001 his next album, 'Australian Soul', appeared. To promote its release he toured North America with dates in southern US states and then in Canada – where he played with his namesake Keith Glass (William Keith Glass), guitarist for Prairie Oyster. In November he performed at the Frank Brown International Singer Songwriter Festival in Mobile, Alabama. From April 2002, Glass wrote for country music journal, Capital News. Also that year he produced 'Last Train... From Tennessee to Taree' – a tribute album for US-born blue grass and skiffle artist, Johnny Duncan – which included two tracks written by Glass.

By 2004 Glass relocated to Mobile, where he recorded his next album, 'Miss Ala' (26 October 2005). In June 2008 he told The Sydney Morning Herald that his favourite Australian album was The Reels' debut eponymous album (1979): "they changed my life. From the first night I saw them on Countdown and went to the gig straight afterwards, they enchanted me. So clever, so cutting and quite XTC now I look back on it. The jerky new wave sounds and the image took me in from day one". In May 2011 Glass and Hamilton issued an album, 'The John Laws Experience', using lyrics originally written as poetry by former radio commentator, John Laws. Glass opened a record store, Mobile Records, in April 2012, stocking vinyl albums.

SINGLES

''Donna'' 1969 Spin
''Hell Of A Job / Victoria Bitter (She Made Me That Way'' 1987 Missing Link
''Home And Away Game / It And A Bit'' 1989 Virgin
''Going Over Old Ground / Outback (In Our Backyard)'' 1990 Virgin
''Living Down My Past / Five Minutes Before Midnight'' 1991 Virgin

ALBUMS

'Going Over Old Ground' 1989 Virgin 
'Living Down My Past' 1991 Virgin

' Rocking Cowboy' [with Mick Hamilton, Gary Young] 1993 Larrikin

'Songs the Radio Taught Us' [with Mick Hamilton, Gary Young] 1995
' Unidentified Playing Objects' [with Mick Hamilton, Gary Young] 1996 The Massive Recording Co.
'Smoke And Mirrors' 1997 Shock
'Southerly Buster' 1999 Massive
'True Blue Aussie Christmas' [with Mick Hamilton] 1999 Larrikin
'Australian Soul' 2001 Missing Link
'Clutching At Straws' [with Mick Hamilton] 2003

'Miss Ala' 2005
'The John Laws Experience' [with Mick Hamilton] 2011

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Glass

THE FOREDAY RIDERS

The Riders emerged in the wake of the British “blues boom” of the early 60’s, initially inspired by outfits such as the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds and Manfred Mann. These bands were always ready to acknowledge their musical sources and so introduced the Riders to what became their primary influence - the golden age of Chicago blues in the 1950’s: the bands of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers etc.

What began in the mid-60’s as a loose association of school friends dabbling in electric blues developed over a year or so into a 7-piece band featuring young singer Jill Drury and Swiss piano man Roli Utzinger. Material ranged from the country blues of Memphis Minnie & Lightning Hopkins through to urban R & B by Willie Dixon and Ray Charles, incorporating jazz-flavoured instrumentals and jump tunes. They recorded a self-titled album in 1969 which has to be one of the first blues albums to be recorded in this country. The lineup was: Richard Lock on drums, Dave Drury on bass, Jeff King on guitar, Rolly Utzinger on keyboards, Ron King and Jill Drury on vocals. Special guest vocalists Broderick Smith and Jeannie Lewis appeared on one track each.

Highlights in the band’s history include support acts with B.B.King; Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee; Freddie King and Hound Dog Taylor, Gatemouth Brown, the “Delta Blues Legends” show, Chris Cain and others. The Riders have backed Bo Diddley in Sydney and were joined on stage by Junior Wells during his 1972 tour. In 1975 the Riders were part of the History of the Blues concert tour which included Dutch Tilders, Judy Bailey and Margret Roadknight. Other names associated with the band are Jeannie Lewis and Broderick Smith, and former Riders have moved into major local blues acts such as the Bondi Cigars and The Hippos. Apart from appearing at Sunbury in 1975, the Riders played at the now legendary Alice Springs Blues Festival in 1986, along with Chain, Renee Geyer, Kevin Borich, Ian Moss and others. More recent festival appearances include the East Coast Blues Festival at Byron Bay, the Lithgow, Goulburn and Thredbo Blues Festivals, and the Wangaratta, Manly and Hawkesbury Jazz Festivals.

In 1996 the Riders were awarded the inaugural Hall of Fame Award at the Lithgow Blues Festival and in following years received the Chain Heritage award at Goulburn (and were later inducted into the Hall of Fame), the 2MBS-FM Stormy Monday Lifetime Achievement award, and the Sydney Blues Society “Services to the Blues” Award. The Riders were also included in a series of blues concerts at the Sydney Opera House in 1999, “Sundays ‘round the House”, with Mal Eastick, The Mighty Reapers and Matt Walker. Throughout the band’s history, the King Brothers have been privileged to work with an imposing array of leading Australian blues performers, and hope to continue doing so, always aiming to see audiences have as much fun as the band. The Foreday Riders celebrated 50 years as a working band in 2017.

Members

Ron King (harmonica / vocals), Jeff King (guitar), Roscoe Clark (drums), Stan Mobbs (bass), Tony Pedroza (guitar vocals), Jill Drury (vocals / bass), Roli Utzinger (piano), Phil Colson (guitar), Dave Drury (bass), Richard Lock (drums), Graeme Gibb (bass)

SINGLES

''Once A Week / Liberated Women'' 1975 Eureka
''Big Rig / Caldonia'' 1975 Eureka

ALBUMS

'Foreday Riders Blues Band' 1969 Muff

'Blues Live At 'Frenchs' 1974 EMI
'Once A Week' 1975 Eureka
'Playin' Up' 1977 Eureka
'Riders Digest' 1987 Avan-Guard
'Riders Groove' 1993 Larrikin
'Shake A Leg' 2005 Full House
'Herding Cats' 2015 Foreday Riders

THE CHARADES

The Charades were a surf rock instrumental band from Sydney. Peter van de Voorde (guitar, sax), Trevor Miller (bass) and Des Thompson (drums) had been in a band called The Renegades who had a hit in 1963 with ''Kahuna'' before forming The Charades. Adding guitarists Murray Cheney and Paul Baker they signed by the RCA label and released four singles. They also backed Johnny Veen on his single, ''You Know He Did'' in 1966. The Charades were one of the first Australian bands to tour overseas. In June 1965, they toured Japan and Thailand. Des Thompson died in 2009.

Members

Peter van de Voorde (guitar, sax), Trevor Miller (bass), Des Thompson (drums), Murray Chenery (guitar), Paul Baker (guitar)

SINGLES

''The Lonely Beach / The Big Dipper'' 1964 RCA
''Whisper By Whisper / New Orleans'' 1964 RCA
''North West Of Broken Hill / When Someone Cares'' 1965 RCA
''I Only Dream Of You / Don't Try'' 1965 RCA

''You Know He Did / When I Fall In Love'' [with Johnny Veen] 1966 RCA

THE CHANTINOS

Family pop group from Sydney. Marijke Bakker and her brothers John & Norman were originally from The Netherlands. They released two singles on the RCA label in the mid-sixties and appeared on Bandstand. After Marijke left the group John and Norm continued as a duo until Norm became a solo performer with his “Solid Rock Salute to Elvis” cabaret production show.

SINGLES

''Since I Fell In Love With You / Don't Say Nothin' (If You Can't Say Anything Nice)'' 1965 RCA
''Dominique / Breaking Point'' 1965 RCA

GREG BONHAM

Greg Bonham thrilled audiences from Las Vegas to London. His polished, high-energy performance was tempered by a quiet confidence and Aussie charm that set him apart from all of the others. Greg's dynamic show, featuring his powerful voice, superb trumpet playing and original songs had established him as an international headliner. But it all started a world away from the bright lights for this country boy. “I was born and raised on a sheep farm, in the Aussie outback and I wouldn’t change a thing" says Greg. "I had always dreamed of becoming an entertainer and my parents were behind me all the way. I owe them everything.”

At the age of 11, Greg was leading the ‘family dance band,’ with his two brothers and two sisters, gaining invaluable experience…preparing him for what was to come. In 1968 a television talent contest called Showcase brought Greg into the national spotlight. At just 16 years old he took home the grand prize and his career was off and running. He won the hearts of Australia, plus the attention of the major Sydney booking agents. He soon left the farm behind and became a professional entertainer in Sydney and throughout the country.

With over 150 national television appearances, recording success and countless club engagements to his credit in his homeland, Greg yearned to ‘make it’ overseas. With his wife and young daughter, he headed of the England, to try his luck in the international market. He stormed audiences throughout the UK for six years, scoring his own TV specials with Southern Television and became a ‘hit’ in Eastern Europe…. selling an incredible 14 million records in Russia. Greg had always dreamed of performing in America and in one fateful night at London’s famous Talk of London, he was discovered by a Miami club owner. “It was meant to be” Greg said. ” The USA was to become my new home, thanks to that one man and his belief in me.”

The fresh-faced Aussie, with his unique talent and style, caught the eye of Merv Griffin and Greg appeared on his TV show three times. He soon became the opening act for the stars, including Jay Leno, Don Rickles and Joan Rivers. Greg's career was off and running. He was a headliner in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and a favourite entertainer for corporate America. He died in California from a heart attack in 2018 aged 71.

SINGLES

''Just A Little Guy / One Girl Ago'' 1968 Festival
''I'm A Man / Now...Is The Time'' 1969 Festival
''House In The Country / Lucca (Celos De Maria)'' 1971 M7
''And When She Smiles / Everybody's Laughing'' 1972 Frog
''Those Great Gatsby Days / Money Honey'' 1974 Warner Bros
''B Company Doesn't Answer / Love Lost'' 1978 DJM

References

http://gregbonham.com/greg-bonham-biography.htm

BLUES SYNDICATE

Blues Syndicate formed in 1966 in Adelaide. They were a very popular band on the pub and club circuit. They signed with Leedon records and in 1966 and cut one single ''Baby Please Don't Go / Tired of Tryin'' at Gamba studios in Melbourne St North Adelaide. The group may also be heard on 'Live At Big Daddy's' album compilation with two songs, ''Crossroads'' and ''The Midnight Hour''. That album was released on the Raven label in 1986 from recordings made in 1967. Geoff Kluke went on to become one of the greatest jazz bassists this country has produced. Albert Sawyer has since died.

Members

Chris McLure (guitar vocals), Geoff Kluke (bass), Rodney Scott (keyboards), Trevor Burns (sax), Albert Sawyer (drums), Mike Hayward (drums)

SINGLES
''Tired Of Tryin' / Baby Please Don't Go'' 1966 Leedon

RON BARRY

Ron Barry was a singer guitarist whose career spanned five decades. In the 60s he was guitarist for Sammy and The In People that included Janice Slater, Harry Brus and Col Nolan. He recorded singles on the Ramrod, RCA and M7 labels. One of those singles being produced by American legend Paul Anka. In the early 70s he was recruited by Jeff St.John as lead guitarist in the Jeff St.John Band. He worked with some of Australia's top musicians over the years including Russell Dunlop (drums), Harry Brus (bass), Victor Rounds (bass), Chris Saunders (piano/keyboards),Jim Kelly (guitar), Peter Figures (drums), Tony Ansell (piano/Keys), Col Nolan(piano/keyboards), Doug Gallacher (drums), Ara Nercessian (piano/keys), Peter Northcote (guitar), Mark Punch (guitar), Herb Cannon (trombone) and many others. He recorded many original songs when he established his own recording studio. His previous bands include: The WAM Band, BAG, Ron Barry & The Specialists...to name a few. Ron Barry died in 2013.

SINGLES

''The Party / A Love I've Never Known'' 1969 Ramrod
''Keep One Foot In The Door'' 1969 RCA

''Nobody Knows'' / One Grain Of Sand'' 1971 M7

MARLENE ATCHESON

Marlene Atcheson grew up in Newcastle and started singing aged around 12 with her family backing her all the way. Marlene reflected ''I used to always sing around the house so my Mum started putting me into talent quests''. Marlene with a push from her mother entered her first talent quest aged 12 and won. Marlene travelled to Sydney twice a week for singing lessons. While still in Newcastle she became the youngest entertainer to appear on the Col Joye Show. She eventually moved to Sydney with her family. Marlene started to appear on ATN 7's Teen Time and then graduated to Johnny O'Keefe's Sing Sing Sing. She then appeared regularly on Bandstand, The Ernie Sigley Show, The Graeme Kennedy Show and at all the major clubs. She signed with RCA in 1965 and released three singles but none of them charted although they did get some airplay. 

 

SINGLES

''The Colour Of Love / Happy'' 1965 RCA
''He's The Boy I Love / Spinning Around'' 1965 RCA
''That's Not For Me / You Are The Only Boy For Me'' 1965 RCA

THE NOCTURNES

Sydney band The Impacts was formed in the early 60s with Bobbie Thomas as vocalist, John Leslie and Bob Pierse on guitars, John Manners on bass and Alan Roberts on drums. During 1962 the band changed their name to The Nocturnes and were mainly seen as an instrumental group playing at surf music scene venues around the southern seaside suburbs of Sydney. They financed their first record at a cost of £100 at Harmony House at Circular Quay. The songs were a vocal called "Catch Me" and an instrumental called "September In The Rain" and they sold 500 copies. They auditioned for Festival Records with a vocal track with Bobbie Thomas and an instrumental. This first audition led to nothing and a second audition with Festival Records was arranged in 1963 and led to a contract for The Nocturnes as an instrumental group - Bobbie Thomas was not included at the time.

They recorded two instrumental records for the Leedon label at Festival's Harris St studio in Sydney, ''Riptide / Prairie'' (Leedon LK 482) in 1963 and ''Sitting Pretty / Storm Warning'' (Leedon LK 580) in 1964. Their line-up continued to evolve over the next two years, and included on guitars John Leslie, Bob Pierse, Lawrie Barclay, Terry Vincenzini and Bobby Richardson, along with John Manners on bass and Pat Jeffrey on drums. The group appeared on The Johnny O'Keefe Show and with Bobbie Thomas back on vocals organised their own dances at venues in the Kogarah-Ramsgate area. However Bobbie wanted a change and left The Nocturnes. In the wake of the Beatles visit, they recruited local vocalist Ray Brown. Ray grew up in Hurstville and left school at the age of fifteen to become a clerk in the Customs Department, but he had a passion for singing. Eager to move into the booming 'beat' style, they would eventually morph into Ray Brown and The Whispers. The rest is history. John Manners died in 2018.

Members

Bobbie Thomas (vocals), John Manners (bass), Lawrie Barclay (guitar), Pat Jeffrey (drums), Terry Vincenzini (guitar), John Leslie (guitar), Bob Pierse (guitar), Bobby Richardson (guitar)

SINGLES

''September In The Rain / Catch Me'' 1963 Harmony
''Riptide / Prairie'' 1963 Leedon
''Sitting Pretty / Storm Warning'' 1964 Leedon