Jean Stafford was born in Latrobe, Tasmania on January 1, 1950. Stafford was the youngest of two daughters born to Ethal Daphne Stafford. Stafford grew up in Meander in a one-room cabin along with her mother, foster-father and six cousins. In 1962, at the age of 12, Stafford made her first television appearance on a program called ShowTime a popular series from TNT-9 Launceston at that time. Stafford was the first female country artist to sing on black and white television in Launceston. After leaving school, Stafford worked at a hotel as a kitchen hand in a nearby town of Deloraine, while performing at local dances on weekends, she began to learn her craft as a professional singer.
Stafford's first recordings occur in 1965 at the age of 15, singing several duets with Dusty Rankin for the Hadley Recording Company. In 1973, Stafford won first prize in a Country Music Talent Quest in Launceston and received a five-album deal with Hadley Records. Stafford's debut album 'Flowers for Mama' was recorded in Tamworth was released in 1974. It gained her Australia-wide recognition, winning her first Golden Guitar Award at the 1975 Country Music Awards of Australia with the track "What Kind of a Girl Do You Think I Am". A self-titled studio and third studio album titled, 'I'll Sing You a Country Song' followed in 1970s.
In 1979, Stafford imprinted her hands into the Tamworth Hands of Fame. In 1979, Stafford released her fourth studio album, 'Hello Love', which won her a second Golden Guitar award in 1980. She won her third Female Vocalist of the Year Golden Guitar award in 1981 for the song "That Glory Bound Train", from her fifth studio album, 'Born Again'. In 1981 Stafford signed a three-album deal with EMI Music Australia and released 'The Way I Feel Inside' in 1981, 'Someday I'll Take Home the Roses' in 1982 and 'Burning Bright' in 1986. In 1985, Stafford began appearing on the Ray Martin Midday Show.
In 1985, Stafford was asked to be part of the Australia Too campaign, recording the charity single "The Garden" for Freedom from Hunger in Ethiopia. The song peaked at #38 on the Australian charts. At the 1986 Country Music Awards of Australia, it won Song of the Year. and at the APRA Music Awards of 1987, the song won Most Performed Australasian Country Work. At the inaugural ARIA Music Awards in 1987, Stafford was nominated for two awards. In 1988, her first compilation album, 'The Golden Voice of Country' was released.
In 1989, Stafford was crowned Australia's Queen of Country Music in Sydney. In 1990, Stafford released the covers album, 'Classic Jean Stafford' before heading to Nashville, Tennessee where she records for the first time, the album, 'That Says it All', produced by Jimmie Crawford it was released in 1991. In 1991 at the Mo Awards, Stafford wins Female Country Entertainer of the Year. In 1992, Stafford is appointed Honorary Commissioner to the US by Tasmanian Government for three years, which was later extended. In 1993, Stafford wrote and recorded the song, "Tassie's Got It All", promoting Tasmanian tourism. The song and video were played across North America and Europe.
In 1996, Stafford is inducted into the South Australian Country Music Festival Award's Hall of Fame.In 1997, Stafford collaborated her vocals with Grand Ole Opry superstar Kitty Wells. The duo recorded wells’ 1952 hit "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" as a single and later released on compilation album as 'The Queens of Country Music'.
In 1998, Stafford and Wells formed an Australian tour to promote the album ending their final concert in Comet, Queensland. Wells had openly stated on a number of occasions that she believed Stafford to be equal to other members at the Grand Ole Opry – the home of Country Music. Stafford credited Kitty Wells as a mentor and later forming a close friendship until Wells’ death in 2012.
In 2004, Stafford produced her eleventh studio album 'Let the Dance Begin' - co-produced with Jimmie Crawford in Nashville. her first commercial release in over a decade. all songs on the album were completely composed and written by Stafford. The album 'Let the Dance Begin' has won Stafford many awards and accolades including Female Vocalist of the Year at the Western Country Music Awards in Fort Worth, Texas, becoming the first Australian to be nominated and win a Western Country Music Awards. In 2008, Stafford was elevated to Australian Roll of Renown at the Country Music Awards Australia before relocating back to Tasmania in 2009.
In 2012, Stafford was inducted into the Tasmania Axemans Wall of Fame. In 2016, Stafford was the inaugural inductee in the Tasmanian Independent Country Music Awards Hall of Fame. In 2022, Stafford performed as a part of the Tasmanian songbook "Festival Of Voices" in Hobart.
Stafford now resides in Tasmania with her family near the township of Burnie. In recognition of her significant contribution to Australian country music, in 2008, Stafford was inducted into The Country Music Roll of Renown. The plaque reads: Jean is one of our outstanding stars. Coming to prominence during the 1970s and '80s, she learnt her craft singing at hotels, country halls and dances. Recording initially with Dusty Rankin in 1965, Jean released her debut solo album in 1974, the song What Kind Of A Girl Do You Think I Am? winning the first of her three Golden Guitars and setting Jean on the road to stardom. From Northern Tasmania to Tamworth and Nashville, it has been a triumphant journey for the silver voiced girl who made her first public appearance at the age of 12. With many awards, honours and accolades to show for her long and illustrious career, we salute Jean Stafford as one of Australian country music's finest and most enduring talents.
SINGLES
''Fire At Shepherds Flat / Cold Winter Body'' 1981 EMI
''Ease The Fever / You'll Love Me Again'' 1982 EMI
''Let's Hear It For The Working Man / Sweet Red Wine'' 1985 EMI
''Rock Me By The Fire / The Only Love I Found'' 1986 EMI
Stafford's first recordings occur in 1965 at the age of 15, singing several duets with Dusty Rankin for the Hadley Recording Company. In 1973, Stafford won first prize in a Country Music Talent Quest in Launceston and received a five-album deal with Hadley Records. Stafford's debut album 'Flowers for Mama' was recorded in Tamworth was released in 1974. It gained her Australia-wide recognition, winning her first Golden Guitar Award at the 1975 Country Music Awards of Australia with the track "What Kind of a Girl Do You Think I Am". A self-titled studio and third studio album titled, 'I'll Sing You a Country Song' followed in 1970s.
In 1979, Stafford imprinted her hands into the Tamworth Hands of Fame. In 1979, Stafford released her fourth studio album, 'Hello Love', which won her a second Golden Guitar award in 1980. She won her third Female Vocalist of the Year Golden Guitar award in 1981 for the song "That Glory Bound Train", from her fifth studio album, 'Born Again'. In 1981 Stafford signed a three-album deal with EMI Music Australia and released 'The Way I Feel Inside' in 1981, 'Someday I'll Take Home the Roses' in 1982 and 'Burning Bright' in 1986. In 1985, Stafford began appearing on the Ray Martin Midday Show.
In 1985, Stafford was asked to be part of the Australia Too campaign, recording the charity single "The Garden" for Freedom from Hunger in Ethiopia. The song peaked at #38 on the Australian charts. At the 1986 Country Music Awards of Australia, it won Song of the Year. and at the APRA Music Awards of 1987, the song won Most Performed Australasian Country Work. At the inaugural ARIA Music Awards in 1987, Stafford was nominated for two awards. In 1988, her first compilation album, 'The Golden Voice of Country' was released.
In 1989, Stafford was crowned Australia's Queen of Country Music in Sydney. In 1990, Stafford released the covers album, 'Classic Jean Stafford' before heading to Nashville, Tennessee where she records for the first time, the album, 'That Says it All', produced by Jimmie Crawford it was released in 1991. In 1991 at the Mo Awards, Stafford wins Female Country Entertainer of the Year. In 1992, Stafford is appointed Honorary Commissioner to the US by Tasmanian Government for three years, which was later extended. In 1993, Stafford wrote and recorded the song, "Tassie's Got It All", promoting Tasmanian tourism. The song and video were played across North America and Europe.
In 1996, Stafford is inducted into the South Australian Country Music Festival Award's Hall of Fame.In 1997, Stafford collaborated her vocals with Grand Ole Opry superstar Kitty Wells. The duo recorded wells’ 1952 hit "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" as a single and later released on compilation album as 'The Queens of Country Music'.
In 1998, Stafford and Wells formed an Australian tour to promote the album ending their final concert in Comet, Queensland. Wells had openly stated on a number of occasions that she believed Stafford to be equal to other members at the Grand Ole Opry – the home of Country Music. Stafford credited Kitty Wells as a mentor and later forming a close friendship until Wells’ death in 2012.
In 2004, Stafford produced her eleventh studio album 'Let the Dance Begin' - co-produced with Jimmie Crawford in Nashville. her first commercial release in over a decade. all songs on the album were completely composed and written by Stafford. The album 'Let the Dance Begin' has won Stafford many awards and accolades including Female Vocalist of the Year at the Western Country Music Awards in Fort Worth, Texas, becoming the first Australian to be nominated and win a Western Country Music Awards. In 2008, Stafford was elevated to Australian Roll of Renown at the Country Music Awards Australia before relocating back to Tasmania in 2009.
In 2012, Stafford was inducted into the Tasmania Axemans Wall of Fame. In 2016, Stafford was the inaugural inductee in the Tasmanian Independent Country Music Awards Hall of Fame. In 2022, Stafford performed as a part of the Tasmanian songbook "Festival Of Voices" in Hobart.
Stafford now resides in Tasmania with her family near the township of Burnie. In recognition of her significant contribution to Australian country music, in 2008, Stafford was inducted into The Country Music Roll of Renown. The plaque reads: Jean is one of our outstanding stars. Coming to prominence during the 1970s and '80s, she learnt her craft singing at hotels, country halls and dances. Recording initially with Dusty Rankin in 1965, Jean released her debut solo album in 1974, the song What Kind Of A Girl Do You Think I Am? winning the first of her three Golden Guitars and setting Jean on the road to stardom. From Northern Tasmania to Tamworth and Nashville, it has been a triumphant journey for the silver voiced girl who made her first public appearance at the age of 12. With many awards, honours and accolades to show for her long and illustrious career, we salute Jean Stafford as one of Australian country music's finest and most enduring talents.
''Fire At Shepherds Flat / Cold Winter Body'' 1981 EMI
''Ease The Fever / You'll Love Me Again'' 1982 EMI
''Let's Hear It For The Working Man / Sweet Red Wine'' 1985 EMI
''Rock Me By The Fire / The Only Love I Found'' 1986 EMI
''Along The Razor's Edge / It'll End In Tears'' 1987 EMI
''Tassie's Got It All / Tassie's Got It All (Instrumental)'' 1993 Curb
ALBUMS
''Tassie's Got It All / Tassie's Got It All (Instrumental)'' 1993 Curb
ALBUMS
'Flowers For Mama' 1974 Hadley
'Jean Stafford' 1975 Hadley 'I'll Sing You A Country Song' 1978 Hadley
'Hello, Love' 1979 Hadley
Born Again' 1980 Hadley
'The Way I Feel Inside' 1981 EMI
'Some Day I'll Take Home The Roses 1982 EMI
'Burning Bright' 1986 EMI
'That Says It All' 1987 Dino Music
'Classic Jean Stafford' 1990 Rich River
'Queens Of Country Music' [with Kitty Wells] 1992 Massive
'Let The Dance Begin' 2004 JLCM group Pty Ltd
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Stafford_(musician)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Stafford_(musician)
Fantastic miss Jean Stafford, it doesn't get any better than that!
ReplyDeleteThomas Elam
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