IAN BETTERIDGE

 

Ian Betteridge is an Australian country music singer, songwriter, and entertainer who was born in Crows Nest, New South Wales, in 1943. He began performing in the late 1960s, singing in churches, coffee shops, and charity concerts throughout the Woy Woy Peninsula region. In 1973, Ian won four sections of the CCMA Talent Quest in Tamworth, leading to a three-year recording contract with CM Records in Dubbo. That same year, he formed the Ramblin' Country Band. The group enjoyed a strong following and performed regularly, including a long-running Sunday engagement at the Central Coast Leagues Club in Gosford. They also released several singles and an album.

A talented songwriter as well as performer, Ian won the National Search for a Songwriter Contest in 1975. His prize was a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, sponsored by TV Week, 2KY, RCA Records, Associated Music, and PanAm. His best-known composition, ''The Wedding Song'', has been recorded in several countries, reached the top of the Irish charts on two occasions, and was featured in the film Blown Away, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Jeff Bridges. Ian's songwriting achievements continued with victories at the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore in 1981 and 1984. He was also elected a Central Coast Ambassador and represented the region on a promotional tour of New Zealand.

Throughout the 1990s, Ian toured Australia with Tamworth on Parade, visiting every state during an 11-week national tour. He made numerous television appearances and hosted It's Country Today Live Tamworth. During this period, he was inducted into the Country Music Hands of Fame and received the Sydney Opera House Country Music Award. His career has also taken him overseas. Ian toured Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, and the Greek Islands, and performed at concerts and festivals across the United States, including appearances in Denver, Meridian, Branson, and Nashville. In 1998, he returned to Europe and was a special guest artist at the Garden City Country Music Festival in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Over the years, Ian has appeared at major country music festivals throughout Australia and New Zealand, including Tamworth, Mildura, Charters Towers, Mount Isa, Gore, Nelson, Tauranga, and Christchurch. He has also performed at the Sydney Opera House and aboard the cruise ship S.S. Fairstar. For a decade, Ian coordinated and compered the Telstra Country Connections Concerts in Peel Street during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. He also hosted the weekly country music radio program Heroes and Friends on 2CCC-FM. Across a career spanning decades, Ian Betteridge has released eight albums and numerous singles, earning recognition as a respected performer, songwriter, and ambassador for Australian country music.

SINGLES
''It's Funny How Money'' / Don't Let It Happen (To Gosford) [with Lynette McKenzie] 1973 CM
''Northbound Train / Itchy Feet'' 1974 CM
''Don't Give Up On Me / Break My Mind'' 1974 CM
''Don't Send It To Your DJ / You Wonder What Your Doing Here Tonight'' 1976 CM
''I May Never Love Again / Buddy I Lied'' [with The Rambling Country Band] 1976 CM
''I'm Gonna Love You Too!'' / Robin'' 1979 XTO?
''Wildwood Weed / Tamworth, Country Music City'' 1980 CM
''Silver Bells - There's No Place Like Home / The Wondong Song'' [with The Rambling Country Band] 1980 CM
''Plastic Girl / God's Colouring Book'' [with The Rambling Country Band] 1981 Bunyip
''You're Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation / Hope You're Feelin' Me''

EPs
'Ian And Lynette' [with Lynette McKenzie] 1973 CM

ALBUMS
'Ian Betteridge And The Ramblin' Country Band' 1975 CM
'I'm Just A Farmer' 1975 CM
'I'm Just Me' 1983 EMI Custom Records
'Lone Star'
'Country Is...'
'Heroes & Friends'
'The Writing Side Of Me'
'My Way' 2000

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