JOHNNY CHESTER

John Howard Chester was born on 26 December 1941 and grew up in Melbourne's suburb of Preston. His father, Jack, was a mechanic who had a garage in Carlton, and his mother was Norma. He has two younger sisters, Jill (born ca.1945) and Margaret (born ca. 1951). Chester attended, North Fitzroy Primary School, Tyler Street Preston Primary school and Bell Primary, and followed with Preston Technical School. At the age of 14, he left school and worked as a brake specialist for his father. From the age of six, he learned to play the drums and guitar.

In October 1959, Chester formed a band, The Jaywoods, and organised dances at a West Preston church hall: "I could play the guitar ... but I was pretty useless at it. So I started singing – and the kids seemed to like my voice ... We used to get about 200 kids to these dances ... We had an old amplifier that distorted everything, but we thought we were mighty". His idols were Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and locally Johnny O'Keefe. Music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, noted "without really trying the Jaywoods' rehearsals were attracting a crowd to St. Cecilia's Hall in West Preston, which turned into regular Saturday night dance". By 1960, The Jaywoods became Johnny Chester and The Chessmen, with Chester on lead vocals, Jeff Cason on Upright Acoustic Double bass, Huey Fry on lead guitar, Albert Stacpool on piano, Les Stacpool on saxophone, and Len Woodhouse on drums. The following year the line-up was Bert Stacpool, Les Stacpool (then on guitar), Frank McMahon on bass guitar, and Graeme Trottman on drums.

Chester was also backed by The Thunderbirds, which were an instrumental group formed in 1957 and, by the end of 1960, consisted of Henri Bource on saxophone and flute, Harold Frith on drums, Charles Gauld on guitar, Gordon Onley on bass guitar and Murray Robertson on piano. Both backing bands maintained independent careers, released their own material and backed other artists. In April 1961 Chester's first stadium performance was supporting Connie Francis and Johnny Burnette.

One of his early fans was radio DJ, Stan Rofe, who promoted the artist on the 3KZ program, Platter Parade. Rofe was highly supportive and introduced Chester to W&G Record's Ron Tudor. Chester signed with the label and issued his debut single, "Hokey Pokey", in May 1961 with backing by The Thunderbirds. The track became a top 10 hit in Melbourne. His second single, "Can Can Ladies", appeared in July and reached the local top 5 in July. In January 1962 a third single backed by The Thunderbirds, "Shakin' All Over", reached #4. Johnny Chester and The Chessmen toured to Brisbane and Hobart but had less popularity in Sydney.

From 1962 to 1964 his next eight singles for W&G were all recorded with backing by The Chessmen. Of these, the highest charting was a cover version of Cochran's "Summertime Blues", which appeared at #6 in December 1962. He had also issued his debut album, 'Wild and Warm' in 1963 and two extended plays, 'Johnny Chester's Hit Parade' and 'My Blues and I', with W&G. In February that year he took over as host of Teen Time on Ten, on regional Gippsland channel GLV-10. Australian Women's Weekly's Ainslie Baker declared he had "proved himself an easy, friendly talker" and predicted this could lead to his "having Melbourne's first teenage TV show".

In June 1964, Chester supported the Australian tour by The Beatles with his backing by The Phantoms. According to Chester "my only worry is that I mightn't live up to this honour and obligation to give the kids a good performance". He was disappointed that The Chessmen were unavailable for the 19 gigs, through state capitals and to New Zealand, "As all the boys have day jobs ... they would not be able to get the time off". The Phantoms were another instrumental group, which had formed in 1960, and by 1964 had the line-up of Alan Fenton on drums, Bob Garde on rhythm guitar, Dave Lincoln on lead guitar, and Pete Watson on bass guitar. From October for two seasons, Chester was the host of ABC TV program, Teen Scene, with The Chessmen as the resident band.

He recorded further material for W&G on their sub-label, In Records, but none charted, and by mid-1966 he parted with the W&G and The Chessmen. Retaining Bert Stacpool, he formed the Johnny Chester Four with Johnny Marco on guitar and Tom Vigushin on bass guitar. As well as maintaining his musical career, Chester was a DJ for eight years on Melbourne radio station, 3UZ. In May 1968, Chester joined with a new backing band, Jigsaw, with Fenton, Ray Eames on lead guitar (ex-Tony Worsley and the Fabulous Blue Jays), Ron Gilbee on rhythm guitar, Dennis Tucker on bass guitar (both Merv Benton and the Tamlas), and later in 1968, they toured Vietnam performing for the Australian and American Forces. Jigsaw also had an independent career. Chester's last pop single, "Heaven Help the Man", appeared in 1968 on Astor Records. According to Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, Chester is "one of Melbourne's first and best rock'n'roll singers of the early 1960s". Music journalist, author and historian, Ed Nimmervoll, felt that in the early 1960s, Chester was an "essential inclusion on any major national rock package coming into Melbourne", and during the 1970s he "helped bring Australian country music to pop respectability".

In 1969, Chester's first two country music singles, "Green Green" and "Highway 31", were issued on Phillips Records. Johnny Chester and Jigsaw signed to Fable Records, owned by Ron Tudor (ex-W&G Records). Fenton died in an industrial accident during the construction of the South Eastern Freeway in Melbourne and was replaced on drums by Eddie Chappell (ex The Tamlas). At about that time, Eames was replaced by Jon Calderwood. In August 1970, Jigsaw, without Chester, had a number-one hit with a cover version of United Kingdom group, Christie's "Yellow River". It was co-credited with Sydney-based band Autumn which also covered the track. With Chester, Jigsaw had four hit singles on the National Top 40: "Gwen (Congratulations)" (#19), "Shame and Scandal" (#13), "Midnight Bus" (#31). His other hits during this period were"The World's Greatest Mum" (#8) and "She's My Kind of Woman" (#14).

Chester has won Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia for best selling track in 1975. In 1977, he toured nationally, backed by the Blue Denim Country Band, and also compered Country Road for ABC-TV.  In 1979, he formed Hotspur and continued to issue country music singles and albums into the 1980s. From 1981 to 1983, at three successive Tamworth Country Music Festivals, he won Male Vocalist of the Year. In 1994, he was awarded the Songmaker of the Year Award from the Tamworth Songwriters Association.

SINGLES

''That's How It's Gonna Be / The Hokey-Pokey'' (#28) [with The Thunderbirds] 1961 W&G
''Can Can Ladies (#20) / What A Night'' [with The Thunderbirds] 1961 W&G
''California Sun (Twist) / Shakin' All Over'' (#25) [with The Thunderbirds] 1961 W&G
''Shy Away / A Funny Little Feeling'' (#71) [with The Chessmen] 1962 W&G
''Let's Dance (#44) / Forty Days'' [with The Chessmen] 1962 W&G
''I Love Mary / Summertime Blues'' (#30) [with The Chessmen] 1963 W&G
''Come On Everybody (#44) / The Old Copper Kettle'' 1963 W&G
''Nick-Nack Paddy Whack (#44) / Butterflies'' [with The Chessmen] 1963 W&G
''Teeny (#28) / Do The Stomp'' 1963 W&G
''Bye Bye Johnny (#93) / Miss Ann'' [with The Chessmen] 1964 W&G
''Unless You Care (#65) / (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care'' [with The Chessmen] 1964 W&G
''Something's Got A Hold On Me (#92) / It's Too Late'' 1965 In
''When Will I Be Loved / Shop Around'' [with The Chessmen] 1965 In
''Your Cheatin' Heart / Adios My Darling'' [with The Chessmen] 1965 In
''Steppin' Out / I Feel Good All Over'' 1966 In
''Heaven Help The Man / I'm Gonna Have A Real Good Time'' 1968 Astor
''Green Green / It Works Out Easier That Way'' 1969 Philips
''I Just Don't Know How To Say Goodbye / Highway 31'' (#57) 1969 Philips
''If Only I Could Leave You / Three Jobs Down'' 1970 Fable
''Kaw-Liga / Billy's Comin' Home For Christmas'' [with Jigsaw] 1970 Fable
''Glory Glory (I'll Be Back To See The Storey Bridge) (#47) / Heaven Help The Man'' 1971 Fable
''Gwen (Congratulations) (#19) / A Lonely Man Like Me'' [with Jigsaw] 1971 Fable
''Shame And Scandal (In The Family) (#13) / Billy's Comin' Home For Christmas [with Jigsaw] 1971 Fable
''Readymix Revenge (#37) / Any Time At All'' [with Jigsaw] 1972 Fable
''Midnight Bus (#31) / Highway 31'' [with Jigsaw] 1972 Fable
''The World's Greatest Mum (#8) / Three Jobs Down'' 1973 Fable
Let's Build A Love Together (#43) / Glory Glory (I'll Be Back To See The Storey Bridge)'' 1973 Fable
''She's My Kind Of Woman (#14) / (Baby Won't You) Send Your Sweet Lovin' To Me'' 1974 Fable
''My Special Angel (#76) / Nowhere In Particular'' 1974 Fable
''Sally On Sunday (#88) / Once I Was A Truck Drivin' Man'' [with The Blue Denim Country Band] 1975 Fable
''She's Gone (To Someone Else's Arms) / Gotta Get Back To Tamworth'' [with The Blue Denim Country Band] 1976 Fable
''Lonely Women Make Good Lovers (#100) / Tonight I Came Home (Just In Time)'' [with The Blue Denim Country Band] 1977 Astor
''China Doll / Take Me Home Country Road'' 1977 Bullet
''Lord I'd Forgotten (#95) / Put Today Behind Us'' 1979 Image
''I Love You So Rebecca (#33) / Simple Kind Of Fella'' [with Hotspur] 1979 WEA
''I Walked Out Of Blacktown / One Small Photograph Of You'' [with Hotspur] 1980 WEA
She's Been Gone, Much Too Long / Three Rivers Hotel'' [with Hotspur] 1980 WEA
''All On Your Own / Honey Thank You'' [with Hotspur] 1980 WEA
''Love In The Meantime / I Find I'm Thinking 'Bout You Again'' [with Hotspur] 1981 WEA
''My Ding-A-Ling (#50) / Nowhere In Particular'' 1981 Fable
''Rough Around The Edges (#99) / Three's A Crowd'' [with Hotspur] 1982 WEA
''An Ad In The Weekly Times / Track My Baby Down'' [with Hotspur] 1983 WEA
''Country Girl / I've Never Gotten Over You'' [with Hotspur] 1983 WEA
''When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again / Johnny'' 1983 WEA
''(Let's Make) Tomorrows Memories Tonight / Roll Trucker Roll'' 1984 WEA
''('Til) I Kissed You / Love Or The Next Best Thing'' 1984 WEA
''Some Such Foolishness / Life After Louise'' 1985 RCA
''Willie Why Don't You Sing One With Me / How I Love The Country Life'' 1985 RCA
''My Sweet Janie / The Worlds Greatest Mum'' 1986 RCA
''There's A Shadow On The Moon Tonight / Love Ain't Right'' 1986 RCA
''Among My Souvenirs / Among My Souvenirs'' [with Hotspur] 1988 Homespun

EPs

'Johnny Chester Hit-Parade' [with The Thunderbirds] 1961 W&G
'A 4 On 1 Super Disc' [with The Thunderbirds] 1961 W&G

'My Blues And I' 1963 W&G
'Summertime Blues' 1965 In
'Johnny Chester' 1973 Fable
'My Ding-A-Ling' 1974 Fable

ALBUMS

'Wild And Warm' 1963 W&G
'The Best of Ches!' [with The Chessmen] 1963 W&G
'Sings His Greatest Hits' 1965 W&G
'Going Places (Just For Fun)' [with Jigsaw] 1972 Fable
'For The World's Greatest Mum' 1974 FableGreensborough Music 1975 Fable
'Into Country' 1976 BulletCountry Salute 1978 RCA
'Johnny Chester' 1978 Image
'Johnny Chester And Hotspur' 1980 WEA
'Love In The Meantime' [with Hotspur] 1981 WEAFrom Under The Influence 1983 WEA
'Some Such Foolishness' 1985 RCA
'She's My Kind Of Woman' 1985 Axis
'Side X Side' [with Donna Fisk] 1985 RCA
'There's A Shadow On The Moon Tonight' 1986 RCA
'Among My Souvenirs' 1988 Rich River
'Waiting For The Lightning' 1992 Homespun

'Songmaker' 1995 Castle Communications
'Listen' 1998
'Get A Little Dirt On Your Hands' 2005 Shock

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Chester

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