RICK AND THEL CAREY

Rick and Thel Carey were a country music duo, consisting of husband-and-wife Richard Bruce Carey (born 13 August 1927) and Thelma Claurine Carey (née Hoctor; born 9 October 1929). Rick Carey, originally from Sydney and Thelma Hoctor, who grew up in Glossodia, commenced their respective careers as solo artists. However, after they met each other in 1947 in Sydney at the Bar 20 Hillbilly Club, they established themselves as a duo, the Sliprail Swingsters. Following their win on Australia's Amateur Hour in 1950, they married in 1952 and became Rick and Thel. They toured Australia extensively and were referred to as country music's "singing sweethearts" and then as "Mr. & Mrs. Country".

After many appearances and a short tour out of Sydney with The Reg Lindsay Show, in 1958 Rick & Thel were part of the All-Star Western Show along with Chad Morgan, Kevin King, Nev Nicholls and Peter Mollerson on the fiddle. In 1959, they toured with The Chad Morgan Show, this was followed by their own traveling shows. Rick first introduced his comical creation 'Cousin Ratsack' onto the All Star Western Show in 1958 and continued the act for thirty years or so. In 1969, their concert at Bourke was marred by the crowd's poor behaviour during their performance. Rick said he had never played in front of such a poorly behaved crowd and would impose stricter conditions of entry for future concerts; he considered reducing audience numbers to ensure the enjoyment of attendees.

They had a successful recording career with record labels Regal Zonophone Records, Columbia (in which they released over 20 singles and many albums) and then in later years with Hadley Records. Their popular songs include "She Was Happy Til She Met You", "I'll Never Be Fooled Again", "Looking Back to See", "You Can Say That Again", "White Crosses in the Jungle", "You Thought I Thought", "Rusted Love", "Fourteen Red Roses for Jenny", "He's a... She's a..." and "I'll Take the Dog".

After 35 years of touring and performing throughout Australia as Rick and Thel, they retired in 1987 and settled on a property near Denmark, Western Australia, when Thel became ill. Thel Carey died on 2 October 1998. Following Thel's death, Rick was active in a local country music club in Denmark, becoming its patron in 2001. Despite moving to Brisbane in 2005, Rick continued in his role as the club's patron. In 2007, Rick released another album, 'Beyond the Dream'. It featured other country music artists as guests along with his daughter, Lynne. Rick Carey died on 28 July 2017.

The husband-and-wife duo, who helped pioneer the country music industry, have been forever immortalised in bronze. Rick and Thel Carey were revealed as the 12th bronze statue to be erected along Pioneers Parade in Tamworth's Bicentennial Park on Friday, January 19, 2024. The sculpture, which was created by artist Brett Garling, was designed in their likeness to honour the duo's everlasting impact on the Australian country music scene.

SINGLES
''Following The Light / Your Kind Of Love'' 1956 Regal Zonophone
''Looking Back To See / It's You With A Broken Heart'' 1957 Regal Zonophone

''Let's Kiss And Try Again / Rusty Goes Home'' 1959 Columbia
''I've Known You From Somewhere / You Can Say That Again'' 1959 Columbia
 ''Looking Back To See / It's You With A Broken Heart'' 1959 Columbia
''Standing At The End Of My World / Don't Laugh'' 1960 Columbia
''You Thought I Thought / I'm Blaming You'' 1960 Columbia
''Three Ways Of Knowing / Talking In Your Sleep'' 1960 Columbia
''Man And Woman / White Crosses In The Jungle'' 1961 Columbia
''Somebody's Back In Town / Heaven'' 1961 Columbia
''Why Do We Go On This Way ? / Let's Talk It Over'' 1962 Columbia
''Thanks For The Lesson / How About Me'' 1962 Columbia
''Rusted Love / Let's Pull Together'' 1962 Columbia
''Would You Mind / Somebody's Dad'' 1964 Columbia

''I Love You Best Of All / The First Rose'' 1964 Columbia
''Before I Met You / I Heard The Bluebirds Sing'' 1964 Columbia
''When I Went Back To Suvla Bay / The Stairs That Namatjira Climbed'' 1964 Columbia
''How About Me / Thanks For The Lesson'' 1964 Columbia
''I've Had It / Goodbye Mr. Brown'' 1965 Columbia
''Poor Folks / Change Your Ways'' 1965 Columbia
''I'll Miss You When You Go / Slowly But Surely'' 1966 Columbi
''Star Of Love / Honky Tonk Girl'' 1966 Columbia
''I'll Take The Dog / Why Don't You Love Me'' 1967 Columbia
''Family Man / The Deepening Sorrow'' 1967 Columbia
''I'll Bet I Know Just What You're Gonna Say / Close Together (As You And Me)'' 1967 Columbia
''Mr. And Mrs. Minus The Kisses / Selfishness In Man'' 1968 Columbia

EPs

'The Highway Hobo' 1960 Columbia
'Requests' 1965 Columbia
'More Requests' 1966 Columbia

'Alone And Together' [with Lynne Carey] 1967 Columbia

'2 + 1 = 3' [with Lynne Carey] 1970 Columbia

'For Sale' 1973 Columbia

ALBUMS

'Sliprails And Saddles' 1962 Columbia
'Looking Back' 1962 Columbia

'Songs Of The Carter Family' 1963 Columbia
'Just Between The Two Of Us' 1965 Columbia

'Family Favourites- Country Style' 1966 Columbia
'Lovin' And Fightin' 1967 Columbia
'It Keeps Me Movin' On' 1971 Columbia
'Best Of Buddies' 1973 Columbia

'Anniversary Album' 1976 EMI
'Doing Things Together' 1977 EMI
'Special On My Mind' 1978 EMI

'Mr & Mrs Country Music' 1979 Hadley
'On Tour! - The Rick & Thel Show' 1981 Hadley
'On Our Selection' 1982 Hadley

'You're Terrific' 1983 Hadley
'Let's Pull Together' 1992 Axis

References

Rick and Thel Carey - Wikipedia