SMOKY DAWSON

Smoky Dawson AM, MBE was born as Herbert Henry Brown in 1913 in Collingwood. In 1932 Smoky Dawson worked at a tannery and on weekends he played a lap steel guitar in a duo, The Coral Island Boys, with his younger brother, Ted, on Spanish guitar. Both sang lead vocals, with Ted's singing described by Dawson as "a much richer voice than mine. He had more depth in his voice". They performed then-popular songs, such as "Gee But I'm Lonesome for You Caroline" and "Southern Moon Keep on Shining". In 1934, Dawson formed a Western group with an accordionist, a bass guitarist, and violin, which cut a test acetate at Fidelity Records with Jack Murray recording. It was the first professional use of Dawson's nickname, "Smoky" – he had tried pipe smoking when living at Stewarton but it had sickened him. The recording led to sponsorship by Pepsodent – a toothpaste company – and so the group were named, Smoky and the Pepsodent Rangers. In 1935 they were the first Western group to be broadcast live on an Australian radio station, 3KZ, and by 1937 Dawson had his own radio show. His show was re-broadcast into New South Wales on 2CH as "Hill-billy Artists" by "Smoky" Dawson and His Boys. In 1941, he signed with Columbia Records, where he recorded his first commercial releases, including "I'm a Happy Go Lucky Cowhand" and "The Range in the Western Sky". He also toured around Australia.

Dawson had used music as a way of comforting himself and during World War II he took this talent to boost the morale of others. In 1939 upon the outbreak of the war he had attempted to enlist but was rejected on medical grounds for a bumpy heart. In 1940, with Smoky Dawson's Five-Star Rangers, he would perform at soldier's socials. In 1941 when the Japanese forces approached Australia, he enlisted as a non-combatant nursing orderly and was commandeered by the First Australian Army Entertainment Unit. On 13 March 1944, while still in the army, he married Florence "Dot" Cheers (12 October 1906 – 27 October 2010), an elocution teacher – they had met nine years earlier when both worked in radio. Western Mail's Louis Clark, described Dawson as an "Australian outback songster" and the unit as "an array of genius". Aside from music, Dawson would also perform at rodeos, circuses and country shows demonstrating his skill at knife-throwing using machetes, commando knives, tomahawks, or two-edged axes. By October 1949, Dawson had recorded about 60 tracks from his songbook of 280 tunes – all of them "have a cowboy setting—with a dash of romance". Dawson travelled around Australia for eight months a year while Dot remained behind as Auntie June on her own radio show for 3KZ.

In March 1951 Dawson, as a cowboy entertainer, narrated a documentary film, directed by Rudall Hayward, on Australian rough riders at a Kyabram rodeo, which was to be broadcast on United States TV.  Dawson sang a self-written song praising their skills and noted "there's nothing half-baked about Australian rodeos or the boys who ride in them. They're entitled to all the credit we can give them ... Rodeos and rough riders are just as much a part of our national heritage as symphonies and seascapes". In June that year Dawson and Dot travelled to the US where he played and recorded demos in Nashville. While in New Jersey, he took the role of Petruchio in a stage version of the musical, Kiss Me, Kate. His trip to the US was cut short after he was injured in a car crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee; while driving to Shreveport, Louisiana, for an invitation to appear on Louisiana Hayride hosted by Jim Reeves, Dawson absent-mindedly ran a red light and his car was hit by a Cadillac going the opposite direction; he was hospitalised and his appearance on Louisiana Hayride never eventuated. When Dawson returned to Australia in September 1952 he was hailed as an "Australian singing 'cowboy' who has made good in the US at the expense of the world's best". For trick riding his palomino horse, Flash (1951–1982), was bedecked in American-style tack rather than Australian. Flash lived to be 31 years old and Dawson supplemented his feed by giving him porridge with a spoon.

Echoing US singing cowboy, Roy Rogers, on 8 December 1952 Dawson starred in his own radio show, The Adventures of Smoky Dawson, which stayed on the air for ten years until 1962. At its peak, Dawson's show was broadcast on 69 stations across the country. Dot also had her own radio shows for children. A related comic book of the same name was published from 1953 to 1962 and both featured "Dawson's persona which became 'Australia's favourite cowboy', with his faithful sidekick Jingles, his horse Flash and their young friend Billy fighting the evil outlaw Grogan, adhering to Smoky's 'code of the west', pausing for a song, a moral and sometimes a bowl of cornflakes, courtesy of the program's sponsor". For the radio show Dawson provided "renditions of a magpie, kookaburra, rooster, turkey, pig, cow, an impatient horse, a posse with bloodhounds (with the bandit being shot), a pack of dogs fighting and next door's dog howling in the middle of the night". In 1957 he founded the Smoky Dawson Ranch on 26 acres (11 ha) farm at Ingleside as a venue to host country music shows, a horse riding school and a holiday camp for children.

Smoky Dawson continued his long career of recording and performing after his radio show and enjoyed performing until his death. His recording career spanned more than six decades, his last album, 'Homestead of My Dreams', was released in 2005. In 1978 Dawson was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown. He has frequently been recognised for his contributions to music and entertainment. On 31 December 1982 Dawson was awarded an Order of the British Empire – Member (Civil) with the citation, "In recognition of service to country music". In 1985 he published his autobiography, Smoky Dawson: A Life. An updated and expanded addition was released in 2021. In the 1999 Australia Day Honours Dawson was made a Member of the Order of Australia with the citation, "In recognition of service to country music". In 2005 he was inducted into the Australian Record Industry Association Hall of Fame. In April 2007 he donated his first electric guitar to the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame.

In his later years Smoky Dawson was diagnosed with arthritis, emphysema and two hernias. In June 2000 he was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver and had spinal injuries. As of 2004 he and Dot presented a radio show on 2NSB and lived in Lane Cove, New South Wales. Herbert Henry "Smoky" Dawson died on 13 February 2008 after a short illness, aged 94. He was survived by his wife, Florence "Dot" Dawson, an elocutionist, radio actress and presenter, who died on 27 October 2010 at 104 years of age. In a 2005 interview Dawson indicated how he would like to be remembered, "Ah well, just as Herb. Just as one who's tried his best, he's carried out, lover of his country and always thought about the good things in life. Being honest and true to yourself, the main thing, true to yourself. And ah, I think to be remembered as an old friend".

SINGLES

''I'm A Happy-Go-Lucky Cowhand / Will I Meet Old Faithful Up Yonder'' 1941 Regal Zonophone
''The Old Log Cabin On The Mountain Trail / The Sound Effects Cowboy'' 1941 Regal Zonophone''Cob The Corn / Never Been To Gundagai'' 1942 Regal Zonophone
''Just A Sprig Of Golden Wattle / Where The Waterfall Leaps In The Gully'' 1945 Regal Zonophone
'' Ridin' Down The Dream Trail / Yearning For "Over Range" 1945 Regal Zonophone
''Cowboys Round-Up Song / You Left Me And Now I Feel Blue'' 1945 Regal Zonophone
''New Wabash Cannon Ball / Hills Of The Golden West'' 1952 Regal Zonophone
''The Man From Never Never / Smoky {That Wild Stallion Grand}'' 1952 Regal Zonophone
''The Wild Colonial Boy / Starlight Rides Again'' 1952 Regal Zonophone
''On The Murray Valley / Cullenbenbong'' 1953 Regal Zonophone
'' Riding With A Smile And A Song / Jindawarrabell'' 1954 Regal Zonophone
'' Mr. Moon /Unwanted Sign Upon Your Heart'' 1954 Regal Zonophone
''Grannie's Song At Twilight / The Ghost Of Ben Hall'' 1958 Columbia
''Call Me Back Pal O' Mine / Treasure'' 1958 Columbia
''I'm Lonesome For You, Caroline / Friendship (Golden Friendship)'' 1959 Columbia
''Only A Leaf / Be Careful'' Columbia 1959
''Fire Fighting Man / Fierce Red Steer'' 1978
''The Out-House Down The Back / The Dingo'' ATA 1983
''John Durack / Hero From The West'' ATA 1983
''Days Of Old Khancoban / The Last Of The Old Wild West Shows'' [with Trevor Knight] 1987 Jade
''High Country / Farewell To A Bush Boy'' [with Trevor Knight] 1988 EMI
'' The Bombs Fell Down On Darwin / The Lad With The Laughing Eyes'' [with Trevor Knight] 1989 EMI
''Old Soldiers Never Forget / Memories Of Pinnibar'' [with Tony Taunton, The Howie Bros] 1987 Jade

ALBUMS
'Bushranger Ballads and Australian Outback Songs' 1961 Columbia 
'The Smoky Dawson Story' 1963 Festival
'Back at the Ranch' 1973 Columbia
'Smoky - 20 Western Favourites' 1976 Dyna House
Ya Darn Right It's Country' 1980 RCA
'I'll Paint You A Song' 1984 Powderworks
' High Country' [with Trevor Knight] 1988 EMI
'On The Road To Anywhere' 1990
Adventures of Smoky Dawson 2001 SD Music
'Smoky Dawson With The Howie Brothers' Glenample 2005
'Homestead Of My Dreams' 2005 Origin

References

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