June and Lew Smith migrated to Australia in 1961 making their home in Melbourne. Their decision to migrate was assisted by an English musician friend, Eric Jupp, who in the late 1960s hosted a popular music program on national ABC TV. In Melbourne with Lew working as a musician and librarian, June had a full-time vocation looking after the four children. However she still found time to join a pop band of the day called Division Five with a three-night-per-week residency and a repertoire including tunes by Janis Joplin and Creedence Clearwater Revival. With Lew later joining the band it was renamed Maximum Load and enjoyed a three night-per-week residency at the Beaumaris Hotel that was to last three years.
Signed to the W&G label the band released its first single in 1971 ''Riding Through the Dandenong Ranges'' which surprisingly charted locally. The follow up singles didn't fare so well. In 1973 they released their self-titled album produced by jazz legend Jack Varney. The LP highlighted June Smith's powerhouse vocals and the band's versatility in jazz and other genre's, which was a far cry from the two novelty singles that they released previously. In 1973 Maximum Load disbanded when June and Lew moved to Perth. June Smith died in 2016 a much-loved artist of the Western Australian jazz scene.
Members
June Smith (vocals/trumpet), Lew Smith (flute/sax/clarinet/vocals), John Grunden (bass), David Evans (keyboards), Ken Vatcher (drums), Peter McKay (keyboards)
''Riding Through The Dandenong Ranges (#59) / Maximum Load'' 1971 W&G
''Nolene / Work Song'' 1972 W&G
''High Tide / Melting Pot'' 1973 W&G
''I Am The Bird / Seven Song'' 1973 W&G
ALBUMS
'Maximum Load' 1973 W&G
Went out with Lew and June's oldest daughter ... a wonderful couple with clever children.
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