Kevin King, born in Roseville, Sydney, NSW in 1931, developed a love for country music after hearing Tex Morton sing ''Rocky Ned'' on the radio. A self-taught guitarist, he entered several talent quests, winning a guitar as first prize on Sydney’s Radio 2CH. In 1951, he competed in the Tim McNamara Talent Quest and won a heat. Teaming up with guitar picker Pat Ware, Kevin played pubs, clubs, charity shows, and radio programs. In 1952, he signed with the Regal Zonophone label and recorded a couple of singles, including the now-famous 78rpm ''Rub-A-Dub-Dub'' backed with ''With This Ring I Thee Wed'', which sold about 20,000 copies. By the late ’50s, he moved to the Columbia label, releasing several singles and an EP with them into the early ’70s.
In the 60s, he settled in Sydney and became the resident singer with his band at the Texas Tavern in Kings Cross, entertaining American servicemen on R&R from Vietnam. He later moved to the Crystal Palace Hotel in Railway Square, where he performed for five years, followed by another five years at the Regent Street Transport Club. This 11-year stretch was a golden era for country music artists, during which he collaborated with top names like Cowboy Bob Purtell, Jan Kelly, Phil and Tommy Emmanuel, Kenny Kitching, Allan Caswell, Lee Brittan, Mort Fist (Erskineville Slim), Doug Castle, and Terry Smith.
''The High Cost Of Living / Someday You'll Call My Name'' 1958 Columbia
''It's A Boy / It's A Great Life'' 1958 Columbia
''My Son Calls Another Man Daddy / Somebody'Ughed' On You ''1958 Columbia
''The Girl On The Dance Floor / I'm Gonna Celebrate Now'' 1958 Columbia
''I Don't Love You Anymore / The Girl In Green'' 1967 Festival
''Swingin' Doors / Wabash Cannonball'' 1969 Columbia
EPs
'I Take A Lot Of Pride' 1971 Columbia
Vale . Kevin King 1931-2023 , family man , Rabbitoh
ReplyDeleteSad to hear
DeleteKevin King was a personal friend I’d known since 1958 or 9 at the time the great Reg Lindsay (Whom I had met some 4 yrs earlier) offered me a shot on his show on a visit to Lismore NSW where I came from. In those days there weren’t any big bands to back an artist you stood in front of a microphone and sang, being a young guy back then 18 or 19 and as nervous as anyone could get I was made to feel easy when I heard guitarist pickin behind the curtain made me feel much better. The picking was Reg And Kevin both remained wonderful friends till their passing. I still call Kev’s wife Patty just to check to see how she is coping, Patty is a marvellous woman with a great memory for names and voices I’ve ever known. I did a number of gigs in and around the northern rivers of NSW. It was at that time Reg offered me a position on the RL show which at the time I jumped at the chance to join the show. I was to be advised where to met up in about 6 weeks, when the time came I received a call from one of the guys to join at either Gunnedah I’d Gundagai can’t remember which however in that 6 weeks my situation had changed and I reluctantly declined I understand Reg added an excellent young lady by the name of Judy Stone who only lasted a short time when she had an accident and had to leave not sure who was next but I do know it was again a young lady. Ok that’s about it must stop now otherwise this will become a novel. If you get to the end of this I thank you for reading.
ReplyDeleteJust realised my above story has been listed as an ononymous, so sorry my name is Noel Clarke, I’ve searched around for an edit link without success hence this added piece.
DeleteThankyou for sharing your story
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