KENNY ARNOTT

 

Kenny Arnott was born in Horsham, Victoria on June 19th, 1937. On his tenth birthday his Dad gave him his first guitar, and being left-handed he was self-taught. He wrote his first song at 13, titled ''Christian Cowboy''. Kenny was a promising young footballer in his hometown of Horsham, recruited by Horsham’s Seconds. However, he had ended up in hospital due to an accident on the field. He was equally involved in music, which he eventually took up as a career. Kenny’s first public performance was with his father in a prominent local Mouth Organ Band. This built the foundation of his musical career.

 On August 4th, 1950, the Horsham Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women Amateur Hour had staged the grand final with 600 people in attendance at the Horsham Theatre. The winner was Max Barlett pulling in 212 votes in the Juvenile section, Kenny (yodelling guitarist) came in second with 211 votes. It was in February 1952; Kenny entered the Horsham Progress Association Amateur Hour where he won the best junior section. At the age of 15, he went to Melbourne to appear on Don Moore’s Hillbilly Hour which was broadcasted from station 3DB. A cousin advised him to leave Horsham and move to Melbourne.

At age 16, Ken left his parent’s home in Henry Street, Horsham in February / March 1954, to pursue a career in entertainment. After leaving home, he conducted his own sessions on 3AK Melbourne on Saturdays, and 3XY every Monday morning. He would also gain a regular engagement at the Savoy Theatre, Melbourne. His first recording for Planet Records was released on a 10inch LP, 'Hillbilly Classics' (December 1954), included standard songs: ''Old Shep'', ''Orphan Boy and his Dog'', ''Missing In Action'', ''Letter Edged in Black'', ''Sweeter Than Flowers'', ''Don’t Make Me Go To Bed'' to name a few. He toured with Gill Brothers Rodeo in 1955 as featured singer, after his first recording.

In 1959 he married Dulcie Cameron (hometown sweetheart). It was after their marriage Ken toured again with Gills Brothers and later with Perry Brother’s Circus. Arnott became involved in the service station industry, eventually running a Mobil Service Station for 12 years. During this time, he recorded a few sides for the Crest label, but due to other commitments eg. the birth of his son Peter, he could not promote them as well as he would have liked. In the early 1970’s he formed a band Country Revue which lasted until 1984, and by the late 1980’s Ken had stopped performing. He returned to his passion of performing in 1995. In 1998 Ken was inducted into the Hands of Fame in Tamworth. Kenny lives in Hervey Bay these days.

SINGLES

''Robbery Under Arms / One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)'' 1958 Planet
''Tom Dooley / Pub With One Beer'' 1958 Planet
''The Rebel Johnny Yuma / The Prisoner's Song'' [with The Blue Jays] 1962 Crest

EPs

'Reward' 1956 Planet

'The Singing Wanderer' 1956 Planet

'Here's Kenny' 1957 Planet

'Countrystyle No.1' 1959 Planet

'King Of The Hillbilly's' 1960 Planet

'Christian Cowboy' 1963 Crest

ALBUMS

'Hillbilly Classics' 1955 Planet

'Kenny Arnott Encores' 1958 Planet

References

Australian Pioneers of Country Music - Floreena Promotes Country