THE GOTTANI SISTERS

 

Pauline and Jennifer Gottani were born in Ingham in North QLD. Both sisters learned to play instruments quite young with Pauline on guitar and Jennifer on guitar and banjo. Playing at home in Rollingstone (54ks north of Townsville), a small farming community in North QLD, their hobby began to take a hold. The sisters naturally started singing together, with Jennifer slipping into harmony and picking instrumental breaks on the banjo. They mostly played country, with a few ABBA songs thrown into the mix. In the late 1970s their dad Emilio and mum Fay began prepping them with musical equipment and matching stage costumes and they began competing in talent quests, at eisteddfods, fetes and community events.

Their first public performance was at the Rollingstone Hotel, which led to them supporting touring acts including Slim Dusty, Reg Poole, Terry Gordon, Lee Conway and Bullamakanka. In 1981 they represented Australia in the Seagrams 7 International Battle of the Bands in Nashville, TN where they met George Jones, Lee Greenwood and Buck Owens. Their first album 'By Request' was released in 1981 (the first produced in Townsville, QLD by SKL Recordings). This sold out quickly, being played on the radio and the girls were rewarded with life membership of the Townsville CM Club.

In 1983 they moved to Brisbane and performed at one of the very early Webb Bros Music Musters in Gympie, alongside Aussie greats John Williamson and Eric Bogle. At Twin Towns RSL, they supported international acts including Johnny Cash, Des O’Connor and Gene Pitney. They won the Best Group/Duo and Bluegrass sections in the QLD CM Awards at Ipswich. Eventually they moved to Sydney and released their second album 'Drops of Water' on Nev Nicholls’ label, Nicholls ’N Dimes, with RCA.

They joined Slim Dusty for part of his Bicentennial Tour, including the official opening of the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach, QLD. They then represented Australia at Fan Fair in Nashville, TN performing on the International Showcase and introduced on stage by George Jones in front of 25,000 fans. They performed three songs, backed by the Jordanaires (Elvis Presley’s backing singers) and shared the stage with Lynn Anderson. They received a standing ovation. A Nashville newspaper declared their act a standout of the event. They made two appearances on Ernest Tubb’s Midnight Jamboree on WSM Radio, being introduced by Grandpa Jones. They also met Little Jimmy Dickens at this show.

Their third album, 'The Gottani Sisters' was released in 1989. They returned to Nashville to appear on TNN’S TV show, You Can Be A Star, hosted by Jim Ed Brown. They placed second, appearing on the show four times, but had to regretfully decline the opportunity to tour with Jim Ed Brown due to commitments back home in Australia. Based in Sydney, they toured extensively throughout Australia. In 1990 they released a single ''Love Won't Ever Get Better Than This / Down By The River'' on the Sundown label with Owen Blundell. In 1992 they relocated to the USA and performed throughout the country. Living in Nashville, then Oklahoma, they moved to Branson, Missouri performing in several musical theatres. For the next three years they worked with Janie Fricke at the Charley Pride Theatre, then toured the USA with her, getting the chance to meet and perform with Don Williams, Jerry Reed and George Jones. They eventually moved back to Australia and in 2019 were inducted into the Australian CM Wall of Honour at LBS Studios, Tamworth and the following year inducted in the Hands of Fame, Tamworth. They are still out there performing.

SINGLES
''Love Won't Ever Get Better Than This / Down By The River'' [with Owen Blundell] 1990 Sundown

ALBUMS
'By Request' 1981 Reverse Records 
'Drops Of Water' 1986 Nicholls N' Dimes 

'The Gottani Sisters' 1989

References

 eHive