DON GRESHAM

 

Don Gresham was born in 1931 in Murwillumbah, NSW. After leaving school, Don worked in the rural industry. He was very interested in country music and was influenced by Buddy Williams, Tex Morton, Ernest Tubb and Gene Autry.  After attending a Buddy Williams concert, his father bought him a Tex Morton guitar which he learnt to play by correspondence. In 1965 he recorded his first EP on the Sunset label. Don and wife Noela began publishing a quarterly newsletter, The Country Music Newsletter as a promotional aid for country music record releases, sent to 12 countries and many subscribers throughout Australia. In 1974 Don formed his own label, Koala Records and recorded more than 300 songs. Don and Noela presented the first country program on 2NCR-FM, which ran for six years. In 1981 The United Nations General Assembly had declared it to be the "International Year Of Disabled Persons". The aim was to increase awareness of the contributions which disabled people can make to the community...and, to encourage disabled people to find a voice. Don Gresham wrote and recorded ''I Have Good Health'' as his contribution to the celebrations. Don was joined by fellow artist Lynette Guest in expressing how fortunate he felt to have good health, and in doing so, empathising with those who weren't so blessed. 

In 1985 he was inducted into the Hands of Fame, Tamworth. Don was a passionate supporter of Australian wildlife in particular the koala. He recorded the single ''Little Koala / Save Our Koalas'' in 1988. All profits from the sale went to the World Research Corporation's Koala Hospital in Coomera QLD. In 1991 and 1997 Don visited Canada where he appeared on Earl and Martha Heywood’s Canadian Barn Dance Club. He met Wilf Carter during Wilf’s last tour. Don died October in 2001.

SINGLES

''The Ballad Of Pam O'Neill / Daredevil Duncan'' 1980 Koala
''Ram Chandra / I Have Good Health'' [with Lynette Guest] 1981 Koala
''Little Koala / Save Our Koalas'' 1988 Koala

EPs

'No One Knows Who's Who' Tamex

'Don Gresham' 1971 Hadley
'A Country Music Special Number One' 1974 Koala
'Iddy Biddy Puddy Tat' 1975 Koala

'The Bundaberg Special' 1977 Koala

'Songs About Life' 1983 Koala

'A Woman's World' [with Noela Gresham] 1983 Koala

'The First Twenty Years' 1985 Koala

'I'd Do Anything For A Stubbie' 1985 Koala

'The Cat Came Back' 1986 Koala

ALBUMS

'Fun in the Country' 1976 Koala
'The Aussie Boy' 1976 Koala
'On the Not So Quiet Side' 1977 Koala
'Sugar Sweet Country' 1978 Koala
'Travelling The Country' 1980 Koala
'This Australia That I Love' [with Ken Robertson] 1980 Koala
'Three Rivers In The Sun' 1981 Koala
'Some Country Favourites' 1982 Koala
'The Great Aussie Train' 1983 Koala
'Number Ten' 1984 Koala

'Our Big Country Songs' 1987 Koala

'Country Folk Songs' 1988 Koala

'The Country Music Special' 1990 Koala

'The World Of Country Music' 1992 Koala

References

https://ehive.com/collections/200851/objects/1461183/don-gresham