06/12/2025
Ellie Lavelle: Born Ellie Jean Mary Therese Lavelle March 25 1934 in Kyogle NSW Started her recording career 1960 for Sunset Records and EMI, released also on Columbia Recoreds as Ellie Lavell, some of the songs she recorded were Queen of the Sunshine State.and I’ll cry tomorrow. Between 1960-1980’ recorded many more albums and singles. She also appeared on Saturday Jamboree which was a weekly radio progr4am on 4BC/SB in Brisbane sadly 1966 this program was cancelled, and then later taken up by the MCMA - Modern Country Music Aassociation, which was founded by Ellie along with Mick Finn and Johnny Greenwood and renamed National Country Music Jamboree. MCMA was latger to become CCMA – Capital Country Music Association. Ellie also organised a talent show on ABC TV called Barnstorm, she co hosted with Johnny Paine. She was inducted into the Hands of Fame Tamworth 1980. Ellie passed away August 2022
Top of the Haystack and we look at 1963, March of that year mark a very dark time for country music with the deaths of Patsy cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas all killed in a plane crash near Camden Tennessee on the 5th of March. Then on the way to attend Patsy Clines funeral, Jack Anglin, one half of Jonnie and Jack is killed in a car crash. 29th March Texas Ruby (guitar) who performed with Curly Fox was killed in a trailer fire while Curly Fox was performing on the Grand Ole Opre only a short time after recording their last album. July 1963 Faron Young Publishes The first issue of Music City News. August 63 Bradly Kincaid who was popular from late 1920’s until he retired in 1950 came out of retirement and recorded 168 of his favourite songs in a recording session that lasted 5 days at Bluebonnet records Fort Worth. 86 songs were released on LP between 1963-1987, the remainder on 6 Cassette Tapes 1988. Meanwhile down in Australia. Johnny Greenwood records his first album. Jimmy Littles song Baby Blue is topping the charts, After a number of years performing the popular showground Circuit Slim Dusty and Joy McKean once again restarted their own travelling show.
Ballad of Jed Clampet – Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs: Recorded on Columbia Label, Written by Paul Henning Released 26 November 1962 Made number 1 January 19th it dropped position for a while and returned to number 1 February 2nd. They originally used the song for the Theme of the CBS TV Show Beverly Hillbillies which first aired September 1962 with Flatt and Scruggs doing the instrumental work and Jerry Scoggins singing.
Lonesome 7-7203 – Hawkshaw Hawkins: Written by Justin Tubb, Recorded on King Label 10th September 1962 Released March 2nd 3 days before his death, Reached number 1 4th May dropped for a few weeks following his death, and returned to number 1 June 1st, then dropped for 2 weeks, returning to number 1 on 22nd June. Total of 4 weeks at number 1 a total of 25 week in the charts all together
Ring of Fire- Johnny Cash: Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore, originally recorded by June’s sister Anita as Love’s ring of fire in 1962, Johnny Recorded on Columbia Nashville Label, 24th March Released April 19th. Reached number 1 July 27th This was his first number 1 song since 1959. Remained in the number 1 spot for 7 weeks
Important births for country music:
February 9th Travis Tritt: Country/Rock influenced start starting in the early 1990s
July 31st Chad Brock : Rose to fame in the late 1990s Formerly a professional wrestler, until an injury made him retire. His early experience in a school choir influenced him to follow a singing career
September 6th – Mark Chesnutt: Neo-traditionalist country singer of the 1990’s, his main influence growing up was his father who was a singer and record collector and influenced him away from learning the drums to focus on his singing.
