Way back in the late 50's when you and I were young, Rock 'n' Roll burst onto the scene and the world hasn't been the same since. Not only did it effect those in America and England, but Australia found itself in it's grip as well.
Many youngsters burst onto the world stage from Elvis down and some of Australia's teen idols included, Johnny O'Keefe, Col Joye and Lonnie Lee. There were many who were also very popular but those three became the most Nationally popular.During his major chart success era which went from 1959 to 1970, Lonnie had 8 National Number 1 records and 5 Gold Records. This was when it was virtually impossible to sell a so many records. He was seen on every major TV show and performed with the biggest in the world at the time... Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Fabian, The Everly Bros, Tommy Sand,Ricky Nelson and so on.
From 1966 to 1984 he spent mostly living overseas firstly in England and Europe and then nearly 15 years in America.
During his nine years in Nashville, Tennessee he wrote for and with Roy Orbison, and started America's first computerised independent record promotion company. He gave the SuperGroup 'Alabama', their first jobs at one of his Nashville clubs and presented Ronnie Mac Dowell and DJ Sumner and The Stamps to the world after Elvis' death.
LONNIE LEE is still singing today as one of Australia's most exciting performers and since 1983 has released 5 CD albums. His early career has been captured forever by the PowerHouse Museum both in it's 'Real Wild Child' exhibition which toured Australia, and the subsequent CD Rom which has been distributed to every High School and Library in Australia.
He was born September 18, 1940 in Sydney Australia, the son of David and Nancy who were the second generation sheep graziers at their property 'Bleak House' in North West N.S.W. Lonnie's grandfather named the property after the Charles Dickens book of the same name.
He spent most of his schooling at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney as a boarder and then some at Crows Nest Technical High School where he graduated with his 'Intermediate Certificate in 1955.
He was a soprano soloist in the choir of Christ Church lLender Bay Sydney and was a member of both the Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts.
After leaving school, he sold and delivered newspapers, worked in wool stores, as a truck driver offsider, in a steel wire factory, hardware stores, banks, radio station, jackaroo on sheep and cattle stations until finally his singing career took off.
In February 1957 he won a contest for Australia's Elvis Presley and this gave him his first press and a few paying singing jobs. His first major singing job was at The Riverview Hotel in Tempe Sydney in mid 1957 with his trio. Monday thru Saturday for a 6 month contract. That same year he appeared on TV's 'Sydney Tonight Show' but it was not until mid 1959 that he finally made TV in a big way. 'Six O'Clock Rock's the first 'live' National Rock 'n' Roll TV Show and he became a regular member performing very week.
From October 1959 he released records through Lee Gordon's Leedon Label and during his big 'heyday' 1959 to 1964 had many singles and albums. He became a household word and many times out polled everyone of his peers.
In October 1961 he was awarded the prestigious GOLDEN MICROPHONE AWARD and was known as Australia's Most Consistent Hit Parader.
With the advent of thre English music invasion ala The Beatles in late 1964, his era died and Lonnie moved out of the Limelight a little and helped promote the next wave of Australian teen idols. He was 24 !
SOME OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
The GOLDEN MICROPHONE AWARD This award was presented in October 1961 as Australia's most popular recording & TV artist
Gold Records He had 5 records with Gold sales.. I found a new love, Starlight Starbright, Yes Indeed I do, Sit Around and talk and When the Bells stop ringing
Other Honours Inducted into Nashville's Web Pierce's Pool of Fame in 1975 - Selected by the Australian ABC 1994, for their 60th anniversary, to represent Pop Music on TV - Chosen by Ausmusic in 1995 to represent Australia's first pop era, 1959 to 1964 - Honorary Delegate to the USA House of Representatives in 1980, Nashville Tennessee - Honorary Arkansas Traveller in 1981 - 1998 'Best Performer', Public Voted award Wintersun Festival and many others..
He first left Australia in 1962 when he beacme the first Australian star to tour New Zealand with No. 1 records and then did it again in 1964. Howver it wasn't until October 1966 that he finally left Australia for any length of time. He went to Europe where he lived and performed in countries such as Greece, Germany, Italy and United Kingdom. He also did many shows in the Pacific Islands of Tahiti, Fiji and Noumea and then in 1971 settled in USA
While based in Seattle he did many shows in that area and then was asked to go to Las Vegas. After nearly a year in Vegas he was lured to Hollywood where he produced for, and managed a conglomorate of indepemndent record and publishing companies.
During this time he spent most of his time in Hollywood Record studios such as RCA assisting and producing many exciting soul acts.
After a while he left for Nasville Tennessee and was very quickly introduced to Roy Orbison as a co- writer, by Don Gant the then General Manager of Acuff-Rose Music.
This association lasted a while and as well as friends, he became Roy's Personal Secretary and Promoter. During this time he was also performing with his own show around USA.
In 1976 he decided to start his own Record Promotion and Marketing company in Nashville and this became the first independent and small home/Office units were invented, Lonnie learnt programming and linked into a mainframe in Nashville as a 'Time Share' client.
After many years in Nashville, he was enticed by the famous Las Vegas Recording Studio, to open up a branch of his Record business in Las Vegas. This he did in 1981 and stayed there until 1984 when he returned to Australia with the great resurgence of Classic Rock 'n' Roll'. He brought with him greats like Fabian and The Diamonds and helped restart the classic Rock boom again with the orignal Aussie stars.
He started his Rock 'n' Remember','The Living Legends of Six O'Clock Rock' Show and 'This is Lonnie Lee'and these are very popular,and helping to create an awareness of how popular Classic Rock has become again. In June 1998 at Wintersun he was publicly voted "Best Performer" and he did it again in 1999. He was also unducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.
His own Lonnie Lee Show was also very popular and toured all over Australia from largest casino main rooms, to the large outdoor events such as the being the main attraction at Sydney's Darling Harbour "Australia Day" Festival, two years in a row.
He released many of his old hits on 'LONNIE LEE Solid Gold' through Starlite Records and since has 4 other CD releases. 'Really Rockin' with Lonnie Lee, 'Don't Look Back', 'Live at Lonnie Lee's Dance Ranch' and 'I like it, I love it'
He not only still tours Australia, but areas of USA as well, with his unique 'High Energy' Rock and Modern Country.
Starlite records is working on releasing all the old original recordings, as well as those from early TV shows, in a series of 4 releases of 2 CD box sets. The songs spanning from 1959 to 1983 include all his styles from early rockabilly to cabaret and back to rock and modern country. They will include CD Rom programs with photo's, video, interviews and stories.
Yes, Lonnie Lee's career spans over 3 generations, 40 years of movin' and a groovin' and a doing his thing! Well, that's what they would have said way back then !
His story can be read in quite some detail over 3 recent issues of Australia's Premier Classic Rock era book, 'The Big Beat'. Published by the Australian Rock'n'Roll Appreciation Society which is based in Melbourne Victoria.
Write them at PO Box 21, World Trade centre, Melbourne, 3005 Victoria, Australia.
