Welcome to The Official Frank Ifield Web Site!
Frank says Cheers!
…and thanks you all for the many greetings and messages of goodwill on the occasion of his 70th Birthday.
Many Happy
Returns Frank!
A message from Frank:
Carole and I would like to share with you
our best wishes for Christmas.
May the New Year 2008 bless you with happiness and joy;
But most of all;
LOVE.
The above picture is of our Grandchildren; 4 year old Jack; 3 year old Max; and the latest; our baby girl ‘Mila’. You can see in them the innocence of childhood and we feel blessed by their presence.
At 3pm at St Marys (Rugby) League Club on Saturday 24th November, Frank Ifield will host the 15th Annual ‘National Country Showcase‘ sponsored this year by St Marys Council in association with MATS (Music & Arts Talent Search). Bookings – (02) 9673 3333. Judges for the show will include the sensational Nicki Gillis (winner of the 2007 Cooper’s Golden Saddle Award) and Sydney’s most highly acclaimed Country music presenter Barbara Morison from Radio 2SER-FM 107.3
Throughout the day, the city of St Marys will be holding its ever popular Country Music Festival with many activities happening all over town. This will include a personal
‘Meet & Greet’ with Frank Ifield at his book and CD launch at St Mary’s Sound Centre from 11.00am.
Bring the whole family for a great fun filled day and thrill to the young talent that will become tomorrow’s headlining stars!
Sunday 28th October at Petersham RSL – FRANK IFIELD was the host for a very special show, celebrating ‘THE LEGENDS OF BANDSTAND’.
Pictured above, backstage – L to R:
WARREN WILLIAMS, LITTLE PATTIE, JUDY STONE, FRANK, IAN TURPIE & LUCKY STARR
Frank Ifield spoke at the annual ‘Music In The House’ luncheon of Support Act Ltd (SAL) at Parliment house in Sydney on September 27. Frank shared his fundraising ideas with Support Act Ltd who assist members of the music industry who were in need or suffering hardship.
Visit Support Act Limited’s Web Site to find out more about their worthwhile activities.
Pictured above left: Frank with Glenn Shorrock
Above right: Jo Shorrock, Col Joye, Carole Ifield
Left: Frank and Stuart Wagstaff
Below: Frank in full-flight!
Photos courtesy of Tony Mott.
TALKING HEADS
WITH PETER THOMPSON
on ABC Television,
15th October 2007, the Talking Head was one of Australia’s favourite sons – FRANK IFIELD.
Peter Thompson took a look into Frank’s incredible life journey and stellar singing career – right from his birth to his recent induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame!
Pictured left:
Frank Ifield at the 11th Anniversary GALSTON COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL with the winner of the 2007 Cooper’s Golden Saddle Award – NICKI GILLIS
Photo courtesy of
Michael Szabath Photography/Publishing.
- Listen out for two replays of Frank’s most recent interview with Ed Doolan on BBC Radio WM (West Midlands, UK) and on the Web. Sunday 9 Sept 2007 at noon (British Summer Time) and Friday 14 Sept 2007 at 8pm (British Summer Time).11th ANNIVERSARY GALSTON COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Festival runs over three days from the 7th to the 9th September.Friday 7th
FRANK IFIELD hosts a Gala Charity Dinner Show for the Rotary Club of Galston from
7 to 11pm at the Dural Country Club starring the legendary KEVIN JOHNSON and the lovely DONNA BOYD with the full GALSTON ALL STARS BAND. This promises to be a night to remember. Tickets $95Saturday 8th:
From 7pm ‘The Golden Saddles Show’ from The Galston Club featuring the 2007 contestants LEE FORSTER; NICKI GILLIS and MARKUS MEIER.Sunday 9th:
The Galston Country Music Festival from the beautiful grounds of Fagan Park, Galston from 8.30 am to 4.30pm.
From 9am: POETS BREAKFAST ‘DOWN ON THE FARM’ with GRAEME JOHNSON : CAROLE HEUCHAN & RAY ESSERY. MASSIVE UTE MUSTER, KIDS CARNIVAL, PONY RIDES, MARKET STALLS and lots more!
Stars appearing on the lakeside main stage will be: TRAVIS COLLINS; DRAGON: AMBER LAWRENCE: BOB HOWE: KAREN LYNNE: DEBRA BYRNES: GREG BAIN: KIRSTY LEE AKERS: MIKE McCLELLAN: SIMPLY BUSHED: LEE FORSTER: NICKI GILLIS: MARKUS MEIER: STEVE PASSFIELD: PAT DRUMMOND & THE GALSTON ALL STARS BAND.
ADULTS: $15 CHILD $5 CONCESSION $10
Free Shuttle from Pennant Hills Station.
For more info: www.galstonfestival.com
Wednesday 18th July 2007: Legendary newsreader and Australian Bandstand host Brian Henderson appeared at the ARIA Hall of Fame ceremony at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne to induct FRANK IFIELD who was being recognised for his extensive career in country music. The Sydney Sun-Herald quoted Brian Henderson saying, “I’m honoured to be inducting Frank Ifield, a man for whom I have tremendous respect. I’m really pleased that he is being honoured at this stage in his life.”Below: Photo of Brian Henderson and Frank Ifield by Marty Philbey. Photograph published with the kind permission of Australian Recording Industry Association. Copyright owned by ARIA.
Christine Sams in the Sydney Sun-Herald (Sunday 22nd July 2007) reported “…It had all the elements of a great song or movie – the dazzling highs of fame and fortune, the wrenching lows of illness and heartache, the true salvation of love. A speech by Frank Ifield, one of the singers honoured at the ARIA Hall Of Fame ceremony last Wednesday night, was extraordinarily touching in its honesty and emotion. It also summed up much of the reason behind the event: it honours success, endurance and musical achievement well beyond the current chart positions and the hype of the day…”Two time ARIA Award winners, THE WAIFS, performed a special tribute to FRANK IFIELD. Before the performance Josh Cunningham from THE WAIFS said, “Anyone who has had the Beatles as an opening act is an undisputed legend. It is a privilege and an honour to be asked to perform Frank Ifield’s classic, I Remember You.”
On his impending induction into the ARIA HALL OF FAME, Frank Ifield said earlier, “My father used to quote an old adage stating; ‘A prophet is never recognised in his own home’ – and yet, this event seems to prove an exception to that rule. However, no performer embarks on a career thinking to create history – with passion we gave our all, doing what we loved doing to the best of our ability – while hoping to earn a quid. That is the reason for feeling humbled that my lifetime in the world of show business could be honoured in my own homeland by an induction to the ARIA Hall Of Fame”.
The ceremony was broadcast exclusively on Vh1.
Pictured above is the plaque in ARIA Hall Of Fame Walk at The Star commemorating the 2007 induction of FRANK IFIELD into the ARIA Hall Of Fame. Thanks to Robert Rigby for the photo.
“Leon Isackson kindly sent this photo he recently discovered, taken by the late ‘Farmer’ Jon Hayton when we were working together in the early eighties. It was taken in a boat at Katherine Gorge in the Northern Territory of Australia. Jon was the lead guitarist for Digby Richards and I have just released Digby’s composition of Loving & The Leaving on my new CD. I admired Jon so much because despite being visably affected by arthritis, he could lash into a solo with the best of them. I never heard him complain and he also immersed himself into his passion for photography which was so infectious it inspired me to purchase a top Nikon camera and all the filters and telephoto lenses etc. But although I was well pleased with some of my efforts, I could not be compared to the master. So seeing one of his photos filled me with nostalgia of the great times we had, and I include it here as my personal posthumous tribute to two of Australia’s talented unsung heroes, ‘Farmer’ Jon Hayton and Digby Richards.”18th July 2007: Frank was also a special guest on the top-rating ABC-TV music quiz show Spicks and Specks.
BBC Radio 4 the 14th August at 11am (and on the internet worldwide):- Frank will be heard as a contributor to a programme called Not Now Arthur. Frank fondly recalls, “Arthur Tolcher played behind me at the Birmingham Pantomime production of ‘Mother Goose’. He was seen regularly at the end of several Morecambe & Wise TV Shows where he would rush on to play and be cut off before he could get but a few notes out!”
Australian Release 7/7/07Something Rare
& Wonderful
A new 2-CD compilation of, in Frank’s own words…” rare and mainly hitherto unavailable material of mine, recorded around the world; spanning three decades from the sixties to the nineties.” Includes the much sought after Crystal (I Can See Through You), Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again and Crawling Back, plus tracks from the Hickory, Spark and MAM labels, and recordings with UK band Barbary Coast. Includes album notes by Frank and by noted writer and broadcaster Paul Hazell.
Track Listing:
CD1 – 1. Roots & Rafters 2. Crystal (I Can See Thru You) 3. Silver Wings 4. Hearts On Fire 5. Close The Door 6. A Little Bit Of Push 7. I Remember You 8. Isn’t It Always Love 9. God Made Love 10. California Cotton Fields 11. Daddy -You Know What? 12. (I’ll Be Your) Hold Me Tight 13. Play Waltzing Matilda Again 14. Lonesome Jubilee 15. The Loving & The Leaving 16. Good Hearted Woman 17. You Only Live Once in a While 18. Beautiful Love 19. (Her Name Was) Joanne 20. Daddy Don’t You Walk So FastCD2 – 1. Hurdy-Gurdy 2. Painting Myself Into A Corner 3. Who Am I to Say 4. Praised Be 5. Paint The World With Love 6. Broken Lady 7. You’ll Never Be Missed 8. Till I Waltz Again With You 9. The Loneliness Of Ruby’s Eyes 10. The Rise & Fall Of Soli Glick 11. Crawling Back 12. Something Rare & Wonderful 13. Lay In Your Arms 14. Rolling Stone 15. Angry At The Big Oak Tree 16. Love Ain’t Worth The Living When It Dies 17. If Love Must Go 18. Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again 19. Teach Me Little Children 20. PleaseBIG Country Jamm
Country Music Stars Support Jeans for Genes Day
On the evening of Thursday August 2, some of Australia’s hottest country music stars will be performing for Jamm 4 Genes, the music event in support of Jeans for Genes Day. This will not just be a wonderful line-up of country music’s finest, but a night of celebration and fun – all in support of raising funds for healthy children tomorrow.Golden Guitar sweethearts Beccy Cole and The McClymonts as well as Adam Harvey, winner of 2007 CMA (USA) Global Country Artist Award, are all spokespeople for Jamm 4 Genes. Jeans for Genes Day helps to fund The Children’s Medical Research Institute in its quest to discover the genetic makeup of diseases like epilepsy, muscular dystrophy and cancer.Huge Line-Up of Country Music’s Finest…
They will be joined by James Blundell, Karl Brodie, Jonah’s Road, Stacey Morris, Jake Nickolai, Drew McAlister, Nicki Gillis and Nik Phillips. Telstra Road to Tamworth winners for 2006 and 2007, Nick Kingswell and Morgan Evans respectively, will also be joining the cast. Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee and true Aussie music legend, Frank Ifield will co-host the event alongside Jim Haynes, wordsmith and comedian. Meanwhile Ten’s fabulous weather man, Tim Bailey , will be there to start the night. Rumour has it, that 94 year-old Smokey Dawson might make a guest appearance – whew what a line up! What a party!When approached to be the venue for the event, Denis McNamara, the entertainment manager from Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL had no hesitation, and in fact they are now sponsoring the event – people with big hearts like Denis help to raise the $4 million in funds required each year to keep the research going.Tickets are $40.00 and available at the club or by calling the club on 02 9559 0000.
(Pictured above, Adam Harvey and Frank Ifield)TRAVIS COLLINS – TRAVERSES THE GLOBE!It was Friday night on June 1st and the Kingsgrove RSL was packed to the doors with a mixture of family, friends, fans, fellow artists and people of the music industry who, like myself, had come to wish a fond farewell to Travis Collins at his special ‘Bon Voyage’ concert.
The night took on a party atmosphere while Travis ran through a varied repertoire of songs that included his well-known hits with a back projection of his video-clips, and we were treated us to a first public hearing of a few songs from his new album to be released on ABC/Warner Music in August this year.
Spurred on by a wildly enthusiastic crowd he kept us all enthralled until 11.45pm when, as he explained, he might just as well party-on as it was hardly worthwhile going to bed for within a few hours when he, accompanied by his manager Alan Skeed, would be jetting off to perform in Nashville Tennessee. However, I was informed later that he managed to grab about 30 minutes sleep before being whisked away to the airport.This is just the start of a hectic time for Travis, as following on from six weeks in the USA he will be doing an extensive five-week tour of England, preceded by the promotional release in the UK & Europe of another single of Travis singing It’s Just My Heart.
If by the end of the overseas tour he feels he is in for a well-earned rest, he will have to think again, for he returns home to a full diary of dates around Australia starting in August to coincide with the launch of his new CD.
We all wish him well – Travis Collins certainly is an exceptional talent and this tour could consolidate his skyrocketing career on the worldwide stage.
above: Travis with his Mum and Da -
above left: Frank, Alan Skeed, producer Herm Kovac…right: Travis’s AngelsARIAs announce latest
Hall of FamersThe Hoodoo Gurus, Marcia Hines and
Frank Ifield will be inducted into the 2007 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in July.Now in its third year, the ARIA event, held in Melbourne on July 18, pays tribute to legendary Australian recording artists who have made a significant impact on and enduring contribution to the musical landscape.
“It came out of left field for me,” Frank told The Sunday Telegraph newspaper who pictured him (above) with Marcia Hines. “It’s a lovely warm feeling…I have won awards all over the world, but something in your home territory makes one heck of a difference.”
Click on the image above to enlarge. Courtesy of The Sunday Telegraph
Jon Wolfe of Australasian Country News reviewed
THEREBY HANGS A TALE by Frank Ifield…“This little three track offering was a wonderful surprise because I’d just about thought that the art of the recorded monologue was dead.
Frank delivers two classics – I’m A Rolling Stone and You’ll Never Be Missed – and one I’d not heard before – Daddy, You Know What – with panache and a beautifully emotional delivery that is enhanced by Bob Howe’s understated musical arrangements and choral backing from Wayne Horsburgh, Amber Lawrence and Bob himself.
I suggest you add this to your collection – it’s a ‘must have’ for anyone with a heart and a soul. Fantastic Frank!
KAREN LYNNE WINS SPUR AWARD!
FRANK IFIELD and RICHARD YOUNG (chairman of the Galston Country Music Festival)
present the 2007 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD to KAREN LYNNE
It was standing-room-only at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club (Canterbury Country) in Sydney on March 8th when FRANK IFIELD announced that the winner of the 2007 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD was KAREN LYNNE. Frank, who presents the award each year in conjunction with The Galston Country Music Festival, told the audience that “…Karen Lynne is a breath of cool mountain air with a voice as clear as a bellbird. I admit to being an ardent admirer of her bluegrass music and her new CD ‘Changes’ is an excellent example of what she does best.”The award includes a release for international airplay and Frank had prearranged that the track ‘Blue Mountain Rain’ be distributed to coincide with the award presentation. He was delighted to surprise Karen with the news that the following day the track had entered a UK and European Chart at number 3 and was number 1 in the corresponding Independent Top Ten!The concert featured previous winners of the Spur Award – TRAVIS COLLINS (2006), STACEY MORRIS (2005), DONNA BOYD (2003) and 2007 Coopers Golden Saddle winner AMBER LAWRENCE – who all wowed the huge crowd. Surprises included a performance by 9-year-old MATS (MUSIC & ARTS JUNIOR TALENT SEARCH) Patron’s Award winner Shelby Thornett and a feature from Frank himself – a monologue from his new E.P. ‘THEREBY HANGS A TALE’. The evening ended with the entire cast singing a rousing version of I Remember You as a tribute to Frank and his tireless efforts in promoting Australian talent.
FRANK IFIELD and and nine-year-old SHELBY THORNETTINTRODUCING A BRAND NEW
EP COLLECTION OF
THREE GREAT MONOLOGUES!‘THEREBY HANGS A TALE’Narrated by Frank with song and harmonies by Wayne Horsburgh, Amber Lawrence & Bob Howe. Instrumentation under the direction of Bob Howe. Recorded at Kenilworth Studios, Sydney for ‘FIR’ Recordings.
Notes from Frank:
- I’m A Rolling Stone: This is a heartfelt tribute to one of my early heroes known as the ‘Father of Australian Country Music’, Tex Morton. I grew up with a love of story telling and this one touches me deeply as I can empathise with the drifter and his loyal dog.
- You’ll Never Be Missed: I first recall hearing this from my Australian Grandad. Being an impressionable nine-year-old kid, I cherished the moments listening to my ‘Pep’ tell tales of his younger days, while touring the outback by Cobb & Co coach, playing the part of Mr Interlocutor with the travelling Minstrel show. The message in this song teaches about the pitfalls of showbiz and life itself and I performed it on stage many times during my career.
- Daddy, You Know What?: This was a song by Rex Allen that I remember doing on stage at the wondrous event of the birth of my first-born son Mark. Now, as a Grandad myself, I re-dedicate it to my Grandson ‘Jack’ who in echoing the sentiment of this lyric, knows just how to bring a lump to my throat and water to my eyes.
(Above) The capacity crowd at Tamworth Town Hall looks on as John Stephan presents Frank with a guitar specially made for him by the MATON guitar company. The guitar is a Tommy Emmanuel custom acoustic model made during Maton’s 60th anniversary year and has ‘Frank Ifield’ inlaid on the neck at the twelfth fret. On the PHOTO ALBUM page you can see more of Frank’s history with Maton Guitars…
From Frank: “TAMWORTH 2007 held a very special magic. It was a pleasure to host four ‘Classic Country‘ shows this year from my favourite venue, the Tamworth Town Hall. John Stephan, Carmen Zerefos and the promotional team from IGN Records excelled themselves with their programming as each of the shows provided a unique experience. The houses were all packed and several satisfied customers returned for every performance, proving that we had hit upon the right balance and format. Congratulations to our top of the bill, JOHN STEPHAN. He not only worked tirelessly to provide the audiences the highest quality of supporting acts, but his own singing was par-excellence, always leaving the audience wanting more… and more is what I believe is on the cards, as I hear talk of a possible six ‘Classic Country‘ shows in the pipeline for 2008.”
Artists on the show included Carter & Carter (pictured above left with Frank), Travis Sinclair, Donna Boyd, Jonah’s Road, Craig Giles, Jessi-Rae Tice from the USA, Angela Hayden, the Hotfoot Dancers and many more…
After toasting each other with several good reds, two old friends Johnny Devlin and Frank, got together to reminisce over the golden old Rock & Roll days of the fifties when they first met up in Johnny’s home country of New Zealand. Recently caught on camera at the ‘Echidna’s Club’ they struck up a song. Frank says it was obviously a song befitting the happy occasion – but there again, could it have been a rocking and a-reeling version of ‘Frankie & Johnny’?
Frank was recently featured in the U.K. magazine MUSIC MAKER.Read the cover story by PAUL HAZELL from the Dec/Jan 2007 issue here…
…and read the History of the Spur Award from the March 2007 issue here…
Last year Frank was also featured in the U.K. magazine THE BEAT.Read the interview by GRAHAM HUNTER from the June 2006 issue – Page One here…
…and read the History of the Spur Award from the March 2007 issue Page Two here…
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