2009 NEWS ARCHIVE

by | Aug 2, 2024 | Uncategorised

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Frank Ifield and Col Joye   18 Nov 2009: At The Debonairs (The Entertainment Industry Lunch Bunch) in Sydney, Frank celebrates his forthcoming birthday and is serenaded by fellow Australian music legend, COL JOYE.

 

Photos from the book launch of Handling Edna by Barry Humphries…
Frank Ifield and Barry Humphries   Frank Ifield and Susie Elelman
Frank Ifield and Barry Humphries……and with Susie Elelman
Marty Morton, Susie Elelman, Frank Ifield and Barry Crocker
Marty Morton, Susie Elelman, Frank Ifield and Barry Crocker

 

Jimmy Little and friends Jimmy Little and friends

20 October 2009: Dr James O Little AO, better known as JIMMY LITTLE, was the special guest of The Debonairs (The Entertainment Industry Lunch Bunch) in Sydney. Jimmy was celebrating his new recording of his classic hit Royal Telephone, raising funds for The Jimmy Little Foundation, to help improve kidney health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across regional and remote Australia. Jimmy was tracked by a film crew from ABC TV’s Stateline program. Other friends watching Jimmy sing in the photos above include Buzz Bidstrup, Wayne Rowley, John Coker, Bob Howe, Donny Sutherland, Marienne Shepherd, Martin Erdman, Warren Barnett, Wayne Horsburgh, Nicki Gillis (Photos courtesy of Barry Crocker).

Bruce Harris, Jimmy Little, Barry Crocker, Frank Ifield
Bruce Harris, Jimmy Little, Barry Crocker, Frank Ifield
Frank Ifield, Little Pattie, Barry Crocker
Frank Ifield, Little Pattie, Barry Crocker
Helen Zerefos, Jimmy Little, Nicki Gillis, Frank Ifield - photo by Bob Howe
Helen Zerefos, Jimmy Little, Nicki Gillis, Frank Ifield

A blast from the past. Frank presents BARRY CROCKER with his first ‘Gold Record’ on the Channel 9 television show ‘The Sound Of Music’ in 1969…

Frank Ifield and Barry Crocker 1969
(Photo from the collection of Barry Crocker)

Nicki's UK band

Pictured above: NICKI GILLIS, winner of the 2009 Frank Ifield International ‘Spur’ Award, during her successful tour of the U.K. in July. On her left is bassist Dave Clemo, on her right is drummer Cozy Dixon and above him, guitarist Bob Howe. Bob was Frank’s musical director and along with Cozy, a member of the band Barbary Coast who backed Frank for many years. Bob enjoyed a reunion with Cozy and other members of Barbary Coast when they played the Great North Country Music Festival in County Durham, where Nicki was also appearing during her sell-out tour. U.K. audiences were charmed by Nicki’s personality and cheered for more. Their wish will be granted when she returns to their shores in 2010…
CD cover
In September, the duet version of Chasing Cars from the album ‘COLLABORATION’ by BOB HOWE and NICKI GILLIS, was released to Country Music radio in the U.K. and Europe. It reached # 3 and spent five weeks in the Top Ten.

SAT 12th SEPTEMBER 2009 6:30pm – Until Late
GALA CHARITY DINNER SHOW Dural Country ClubFRANK IFIELD OAM welcomes you as the host of a wonderful GALA CHARITY DINNER SHOW In aid of THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Starring: The incredibly popular ROBERTSON BROTHERSTHE ROCK CHICKS who represent Australia in China this OctoberRHIANN SAUNDERS current winner of the Music & Art Talent Searchand star MC DONNIE SUTHERLAND OAMRaffles & Auction by PAT NATI OAMTickets $75 PP (Bookings Essential) (02) 9651 1600

 

Frank Ifield 2009 - Photo by Terry Phillpot Monday June 8, 2009: Australian singer Frank Ifield has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to entertainment. NEWS REPORTS: NineMSN Hills Shire Times Country Music Bulletin (Photo left by Terry Phillpot – Eyegraphics)

COLLABORATION - CD cover Frank Ifield recommends… ‘COLLABORATION’ The act of working jointly “This is an album that deserves listening attention. It is a collaboration of two fine talented artistes in BOB HOWE and NICKI GILLIS. Nicki is credited with vocals and mandolin while Bob provides vocals, instruments, loops and the CD’s design. Each of the ten tracks on the album offer unique tonal colours. while the diversity of songs, like the haunting Chasing Cars and the Everly Brothers’ Price of Love or the bluesy Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar to the popular Everybody Hurts, should guarantee the listeners attention from start to finish. PS: Paul Anka’s Classic It Doesn’t Matter Anymore suits Nicki’s voice to a ‘T’ PPS: I wish you a successful tour of the UK this July – You’ll WOW ’em.” More on the album… click here

16 June 2009: At the 33rd Australian Entertainment ‘MO’ Awards
Carole and Frank Ifield
Carole and Frank Ifield
Carole and Frank Ifield with Barry Crocker
Carole Ifield, Frank Ifield OAM, Barry Crocker OAM
Pat Nati OAM (who was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the same Queen’s Birthday Honours for his service to the community and his support of various charities), enjoying the MO’s and celebrating with Frank Ifield OAM

Catching up with friends…

Frank Ifield and Rolf Harris
Frank with Rolf Harris (photo by Glenn Ware)
Frank Ifield and Roger Moore
Frank with Roger Moore (photo by Glenn Ware)
James Cassar, Bob Rogers, Frank Ifield
March 2009: On the promotional trail…pictured left, Frank Ifield and young vocalist James Cassar with leading radio personality BOB ROGERS at the studios of 2CH.

Photos from ‘I REMEMBER YOU’ at St Marys Rugby Leagues Club, March 2009

The first performances of ‘I REMEMBER YOU’ revealed a nostalgic show that told the story of the legendary singing star FRANK IFIELD, set against a backdrop of the times. Frank related stories from his childhood and career highlighted by original film footage and, along with the cast, recreated his biggest hits and songs of the era…
collage 1
Frank introduces the show and the glamour of the vibrant Planet Dancers…
collage 2
Kathy Watson and the cast remember the music and the spirit of the war-time era when Frank was born…collage 3
Frank’s return to England and path to stardom…1st chart success…Lucky Devil !
collage 4
James Cassar and Angeleah Heap bring the songs of the fifties and sixties to life…
collage 5
Frank relives the emotions of his life…the highs and the lows…

collage 6

The rousing finale by Frank, Kathy and the cast of M.A.T.S. singers and dancers, followed by a standing ovation and later a ‘meet and greet’ session with Frank himself.  

 

VALE – PAULINE HALFORD BRITISH AUTHOR & CO-WRITER OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY. Pauline passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 19th, with her husband Mike and daughter Heather at her bedside. Mike had only just retired, but instead of both being able to enjoy retirement, they were forced to face the harrowing business of daily radiation treatment. Her close friend Mary Payne only a few days ago, informed me of Pauline’s demise and it hit me like a thunderbolt – I stood in stunned silence for several minutes before I was able to regain my composure. PAULINE HALFORD and FRANK IFIELDMy mind recalled the times when she and her friends would come to my shows in the UK over the years. Then, many years later when she contacted me excited about the idea of writing my biography. She learned that I had already started to write one, and readily agreed to take on the daunting task of co-writing with me in Australia and her in England. Not and easy task, and to tackle my life story together meant sharing many intimate events that would require an enormous trust in one another – Yet, Pauline made this easy for me by her obvious honesty and impeccable integrity. She told me she had written a short story of convict life in early Australia and another book about the weather man; and I knew she could make anything she turned her mind to, into riveting reading. Evidently Pauline started feeling ill last summer, with bad indigestion. After months of tests and interminable waiting for results the specialists concluded at the end of September that she had pancreatic cancer. Somehow, she bravely kept writing through all this and still attended Writers meetings, so determined was she to beat it, but it proved impossible. Fortunately, Pauline did get to spend a few happy days with Mike in the New Forest after she had recovered a little from the radiation therapy, but after returning home she collapsed and lapsed into a coma. The hospital did not think she would come out of it, but she did. In fact, Pauline was able to go home to spend a last Christmas with her family. The funeral was at Amersham crematorium and was very well attended by members of the many groups to which Pauline had given so much. She was a very good friend to so many people and we shall all miss her terribly.

 

On The Trail 2SM 1953

“My friend George Payne unearthed this historic photo from 1953 of the 2SM radio show On The Trail. Alongside myself at the microphone is Nola Hurst and you can also see announcer Tommy Jay, singers Jimmy Little, Kevin King, Alan Hurst, George Payne, musician Kenny Kitching and agent Ted Quigg. Do you recognise any other faces? If so, by not drop an email to my Webmaster…”

show poster

Tom McDonald & Unique Entertainment present The Story & Music Of A Legend FRANK IFIELD In Person I REMEMBER YOU

 

  • Hear Frank relate his incredible journey to stardom
  • See original nostalgic film footage of Frank’s career
  • Relive the magic of the greatest decades in music as Kathy Watson and the cast of M.A.T.S. singers and dancers help hi-lite the hit recordings of Frank and the era
  • Meet and greet Frank after the show
    SENIORS’ WEEK SHOWS 12.30pm for 1pm start ST MARYS RUGBY LEAGUES CLUB MARCH 17th & 18th 2009 $16.50 per head RING CLUB RECEPTION TO BOOK (02) 9677 7777

     

    Nicki Gillis - Frank Ifield - photo by Bob Howe Thursday 12 March 2009: NICKI GILLIS wins the 2009 Frank Ifield International ‘Spur’ Award. Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Galston in conjunction with the Galston Country Music Festival, this award is designed to give exposure to our most promising Australian talent overseas.From Frank: “My announcement of this years winner of the ‘International Spur Award’ proved to be a very popular choice indeed. Such is the public acceptance and wide appreciation for the talent of Nicki Gillis. Nicki is a towering talent who has an abundance of charisma both on and off the stage. Her song Watch The Wildflowers Grow has already impacted the overseas market having reached #8 in the UK and European Country Chart and this will be followed up by a UK tour this coming July. I know that Nicki will be a credit to Australian Country Music and will once more prove how worthy we are to strut the world stage.” The presentation of the 2009 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD was made at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club during the Canterbury Country show that also featured performances 2003 Spur winner DONNA BOYD, 2009 Country Duo TIARA Winners THE HARMONATORS, 2008 Cooper’s Golden Saddle People’s Choice Award winner MATT FROST plus BOB HOWE and the Hillbilly Heaven band.

 

 

backstage
Rae & Liz (The Harmonators), Frank, Nicki, Matt, Donna (Photos above by Bob Howe)
FRANK IFIELD and RICHARD YOUNG present the 2009 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD to NICKI GILLIS - Photo by Terry Phillpot - Eyegraphics

 

FRANK IFIELD and RICHARD YOUNG (Galston Rotary) present the 2009 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD to NICKI GILLIS (Photo by Terry Phillpot – Eyegraphics)

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