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Thursday 14th March 2019:
Canterbury Country presented their annual 'AWARD WINNERS SHOW' at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL in Sydney. The show featured DONNA BOYD (2003 Spur Winner), NICKI GILLIS (2009 Spur Winner), and JOHN STEPHAN (2011 Spur Winner) and surprise guest DAN MULLINS. During the concert FRANK IFIELD and RICHARD YOUNG (from Galston Rotary Club) presented the 21st Annual Frank Ifield International Spur Award (in association with Galston Rotary Club and Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club) to STEVE PASSFIELD.

FRANK and RICHARD YOUNG from the Rotary Club of Galston with STEVE PASSFIELD
(photo by Phil Cole)

 

As part of the award, Steve's track Old Friends has been released for airplay in the UK and Europe and entered the country chart at #14, moved in to the Top Ten in its second week and climbed to #6 in the third week, in the fourth week #3 and finally...
NUMBER ONE for two weeks!!
Steve then held the number two slot for
three more weeks (so far...)

 

The award-night show was hosted by
BOB HOWE & the (8-piece)
HILLBILLY HEAVEN band
(Bob, Allan, Terry, Tomi,
Kenny, Clare, George & Greg).

More photos of the night can be found
by clicking HERE...

I Remember You-hooooo! FRANK, DONNA and JOHN (photo by Phil Cole)

FRANK holds court for the finale song...'I Remember You' (photo by Phil Cole)

RICHARD, NICKI, FRANK, DONNA, STEVE, JOHN (photo by Phil Cole)

Enjoying the night: KENNY KITCHING, FRANK, NICKI and COL JOYE (photo by Dianne)

Frank with the newly unveiled bust.

...with sculptor Kate French.

...with Organiser/Fundraiser Lorraine Pfitzner, Chad Morgan who performed at the unveiling, and Singer/Fundraiser Dianne Lindsay.

The plaque below the bust.

Photos, with thanks to Sharon Ifield and Dianne Lindsay.

A message from Frank:

This book on Buddy Holly published by McNidder& Grace is the latest by the well-known English author and BBC broadcaster Spencer Leigh who has written many music biographies including Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra.

While on my 2018 UK tour, Spencer and I got together in Liverpool where he, knowing I had actually met Buddy Holly, asked me to do the foreword to this book. This was an honour to be able to relate the story of our historical meeting.

The book is available in both Paperback and Kindle formats via Amazon in the U.S.A.

and in Paperback via Amazon in the U.K.

Frank's Juke Box Jury:

Currently spinning in Frank's CD player is the latest offering from his friend and Musical Director BOB HOWE. It is a collection of 21 instrumentals and 3 songs that are either themes or tunes closely connected with Movies and TV shows. Everything from Exodus to Midnight Cowboy to Local Hero and highly recommended by Frank!

You can check it out in detail at Bob's website...

4 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Holy Trinity Church,
Nelson Place,
Broadstairs, Kent. CT10 1HQ

7 May 2018
Frank Ifield Spills The Beans Dinner*
Northampton
Venue TBC

8 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Rhodes Arts Complex,
1-3 South Road,
Bishops Stortford, Herts. CM23 3JG

10 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
The Hawth Studio Theatre,
Hawth Avenue,
Crawley, West Sussex. RH10 6YZ

11 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
The Ivy Leaf Club,
Gracious Street,
Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 1AP

20 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Radlett Centre,
1 Aldenham Avenue,
Radlett, Herts. WD7 8HL

23 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Tivoli Theatre,
West Borough,
Wimborne Minster, Dorset. BH21 1LT

26 May 2018 2.30pm
(rescheduled from May 5)
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Congress Theatre,
50 Gwent Square,
Cwmbran, Torfaen, Wales. NP44 1PL

29 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Carnegie Theatre,
Finkle Street,
Workington, Cumbria, CA14 2BD

31 May 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Charter Theatre,
Guildhall, Lancaster Road,
Preston. Lancs. PR1 1HT

1 June 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Crofters Hotel,
Garstang By-Pass Road,
A6 Cabus, Garstang. PR3 1PH

2 June 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Globe Arena,
Christie Way, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

3 June 2018
Frank Ifield with Nicki Gillis
Castle Green Hotel,
Castle Green Lane,
Kendal, Cumbria. LA9 6RG

5 June 2018
Frank Ifield Spills The Beans Dinner*
Hard Day's Night Hotel
Liverpool

* 'Spills The Beans' are exclusive dinners where Frank tells stories he can't tell on stage! More details will be published as they come to hand.

NB: All dates are correct at the time of publishing, but subject to change.

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TV & Radio Broadcaster Susie Elelman will be hosting non-stop entertainment on the Rhythmboat Live Stage over two days. The stage will feature plenty of giveaways and performances from country music legend Frank Ifield, the NSW Police Band, Oscar Kami and Mamamia: A Tribute to ABBA.

The NSW Seniors Festival is an annual fun, free event featuring over 50 exhibitors and plenty of giveaways. The Expo takes place alongside the Premier's Gala Concerts on Thursday 5 & Friday 6 April.

Where: Hall 4, Exhibition Centre, International Convention Centre (ICC), 14 Darling Drive, Sydney NSW 2000

When: Thursday 5 April, 9am - 6pm & Friday 6 April, 9am - 3pm

Cost: Free, bookings not required

CLICK HERE to see the full program and performance times!

Canterbury Country presents... Thursday 8th March 2018 Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL 8pm in the Starlight Auditorium 'AWARD WINNERS SHOW' featuring TROY KEMP (2017 Spur Winner) STACEY MORRIS (2005 Spur Winner) NICKI GILLIS (2009 Spur Winner) CLARE O'MEARA (2018 CMAA Country Musician of the Year)

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Frank Ifield is on the cover of the August issue of Westerner magazine and inside he is interviewed by Editor Nick Wale, revealing much about Frank's recording career. Below is an extract from the beginning of the article, followed by a link to download your free copy of the magazine!

It's great to meet you, Frank. I'm very excited about this interview. I grew up listening to your records.

Thank you! It's great to meet you, too.

You're actually from Coventry, just down the road [from me], aren't you?

I was born in Coventry, but I moved when I was around three years old-so I don't remember much about Coventry.

How did you first become interested in singing?

We moved to London during the Blitz. That's where I first started singing-in the air raid shelters. I was around six years old, singing 'Ten Green Bottles' in front of the class.

How did you start your actual recording career?

I came out to Australia in 1948. I was ten years old. I spent the next ten years in Australia. When I was thirteen, I made my first recording that was with Regal Zonophone. I was still going to school, and my dad wasn't giving me a lot of encouragement at that point as he thought showbusiness was too precarious. I pursued my dream, and what I wanted to do, and it worked. He was quite happy with it in the end. The first recording I did was Australia's Amateur Hour, on the radio, which I didn't win by the way. I came second on it. It was a bit of a downer-but the recording company heard what I did and enjoyed it and got me to record for them. So, in one sense, I won.

It must have been the same feeling for you as the Eurovision Song Contest...

That's right. It was strange that. That was when I was with singer Matt Monro, 'A Song for Europe.' I remember Matt very clearly. I had a song called 'I Can't Get Enough of Your Kisses'. We were betting on each other's songs. I thought he would win and he thought mine would win-and neither of us won. Matt had a big hit with his song when it was released, and I didn't release mine as it came third. However, I found out later that my song went to number one on the sheet music charts. Later, I did it with 'Alone Too Long', which missed out too. I never won a contest in my life.

But you did score three consecutive number ones...

To find out the answer to this great question, and an interview filled with others, you can download your copy of 'Westerner' here. It's free and also includes interviews from singing sensation Connie Francis and 'British Invasion' star Brian Poole.

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While on his recent UK tour, Frank Ifield visited Uckfield FM to be part of Paul Hazell's World Of Country. Broadcast in two parts, the theme for the shows was 'He Did It Frank's way'. Paul and Frank chose a wide range of classic country originals to play, each being followed by Frank's cover version. The result highlighted the originality of Frank's vocals and the musical arrangements of Norrie Paramor and others.

Did you miss the shows when they were broadcast in May and June 2017? Fear not! You can hear the replays anytime by clicking HERE (www.uckfieldfm.co.uk/shows/paul-hazells-world-of-country/)
or go straight to PART ONE or PART TWO.

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Thursday 9^th March 2017
At the Canterbury Country show in Sydney,
FRANK IFIELD presented the 2017 Frank Ifield International Spur Award
(in association with Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club and Galston Rotary Club) to....
... TROY KEMP !!

Frank Ifield, TROY KEMP, Richard Young (Galston Rotary)
This was the 20th International Spur Award to be presented!

As part of his prize, Troy Kemps's recording 'Small Town Girl' has been released for airplay in the UK and Europe. In its first week it entered the country chart at #9 and has now moved from #7 up to #6.

Frank and Richard surprise Troy onstage

SPUR WINNERS:- NICKI GILLIS (2009), WAYNE HORSBURGH (2000), FRANK,
EMMA HANNAH (2012), NEILLYRICH (2016), TROY KEMP (2017)

Hosts of the 'Australian Country Showcase' TV show -
NICKI GILLIS and FRANK IFIELD with TROY KEMP

EMMA HANNAH, KENNY KITCHING, TROY KEMP, NICKI GILLIS, FRANK, RICHARD YOUNG
Wayne leads the finale and Frank joins in

Backstage...four of the finest yodellers...
Wayne Horsburgh, Mary Schneider, Frank Ifield, George Payne

The cast of the show:- NICKI GILLIS, KENNY KITCHING, BOB HOWE, WAYNE HORSBURGH, FRANK IFIELD, EMMA HANNAH, MATT McNEILLY, AMELIA RICHARDS, TROY KEMP

FRANK IFIELD and the 2017 Frank ifield International Spur Award winner....TROY KEMP

More photos at the Canterbury Country website...

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Frank Ifield and Bob Downe

Bob Downe, John 'Elvis' Collins and Frank Ifield

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Sunday 5th March 2017:
Frank Ifield was the special guest on Radio 3AW in Melbourne on the 3AW Nightline show with Philip Brady, Simon Owens and Kevin Trask.
You can hear a full podcast of the interview by clicking HERE...

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'Birthday Celebrations'

Frank celebrating his birthday in November with JIM HAYNES, MELANIE DYER, AMBER LAWRENCE
and WAYNE HORSBURGH. Thanks to Gaye Johnson-Weeks for the photo.

Frank was also on-hand at the December Canterbury Country show in Sydney, to help the show's producer (and Frank's Musical Director) BOB HOWE celebrate his birthday!

FRANK IFIELD backstage with 2015 'SPUR' Award-Winner DONNA FISK
and producer BOB HOWE (photo by Laura Gillis)

WAYNE HORSBURGH and BOB singing Bye Bye Love
which appears on Bob's new CD 'Act Naturally' (photo by John Dalton)

Co-Host and 2009 'Spur' winner NICKI GILLIS on Air Guitar
and BOB on Tomkins Guitar (photo by John Dalton)

In the audience, FRANK, JOHN DALTON (co-writer with Bob of Wayne's Diamantina Yodel), WAYNE HORSBURGH and 2RRR-FM Broadcaster MICHAEL PARSONS (photo by Therese Dalton)

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Thanks to Todd who sent in these two photos of his Mother. Frank remembers Lynette (below left) as being a fine singer and the photo below right was taken at the airport on the 4th November 1959, just before Frank boarded the inaugural Comet flight to London. He also recalls that their mutual friend 'Laine Goddard "... wrote my first major hit here in Australia. It was a done to a slow rock and roll beat and called 'TRUE', based on the Overture from Swan Lake by some bloke called Tchaikovsky and arranged by Australia's legendary Jazz king Don Burrows". A blast from the past!

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Frank in full flight belting out a 'MO'ment to remember
at the MO Awards 40th Anniversary show.
(Photo by Terry Phillpot - Eyegraphics)

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FANFARE RECORDS MEDIA RELEASE:
FRANK IFIELD: THE ORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN SUPERSTAR RETURNS!

His Ultimate Collection of 22 Classic Hits & Rarities for the 1st time!

Frank Ifield started his career as a country singer in 1950 aged thirteen with an appearance on radio 2GB’s “Australia’s Amateur Hour” which led to stage shows with Tim McNamara and touring country NSW with Indian wrestling star “Big Chief Little Wolf” and then progressed to a recording contract with EMI aged 14.

At the end of the fifties, after releasing in excess of 40 records on the Regal Zonophone and then Columbia label and gaining wide experience of TV Shows from the very commencement of Australian television with his own show “Campfire Favourites, he returned to Britain in November 1959 to further his career with the burning desire to play the London Palladium.

After signing with Columbia Records in England he quickly gained credibility with his first release as a top 30 hit “Lucky Devil”. BY 1962 he created history and International recognition with a country/pop style recording of “I Remember You” which became the first single to sell in excess of one million copies in the UK alone. The next two, million-selling singles ensured another accolade as the first artist in the UK to have three consecutive number ones.

From the sixties to the eighties with scores of hits including seven individual number ones, his career became firmly established globally where history claims him as the first Australian to make the American Charts, and the primary trailblazer to open up America to the British invasion of the 60’s.

ENCORE TRACKLISTING 01 (Her Name Was) Joanne 02 Till I Waltz Again With You 03 Hearts On Fire 04 Silver Wings 05 I Remember You (Stereo Version) 06 I Wrapped Her In Ribbons 07 (I’ll Be Your) Hold Me Tight 08 Up, Up & Away 09 Forgettin’ About You 10 Close The Door 11 Angry At The Big Oak Tree 12 Play Waltzing Matilda Again 13 Crystal (I Can See Thru You) 14 You Only Live Once In Awhile 15 A Little Bit Of Push 16 Praised Be 17 California Cotton Fields 18 If Love Must Go 19 Broken Lady 20 Please 21 Good Hearted Woman 22 Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast RELEASED 22ND JULY 2016

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Australia's own 60s pop superstar, Frank Ifield, returned to the stage for two very special Mother's Day shows where he told his story and performed some of his hit songs for the first time in 30 years.

At the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre - Frank and the cast on stage:
Brodie Miles (as Young Frank), Wayne Horsburgh, Frank, Nicki Gillis and the band.

During this two-hour extravaganza where he told stories of his time at the top of the charts, he performed half a dozen of his hit songs and introduced some guest artists who sang other songs from the era when pop was grand.

Wayne Horsburgh, Frank Ifield, Nicki Gillis

This new show added the performance of his hit songs and lived up to its promise of being a delightful journey down memory lane for all ages.

Click the poster to enlarge...

The shows were on Saturday 7th May 2016 at The Seymour Centre, (York Theatre), SYDNEY and Sunday 8th May 2016 at Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, (Q Theatre), PENRITH. Brodie Miles as Young Frank

The Orchestra:- Alan Freeman, Bob Howe, Frank Ifield, Leon Isackson, Robin Workman

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Frank Ifield had hits in 1962 with I Remember You and The Wayward Wind as well as in 1963 with Lovesick Blues and Confessin' (That I Love You). The top ten UK artists who have spent longest at number one are: The Beatles - 69 Weeks Take That - 29 Weeks Wet Wet Wet - 23 Weeks The Spice Girls - 22 Weeks Queen - 21 Weeks Slade - 20 Weeks Elton John - 19 Weeks Rod Stewart - 18 Weeks The Rolling Stones - 18 Weeks Frank Ifield - 17 Weeks Source: The Coventry Telegraph, Oct 2014.

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Thursday 10^th March 2016
At the Canterbury Country show in Sydney,
FRANK IFIELD presented the 2016 International Spur Award
(in association with Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club and Galston Rotary Club) to....
NeillyRich!

FRANK IFIELD and TONY PAGE (Galston Rotary) with NEILLYRICH

As part of their prize, NeillyRich's recording 'Sure Feels Good To Me' has been released for airplay in the UK and Europe. In its first week it was the highest new entry on the country chart at #10, leapt to #5 in its second week and rose to #2. It continued to stay in the Top 20 for record number of weeks.

FRANK with 2014 winners STUIE FRENCH & CAMILLE TE NAHU

FRANK with previous winners NICKI GILLIS (2009) and WAYNE HORSBURGH (2000)

NeillyRich ... surprise!

FRANK IFIELD with AMELIA RICHARDS and MATT McNEILLY