Hi everyone. Truly Judy’s Uncommon Oldies takes us to station 3DB 1030 AM in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to their Top 40 survey in April of 1961.
My survey artist, Lonnie Lee, grew up on a sheep farm in New South Wales. He was a pioneer in Australian rockabilly music and has worked in the industry for over 60 years. In 1957, he won a contest as “Australia’s Own Elvis Presley” and was soon managed by Johnny O’Keefe. His first single, “Ain’t It So”, was written by O’Keefe and became a top 10 hit in Sydney in November of 1959.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, Lonnie Lee toured the United Kingdom and the US until about 1971 when he settled in the US to record and write songs. In 2007, he even toured with Crash Craddock, Lesley Gore and Bobby Vee. Lonnie had toured with Crash Craddock and the Everly Brothers back in 1958, as well. In 1961 Lee was awarded a commercial radio award, the Golden Microphone Award, as Australia’s Most Popular Recording Star. At the peak of his career, Lee had eight top 100 singles, which included three top 20 records. He achieved five gold records.
On the 3DB 1030 AM Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Top 40 survey in April of 1961 at #19, here is Lonnie Lee and his group, The Leemen, with Baby Baby, Bye Bye on the Leedon label.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_Lee
