WOMEN OF AUSSIE MUSIC 1960s -1990s
Dedicated to the lesser known women in the music industry from the 60s to the 90s.
Friday, August 8, 2025
ELLEN HUNDLEY
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
ANNIE BARRETT
Monday, July 21, 2025
HELEN MATTHEWS
Monday, July 14, 2025
DURE DARA
Duré Dara OAM was born on 18 September 1945 in Ipoh, Malaysia. She moved to Australia in 1962 and attended the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Melbourne. She later studied social work at the University of Melbourne. Since the 60s, she has frequently performed on ABC radio, recordings and at festivals and concerts around Australia as an improvising musician and contemporary jazz player. She joined the Brian Brown Quintet in the mid 70s and played on the albums 'Carlton Streets' (1975) and 'Moomba Jazz '76 Live From The Dallas Brooks Hall Vol. 2' (1976). Later she was well known for her work with the late jazz bassist and synths player David Tolley recording the albums, 'Cutheart' (1980) and 'You Know You Know' (1981). As an improvisational musician, Dara has collaborated on countless music projects with some of the most admired Australian musicians.
Dure Dara is widely celebrated as a trailblazing restaurateur, businesswoman, women’s equity activist and percussionist. She has also been director of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. She received the Medal of Order of Australia for services to the community and women’s groups. She was selected on the Inaugural Women’s Honour Roll by the Victorian government; was named a Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival; has received the Vida Goldstein Award for excellence in trade; and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at Parliament house in Canberra from the National Restaurant and Catering Association.
Monday, July 7, 2025
WENDY GROSE
After completing school Wendy took piano lessons again, learnt music theory, studied the guitar and had weekly singing lessons. She regularly performed in a number of folk clubs around Sydney. During this time she started working at Clover Recording Studios, where she was assigned to ring musicians to book them for session work. It was soon recognised that Wendy was talented, and she began to work as a session/studio singer and guitar player herself, and would continue to do so for the next twelve years.
Meanwhile the musical doors continued to open for her and at the age of 18 Wendy was given a recording contract with Albert Music. At that time Albert Studios signed up a handful of young singer/songwriters, of which Wendy was the only woman. Wendy met up with the band Crossfire, the first Jazz/Rock fusion band in Australia. Crossfire played on her debut album 'Backyard of Blue', released when Wendy was 19. She toured with Crossfire as their support act playing at universities around Sydney and Melbourne. She made many TV appearances in 1975 including Countdown, Radio with Pictures and GTK.
After playing at a sell-out concert at the Sydney Opera House supporting Crossfire, Wendy got the travel bug and went backpacking with her partner Don. On New Years’ Day 1976 they set off on a 10 month trip travelling overland from Bali to Europe, then to the U.S. and back to Australia across the Pacific. On returning from her travels Wendy formed a band and played regularly at the Roxy Café and at the Pin Ball Wiz in Sydney. The band included some of her old friends from Crossfire, and guitarists Tommy Emmanuel and Steve Murphy. They performed at concerts for the Save the Whale campaign in Sydney in 1977.
In that year Wendy teamed up with guitarist and singer Lorraine Silk. The high-point of their time together was appearing as support act for Ry Cooder on his Australian tour. In 1980 Wendy appeared regularly on the ABC TV children’s' show Mr Squiggle, singing original songs. In the early 80s Wendy recorded three tracks at Sydney's EMI studios, which are on her album 'More Than Hope'. Wendy sang for a season in the Magic Pudding Band (a band formed by Australian composer Nigel Westlake). In 1983 Wendy spent six months in Jeff Harvey’s band on the Mike Walsh Show (a popular TV variety show) as a backing singer with Kerrie Bidell, Sally Dodds and Mickey Leyton. In 1991 Wendy moved to the Byron Bay area in Northern NSW and soon after changed her name to Wendy Grace (a family name).
In 1997 Wendy released an album of her original songs entitled 'Infinite Sky'. The album was recorded at the Music Farm, a studio in the Byron Bay hinterland. It was produced and engineered by bass player Jeremy Alsop and featured Mary Doumany playing the concert harp and Riley Lee playing the shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute. Wendy lives in the Tweed Valley in northern NSW and she runs her popular singing workshops and weekly singing groups.
DONITA DEY
In 1971 Donita left the group to go touring with country star Buddy Williams for six months. On return she moved to Sydney to try the club scene. During this period, she changed her name to Donita Dey, performed around the Club Circuit in New South Wales where her style of entertainment in playing both modern and county music and hits from all-time greats of that time, proved a great delight to her audiences. Donita then went on to tour throughout Australia to perform alongside such greats as Frank Ifield, Jay Justin, Col Joye, Digger Revell, Buster Noble, Lucky Star, Johnny Chester, Jade Hurley, Chad Morgan, Slim Dusty, Jimmy Little, Reg Lindsay, Judy Stone, Dinah Lee and Little Pattie and also with other well-known Australian artists. Many of Donita's tours included small towns with the venues being mostly in halls. Touring the Aboriginal Missions was such a learning experience, as Donita says, "it was an experience I wouldn't have missed, how different and what wonderful audiences".
Donita says that Tamworth was a part of her life for a few years. There she appeared on the Must Be Country TV Show which was as Donita says "Lots of fun". Donita only ever entered one of her singles at the Tamworth Awards and was placed in the finals of Best Female Vocalist. The song was "Warm Sheets, Can't Cover Up Your Cold, Cold Heart" which didn't win, but what an honour to reach the finals. Donita's many trips to America prevented her entering more of her singles in the years to follow, for which she is very regretful.
In the US she had a hit in California with her Tamworth nominated single "Warm Sheets, Can't Cover Up Your Cold, Cold Heart". Donita's trips to the US back then were not the done thing and she lost some popularity at home for doing so. Donita worked in the US on TV with Hank Williams Jnr and with David Allan Coe riding in David's touring bus. When Donita did her spot on the show David would stay on stage and play along on guitar. Donita recorded on Pike Records in the U.S. While in America Donita interviewed many great American artists for various radio stations in Sydney and some of these artists were Emmy Lou Harris, Carl Perkins, Oakridge Boys, The Osmonds, Joe Diffie, The Belamy Brothers, The Statler Brothers, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, John Schneider, Stella Parton, Mary Reeves (wife of Jim), Richard Carpenter, Robert Fuller, James Burton (lead guitarist for Elvis Presley), Faron Young, Ray Peterson, Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, Tom T. Hall, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Rodriquez, Skeeter Davis, Cliff Richards, Chuck Connors, Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins. She also agreed to interview Garth Brooks to coincide with the release of his first album.
Donita specialised in both Country and 50/60s Rock ‘n Roll and her lively stage performances brought out the best in the songs which her audiences loved. While performing at Clint Eastwood’s Hogs Breath Inn at Carmel on the San Francisco Bay, Donita was fortunate enough to spend some time conversing with the superstar and to coin a phrase to make her day. Back in Australia Donita was the guest artist on the Mike Walsh Show on several occasions and in the 1980s and 1990s she worked on television productions and commercials. She also became an extra for various movies which included the television show A Country Practice during its last five years of production. Donita also appeared regularly on various Country TV shows out of Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Tamworth and also performed for many charity events and concerts. In 1995 Donita organised a successful benefit concert at the Wentworthville Leagues Club in Sydney for her old friend Reg Lindsay who at that time was critically ill in hospital. After Donita retired in 1998, she and her husband returned to live in her hometown of Mortlake, and this is where they now still live happily together.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
CHRISTINA GEORGE
Soon after she moved to Tamworth and recorded her first album 'My Turn For Living'. In 1989 ''What’s The Bottle Done To My Baby'', an old Loretta Lynn cover, brought Christina to the finals of the Golden Guitar Awards. She soon became a regular performer at local Tamworth clubs and pubs, working as the Christina George Band with Peter Summers, Patti Morgan and Darren Howard. In 1990 she teamed up with Russell Bellette, Karen Lee and Dally Croft, formed the Christina George Band and toured all over NSW and QLD for the next four years.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
LYNETTE GUEST
In 1970 The Guest family travelled to Adelaide from Mulwala for Lynette to appear on Reg Lindsay’s Country and Western Hour on NWS9. Lynette sang two songs ''Yodelling Cowgirl'' and ''Peace In The Valley''. She then travelled around Australia with the Buddy Williams Show. During this tour while in Sydney she recorded harmony vocals on Buddy’s LP, 'Aussie On My Mind' and the Tex Morton, Buddy Williams, Sister Dorrie single, ''I Love Country Music''. She also made an appearance on the Tex Ritter UNICEF show that travelled around the world at the time.
She then appeared on John Williamson’s Travlin’ Out West TV show, which was recorded in Newcastle. When not on the road, Lynette did shows with the local Yackandandah CM Club and other clubs in the area and various artists such as Ray Kernaghan. In 1974 she was a finalist in the Australasian CM Awards for the Wilf Carter song, ''Yodelling Cowgirl'', from an album recorded live at a Parkes CMF concert. The following year she entered the CCMA Talent Quest and Jamboree, Tamworth, taking home the overall trophy. She was then signed by Opal Records in Tamworth. The first single released was ''For The First Time / Macleay Street Sydney''. In 1976 the album 'Be My Guest' was released and she promoted her new album, touring with Rex Dallas.
In the late 70s she worked with the harmony backing trio Skarlet (with Clelia Adams and Cate McCarthy), who were much in demand on the club and pub scene as well as back-up singers for the Australasian CM Awards, 2TM’s live radio show Country Muster and other events. In 1982 she appeared on Terry Gordon’s Must Be Country TV show, and also with Skarlet. In 1983 Lynette released her second album through Opal Records, 'Blue Days and Dark Nights'. In 1990 she was inducted into the Hands of Fame, Tamworth.
During the 90s she was kept busy singing in shows throughout NSW with fellow entertainers including Wayne Horsburgh, Ian Betteridge and Patti Morgan and released a new album with LBS Music, 'Trail of Dreams', produced by Lindsay Butler. In 2008 she won Female Vocal (Murray River Blues) and Group or Duo with Tom Maxwell for ''A Bushman Can’t Survive'' at the Stan Coster MBBAs. The following year she won Female Vocalist of the Year at the South-East GMMAs. In 2024 she won an OAM for her contribution to country music and charity.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
JUDI CONNELLI
Connelli is also known for her television soap operas such roles most especially The Young Doctors, in which she played regular Annemarie Austin from 1977 to 1978 and Prisoner playing 'Cookie', in episodes originally aired in 1982. Connelli's work includes leading theatre roles with Opera Australia in The Rake's Progress (Mother Goose), The Mikado (Katisha), Fiddler on the Roof (Golda), The Merry Widow (Zozo), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett) and The Gondoliers (Duchess of Plaza-Toro).
Other productions include Into the Woods (The Witch), The Threepenny Opera (Mrs. Peachum), Chicago (Matron Mama Morton), The Pack of Women, Jerry's Girls and Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider). In concert she has appeared in Sunset Boulevard (Norma Desmond), Gypsy (Mamma Rose), Australia's Leading Ladies, Follies, Showstoppers, Candide and The 3 Divas. Connelli has recorded a number of albums on various labels. In 2004, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) by the Queen of Australia for services to theatre and charity.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
KIRRI ADAMS
Friday, January 17, 2025
SEONA McDOWELL
Born in Mumbai India of Irish English parents, folk singer Seona McDowell lived in NZ before adventuring across the pond in the 70s to commence her professional singing career. She toured with Don McLean early on appealing to audiences of all ages accompanying herself with six and twelve string guitars, banjo and autoharp. In March 1976 she supported Roy Orbison at Festival Hall in Melbourne. Seona appeared on radio, TV, hotel floor shows and concerts throughout Australia. Seona was first heard on vinyl releasing an EP 'Tribute to Woody Guthrie' on the Crest label. More singles followed and she recorded her debut album 'Down Country Roads On Gossamer Wings' in 1978 to great reviews: ''Seona charms them with her banjo'' (Herald Melbourne), ''Versatile.. looks and sound great'' (Denis Gibbons Radio Australia), ''Has class and a bright personal appeal'' (Dave Pincombe 3UZ Country). Seona would travel to the USA in the early 80s playing concerts and would eventually reside there.
Sunday, January 5, 2025
SHIRLEY McDONALD
Canadian singer born in Vancouver in 1927 who recorded in Canada before she moved to Sydney in 1959 after marrying an Australian. She appeared in Australian Playhouse (1966), I Like Music (1971) and The Bryan Davies Show (1962).She starred in her own show The Shirley McDonald Show which premiered in 1968 on ABC TV. She recorded a number of albums with Eric Jupp. Shirley died in 2008 aged 81.
Sunday, December 15, 2024
ANGELA AYERS
Monday, September 2, 2024
MEERA ATKINSON
Meera Atkinson is a Sydney-based poet and writer. She writes across all forms and genres, and her work has appeared in many publications. In 1987 she recorded an album 'This Is The Planet' on the Citadel label. The session lineup was a who's who including Steve Harris (bass/keyboards), Nick Fisher (drums), Penny Ikinger (guitar), Charlie Owen (guitar/sitar), Louis Tillett (piano/harmonica) and Dianne Spence on sax. Produced by Rob Younger it was her only release.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
JUDEE FORD
Monday, May 13, 2024
THE HICKEY SISTERS
Country and Western duo The Hickey sisters (Margaret and Kaye) grew up on a dairy farm, 28km from Shepparton, Victoria. Kaye was just 11, the youngest of three girls, when their mother died, meaning the girls had to become housekeepers while still at school. In 1956 when Kaye was about 15, she and Margaret began singing. After they had done a few concerts and dances around the Shepparton area, they entered a talent quest run by the local radio station, 3SR. Neville Pellitt was so impressed with the sisters, he began a CM program and a series of live shows, Harmony Trail, built around them. During this time, they were both Post Office telephonists.
The sisters travelled to Sydney and appeared on some Reg Lindsay shows with artists like Judy Stone and Athol McCoy. Their first recording was an EP 'Western Hits Vol 2' on the Viking label in 1958. In 1961 The Hickey Sisters recorded a self-titled EP under the auspices of Harmony Trail on W&G. The songs were: ''When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again'', ''It’s You, Only You That I Love'', ''Christmas Roses'' and the Col James-penned ''Angel Star'', one of their most popular hits. ''Angel Star'' was also released as a single. Another EP 'The Hickey Sisters Again' appeared in 1964. In 1965 the sisters cut their first album, 'Treasury of Country Music', in Shepparton for NZ label Viking, under the direction of Neville Pellitt.
When the sisters married and began their families, they phased out their music. Kaye and her husband had a dairy farm at Rochester, and Margaret lived in Wangaratta with her husband and family. In the late 70s Kaye did quite a bit of professional work with Basil Ray, an ex-member of Harmony Trail, but Basil died, curtailing her comeback. Kaye passed on her singing genes to her two eldest girls. In 1988 they were inducted into the Hands of Fame, Tamworth.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
DELORES FOXTONFINN
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
ANNE INFANTE
Anne has recorded three albums of her new age songs - 'Think Of It This Way', 'The Four Dragons' and 'Flight' - as well as an album of positive singing affirmations for adults 'Sing Your Way To Health', 'Wealth & Happiness', and two albums of self-esteem and other positive affirmations for children - 'Special As I Can Be' (with accompanying songbook) and 'Love Is A Circle' (CD only). She has also released 'Season' and 'Women Do', two albums of her original folk songs. Anne has had five popular crime novels published by Collins Crime Club. Ulverscroft released three of these in large print and two were serialised in Australian Woman’s Day in 1991 and 1993.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
GENEVIEVE McGUCKIN
Genevieve McGuckin was born in Brisbane. She has been a long-time collaborator (both musically and romantically speaking, at various points) of rock musician, Rowland S. Howard. During 1980, in London, the pair co-wrote two tracks, "Capers" and "Ho-Ho", for his band, the Birthday Party's debut LP 'Prayers on Fire' (April 1981). In 1982 McGuckin provided piano and organ on Howard and Lydia Lunch's cover version of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra's "Some Velvet Morning" (1967), which later appeared on Lunch's album, 'Honeymoon in Red' (1987). She also wrote the track, "Three Kings", for the album.
In 1984 both McGuckin, on keyboards, piano and organ, and Howard on guitar were founding members of the post-punk group, These Immortal Souls. Other founders were Rowland's brother, Harry on bass guitar and Epic Soundtracks (AKA Kevin Godfrey) on drums. They issued two albums, 'Get Lost (Don't Lie)' in October 1987 and 'I'm Never Gonna Die Again' in October 1992, before relocating to Melbourne in 1994. While in the group she also wrote music and lyrics on both their albums and a single.Sunday, August 7, 2022
VONNY JAY