LORRAINE GARNESS

 

Lorraine Garness, later known as Lorraine Garness-Sydall, was an Australian singer and television performer associated with Sydney's popular music scene in the early 1960s. In 1961, Lorraine Garness appeared as a singer on the Australian television programme Bandstand, hosted by Brian Henderson. A surviving kinescope recording of a 1961 programme lists her among a line-up that included Johnny Devlin, Gary Shearston, Bryan Davies and Judy Stone. Surviving footage also identifies Lorraine Garness performing "Turn On The Sunshine" in 1961.

She was reportedly from Hornsby, New South Wales, and performed at Sydney entertainment venues, including the Texas Tavern in Kings Cross, although further primary documentation of these engagements is still needed.  One particularly interesting episode in her life occurred during the Beatles' Australian tour in June 1964. Sydney photographer John Howard, who organised and photographed Paul McCartney's 22nd birthday celebration at Sydney's Sheraton Hotel, later identified Lorraine Garness-Sydall in one of his photographs from the party. His accompanying caption described her as a"TV songstress" at the time and stated that she later lived in Colorado.

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