IVY SOMERFIELD

 

Country singer Ivy Somerfield earned the title “The Lady of Country Music” through countless performances at hotels, clubs, and on television. Born in Murwillumbah into a musical family, with grandparents who were talented pianists, it was no surprise that Ivy began playing piano. Her true passion, however, was singing. Encouraged by her father, who often sang himself, she would perform for their small community. By age 12, she had learned all of Tex Morton’s songs and decided to pursue a singing career. When her mother gifted her a Pacific Guitar, Ivy quickly mastered her first three chords, and with them, won a silver cup at the Kingaroy Talent Quest at just 13 years old.

She was deeply influenced by the singing of Shirley Thoms and began performing at country shows around town, covering songs by Shirley Thoms and Tex Morton. In 1964, she moved her family to Sydney, where she found work as a machinist while her husband took on long-distance truck driving. She still managed to sing at local clubs and parties. After her husband’s sudden death, she faced the challenge of raising two teenage boys on a single income. In 1979, her life shifted again—her singing career received a big boost, and the following year she remarried, tying the knot with her second husband, Wally Gibson, who encouraged her to keep pursuing her music.

In August 1980, she put out a custom EP of original songs that her fans snapped up quickly. The success of that first EP led to a recording deal with Selection Records, resulting in her debut LP, 'Livin' On Lovin',' which featured nine of her own tracks and three written by her son, Chris. In the 1980s, she formed a backing band called Blue Misty to tour with her and went on to release three more albums. She also contributed songs to compilation records by Selection Records alongside artists like Johnny Heap, Reg Poole, and Gordon Parsons. Ivy died on January 1, 1991.

Recommended Listening