Gary Shearston
Gary Reht Shearston (born 9 January 1939 in Inverell, New South Wales) is an Australian singer and songwriter who was a leading figure of the folk music revival of the 1960s. He is notable as a performer of Australian traditional folk songs in an authentic style. He scored a Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom in 1974 with his cover version of the Cole Porter song "I Get a Kick out of You".
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[edit] Early life
Shearston was born the son of James Barclay Shearston. During World War II his father was posted on active service and Shearston and his mother lived on his grandparents' property at Tenterfield. At he age of 11 his family moved to Sydney and he attended Newington College (1950–1955), commencing as a preparatory school student in Wyvern House.[1]
[edit] Working life
Shearston trained as press correspondent with United Press and his first show business job was with The Tintookies, the Australian travelling puppet show. He joined the Hayes Gordon Ensemble Theatre working as an actor and stage manager.
[edit] Music career
Having taken up guitar, Shearston learned a repertoire of English, American and Australian folk songs and at 19 become a professional singer. He worked in hotels and sang at The Folksinger and with the American gospel and blues singer Brother John Sellers. In 1962 Shearston signed with Leedon Records and the following year he was signed to the Australian division of CBS Records by A&R manager Sven Libaek. In March 1965 Sydney radio stations started playing a track from his album, Australian Broadside. His single "Sydney Town" hit the Top 10 in his home city. In 1966 and 1967, Shearston became Australia's biggest record seller of folk music. He had his own national television show, Just Folk, and Peter Paul and Mary recorded a cover of his "Sometime Lovin'". They also invited Shearston to go to the United States. He spent a year in London and then four years on the East Coast of the United States. In 1972 he returned to England and re-recorded some songs for the album, Dingo. The song that attracted most attention was his deadpan interpretation of Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick out of You". In 1990 he received the Tamworth Songwriters' Association's award for 'Bush Ballad of the Year'.
[edit] Church career
Shearston returned to Australia in 1989 and is now a priest in the Anglican Church of Australia in rural New South Wales.
[edit] Selected discography and chart positions
- "Sometime Lovin'" - 1965 (#38 Sydney)
- "Sydney Town" - 1965 (#9 Sydney, #36 Brisbane)
- "I Get a Kick out of You" - 1974 (#7 UK,[2] #19 Sydney, #12 Brisbane, #11 Adelaide)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 178
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 495. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
[edit] External links
- Gary Shearston's official website
- Review of Best of All Trades, double CD set 2009 (Simply Australia)
- Howlspace article
- Pop Archives – I Get A Kick Out of You feature
- Undercover Music
- Sydney Morning Herald album review, 2007
- article and original song - Three Early Recordings of Gary Shearston: A Personal Reflection (Jim Low)
