DAVE'S DIARY - 21 SEPTEMBER 2005 - PREVIEW EPISODE 12 - SERIES 4
SMOKY DAWSON HEADLINES NU COUNTRY TV
 |
Famous
singing actor Smoky Dawson celebrates 70 years in the saddle with
release of his new album The Homestead Of My Dreams at the
ripe young age of 92. We scoop 60 Minutes and Australian Story in an amazing interview with Smoky - the highlight of Nu Country TV this Saturday - September 24. Smoky tells all of a drama-drenched life that began in Abbotsford and Warrnambool and took him all over the world. |
He talks
of being married for 62 years to his wife Dot, 98, after nine years of
courting after his radio debut in Preston station 3JR in the thirties.
The couple met seven decades ago while working together on radio and still
host their own syndicated show from Sydney.
Smoky tells of hosting the national Kelloggs wireless show The Adventures
Of Smoky Dawson from 1952 for a decade.
Dawson recalls
his life in Warrnambool where he headed the 1917 Anzac Day march and finished
27th in a field of 400 in the 1932 Warrnambool to Melbourne bike race.
The singer reveals the Dawson recipe for longevity - he included My
Wonderful Four Legged Friend about his horse Flash who died at 35
in 1982.
He also talks of other wise men with whom he has performed - including
the former Louisiana Governor and fellow singing actor Jimmie Davis who
lived to 100 and Roy Acuff who went to God at 89 in 1992.
Dawson was the first artist to record for Acuff-Rose Nashville record
label Hickory in 1951 - 10 years after his Aussie debut in 1941?
Smoky made his first movie The Cowboy From Down Under in 1950 and
reveals how he made international headlines when his kangaroo escaped
while promoting the New York premiere of Peter Lawford-Richard Boone movie
Kangaroo.
The singer also details the saloon light shooting out escapades of the
late Gene Autry and Tex Morton during his U.S sojourn.
He also reveals he recorded his new disc in his home studio with producer
Lorenzo Toppano whose dad Enzo and uncle Lou worked with him in the thirties
and forties.
Dawson's album sleeve is adorned with paintings by Pro Hart who was inspired
by the singer's poetry.
CLICK HERE for a Smoky
Dawson feature from the Diary on January 23, 2004.
FAITH HILL - FROM STAR TO STEPFORD WIFE
 |
Mississippi
minstrel Faith Hill is competing with singing spouse Tim McGraw in
movies and on radio, TV and charts. McGraw, 38, won critical acclaim for his role in acclaimed movie Friday Night Lights and Hill appeared in The Stepford Wives. Although Hill and McGraw cancelled an Australian promo tour because of terrorism threats in the aftermath of September 11 she has strong local links. She cut expatriate Port Douglas singer-songwriter Kylie Sackley's song Sunshine And Summertime on her sixth album Fireflies. But this Saturday it's another tune - featuring Sackley's co-writer John Rich of Big & Rich - that is featured on Nu Country TV. |
Faith, 37, performs smash hit Mississippi Girl from the disc that sold 329,000 copies on debut as it topped pop and country charts.
Hill has
now sold 25 million plus albums sold in an 11-year recording career that
began when she fled her ironically named hometown Star.
CLICK HERE for a Hill
feature from the DIARY.
CAMILLE TE NAHU
 |
Expatriate
Kiwi singer Camille Te Nahu and Stuart French perform a video clip
of the title track of their duet album Not Without You. |
PAUL COSTA
Robinvale
singer Paul Costa performs a video clip of the Will Kimbrough song House
of Mirrors.
Kimbrough, a prolific songwriter, also worked as Billy Joe Shaver's guitarist
after the death of Eddy Shaver when Jesse Taylor was ill.
Costa and brother Rod, a featured artist on the Warrnambool Hank Williams
birthday bash last week, have made six albums.
But this song is from Costa's new indie album Walkin' In These Shoes.
CLICK HERE for a Costa story
from the Diary on July 12, 2005.
CRAIG GILES
 |
Country
singer Craig Giles vies with Brownlow medallist and dancing actor
Shane Crawford as the best-known export from Riverina township Finley. Giles performs Who Said Girls Can't Drive on Nu County TV this week and denies it's about Finley born Nu Country DJ and treasurer Barbara O'Neill. Crawford has his name on welcome signs to the pretty township - also home to former Geelong champion Jack Hawkins and his son, future AFL draftee Tom. But Craig is not about to be banished to the back of the bus. He has released 11 indie albums in 20 years plus and performs the country cabaret and festival circuit with his band Ambush. |
Finley honoured
Craig with a plaque containing his photo framed by a hand carved wooden
scroll, baring the inscription Finley - The Home Of Craig Giles.
The plaque is now mounted in the Finley Mall and vies with the O'Neill
family farm as one of the area's tourist attractions.
Further info - www.craigiles.com