Gary Shearston

Gary Reht Shearston (born January 9 1939) 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 version of the Cole Porter classic I Get A Kick Out Of You.

Early life

Shearston was born in Inverell, 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. [Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 178 ]

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.

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" and the following year Leedon's distributor, "Festival", signed him to CBS. In March 1965 Sydney radio stations started playing a track from his album, "Australian Broadside". His single "Sydney Town" hit the Top Ten single 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 Gary to go to America. He spent a year in London and then four years on the East Coast of the United States of America. 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".

Church career

Shearston returned to Australia in 1989 and is now an Anglican Church minister in rural Australia.

elected Discography & Chart Positions

* Sometime Lovin' - 1965 (#38 Sydney)
* Sydney Town - 1965 (#9 Sydney, #36 Brisbane)
* I Get A Kick Out Of You - 1974 (#7 UK, #19 Sydney, #12 Brisbane, #11 Adelaide)

External links

* [http://www.garyshearston.com/ Gary Shearston's Official Website]
* [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/en4/shearstongary/shearstongary.htm Howlspace article]
* [http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=1387 Pop Archives – I Get A Kick Out of You feature]
* [http://www.undercovermusic.com.au/gary_shearston.htm Undercover Music]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd-reviews/here-there-now-then/2007/08/03/1185648107703.html SMH Album Review 3 August 2007]

References