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Smoky
Dawson MBE (19th
March 1913 – 14th
February 2008) was an Australian country music performer. He was
widely touted as Australia's first cowboy. Born
Herbert Henry Dawson in Collingwood, Victoria, a suburb of
Melbourne and raised in the rural area of Warrnambool, his parents died at
an early age, resulting in his living for several years in an orphanage.
Music was always his way of comforting himself, and during World War II he
took his talent to comfort others, serving with the Australian
Entertainment Unit. When
he returned from the war, he married Florence "Dot" Cheers in
1944, and they travelled to the United States to record, and play at the
Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. When he returned to Australia in
1952 he started in his own radio show, The Adventures of Smoky Dawson,
which stayed on the air for ten years. At its peak the show was broadcast
on 69 stations across the country. Dot also had her own radio shows for
children. A
long career of recording and performing followed his radio show, and till
his death still enjoyed performing. He has frequently been recognized for
his contributions to music and entertainment. In 1978 he was awarded an
MBE for his services to country music. In 1983 he was named to the
Australian Country Music Roll of Renown. In 1988 he appeared in two
episodes of the Australian Drama serial A Country Practice as a drifter
who passes through Wandin Valley and proposes to town gossip, Esme Watson.
His performance was so popular with viewers, that he made another
appearance in 1989. In 2005 he was inducted into the Australian Record
Industry Association Hall of Fame. He has also been recognized in the
United States, and has been awarded the Honor Award of the Grand Ole Opry.
In April 2007 he donated his first electric guitar to the Australian
Stockman's Hall of Fame Dawson died after a short illness on February 14th , 2008. He was survived by his wife, Dot. |
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Smoky Dawson |
Smoky Dawson
Smoky Dawson & Bobby Cash
Smoky Dawson & Jimmy Barnes
Smoky Dawson, Lee Kernaghan, Reg Lindsay & Ray Kernaghan |
Smoky Dawson |
