GORDON PARSONS 1926—1990
Gordon Parsons was a quietly spoken, tall, attractive country singer born in 1926 in Paddington, Sydney, NSW. An only child, he moved to Bellingen NSW with his parents in 1929.
In 1937 Gordon received his first guitar by mail order and was soon known for his talent around the district. He left home at the ripe old age of 14 years , later working as a sleeper cutter and becoming a very skilled axeman.
Gordon was persuaded to enter "Terry Dear's Amateur Hour." Coming second, he was offered a recording deal with Regal Zonophone Records.
Gordon was known for his gentlemanly ways and always tipped his hat to the ladies. A real "Aussie" and a man's man, he was one of the best and a typical old time showman. Gordon married Zelda, a member of the Ashton's Circus family, and they had a daughter Gail born in 1949.
Gordon toured regularly with major country music acts such as Slim Dusty, Rick & Thel, Tex Morton, Nev Nicholls, Athol McCoy and Chad Morgan and it was while touring with Chad on the Slim dusty show that Gordon & Chad penned the now infamous song "The Fatal Wedding" recorded by Chad.
In between tours Gordon "went bush" to, as he put it, to write songs, work and go fishing. In his time off Gordon loved his beer and he loved fishing. (In his own words "I'd rather be fishing than doing anything else" )
In 1951 Gordon recorded another six songs for Regal Zonophone followed by more throughout the 50's and 60's. From the 50's to the 80's Gordon recorded and released through Mystery, Hadley, CM Records, Columbia and Selection.
1956 saw the biggest break in Gordon's career when he wrote the song "Pub With No Beer". Someone had handed Gordon a scrap of paper with a few pencilled verses and suggested it might make a good song. That's how it all began.
Gordon began to add verses about the characters who frequented the pub at Taylors Arms. He put it to music and sang it at parties around the area, fine tuned it again and used it on the show while on tour with Slim Dusty and Chad Morgan. He planned to record it.
In 1957 Slim recorded it on the "B" side of "Saddle Boy." Pop radio flipped the record and it raced up the charts and became the first '78 record to win a gold award.
Gordon was also a very good songwriter. Along with Chad's song, "The Fatal Wedding", the popular "That's The Kind Of Life I Live" and "Hobnail Express" recorded by Rex Dallas shows just how versatile his writing was.
In 1978 Gordon married for the third time to Jeanette and they settled in Sydney.
He was inducted into the Tamworth "Hands Of Fame" in 1979.
He produced three top classic albums on Selection label through the '80's. "The Old GP", Just Passing Through" and Throw In A Line"
Gordon was inducted into the Tamworth "Roll Of Renown" in 1982. He was special guest star at the Australasian Country Music Awards and his effigy was added to the Tamworth Wax Museum in 1984.
2003 saw a Bronze Bust erected in his honour in the Bicentennial Park, Tamworth.
His songs, "The Passing Of Cobber Jack" and " Where The Bellinger River Flows" are listed in the top 50 of Australia's most requested country songs.
Gordon Parsons passed away on August 17th 1990 and is buried in the Pinegrove Cemetery.
His music lives on!! Gordon Parsons has gone fishing!
