Slim was born Ralph Ernest Newton on October 22nd, 1932 in Western Australia.
He began in music by playing the ukulele and the Hawaiian Steel guitar with Frank Tozer. His first tour took place in Western Australia in 1954 with the late Tim McNamara. In 1955 he did his own road tour from Perth to Brisbane traveling through Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. He joined Jack Gill's Rodeo for a short tour shortly after his own tour finished.
Moving to Punchbowl New South Wales in 1957 Slim went on to win two talent quests at the Cumberland Hotel in Bankstown (these quests were ran by Reg Lindsay). These wins helped him to appear on the Reg Lindsay Show, radio and at pubs and other live venues. Meeting many top artists of the time, among which was Rick and Thel Carey who recorded Slims first recorded original "You Can Say That Again".
After marrying a Sydney girl in September 1958 he moved back to Perth and formed a successful duo with Mick Kodra they were known as the Maverics. The Maverics appeared on TV as well as radio and was well received at pubs, clubs and social functions. Slim went on to form the trio The Westlanders with Jack Busber and Jimmie Nunn.
His marriage produced five children of which two were boys. The two boys and one of the girls followed their father into the entertainment industry. The eldest Eric was killed at the age of 22 years on November 22nd 1981 while returning home from a gig. Steve Newton became a managing partner in ENREC Recording Studios in Tamworth New South Wales which is now located at Kurri Kurri New South Wales.
In 1971 Slim moved to Tamworth New South Wales where on Sunday October 24th 1971 Hadley Studios Tamworth put down "Redback On The Toilet Seat" which went No. 1 nationally in July 1972. It was rerecorded by many including Rex Franklin in New Zealand and the rock group Brownsville Station in the United States of America.
1972 saw Slim do a small tour with the late Tex Morton. The following years saw him tour with the Rick and Thel Show visiting most of main land Australia, Tasmania and the surrounding islands.
After the success of "The Redback On The Toilet Seat" Hadley Records put down five L.P.'s, several E.P.'s and a couple of singles for Slim. ENREC Recording Studios then released the album "For Old Times Sake".
The original E.P. of "The Redback On The Toilet Seat" won the 1972 Golden Guitar for the Highest Selling Country Track and went on to earn three gold records. Today it still holds the accreditation of being the only record to make gold record sales in Tamworth New South Wales.
1977 saw Slim inducted into the Australasian Country Music Hands of Fame in Tamworth.
Slim recorded "There's A Lady Who's Crying Tonight" at the ENREC Recording Studios in 1993, a three track cassette that's title track at the time was dedicated to Lorretta Lynn and the late Conway Twitty.
Steve Newton of ENREC Recording Studio produced a fourteen track album for Slim next that was titled "Momma Your Guitar's Come Back Home". It was released on the Larrikin label through Festival Records on both cassette and C.D.
Slim's next album "It's Me Past And Present" includes two duets with Mary Holdom, an original recording of "The Redback On The Toilet Seat" and eleven songs previously unrecorded. The album was again produced by Steve at ENREC but this time was released on Dingo Track Records.
* 1997 saw Slim presented the Living Legend Award at the Kempsey Country Music Festival.
* 1999 saw Slim presented the TIARA Pioneer Award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
* 2004 saw Slim presented the T.S.A Song Maker Award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
In 2005 while on tour with the Tamworth on Parade Show at the Hexham Bowling Slim was presented with the National Tribute Award acknowledging his contribution to the Australian Country Music Industry.
Slim went back to the recording studio in 2006 and put down the album "Bush Ballads to Bulldust" again produced at ENREC by Steve Newton. This twelve track album was released with Dingo Track Records.
2008 saw Slim inducted to the "Wall Of Fame" at LBS Recording Studios Tamworth during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
