Smoky Dawson the legendary father of Australian country music passed away on February 13th 2008 at the age of ninety-four years in Sydney New South Wales Australia. He was survived by his wife Dot.
Born Herbert Henry Dawson on March 19, 1913 in Collingwood Melbourne Victoria, no one expected the lad to become our first singing cowboy. His father served at Gallipoli in WWI taking a toll on him and the family. Both his mother and brother passed away soon after the war setting in motion a set of events that would see Herbert living on the streets.
In 1923 he entered the St Vincent De Paul orphanage where he met Tex Banes. It was in the mid twenties that Herbert acquired the nickname of “Smoky”.
When living at Warrnambool Victoria (Kelly country), when he was thirteen he met the brother of the famous Ned Kelly. It was while living here he witnessed authorities rounding up members of the Kelly family making him feel they were unfairly persecuted.
Smoky and Dot formed Australia’s first hillbilly club in Melbourne in 1938. His first songs were published by Melbourne’s leading Publisher of the time Allen’s in 1939.
1941 saw his first recording “I’m A Happy Go Lucky Cowboy” recorded at Homebush under legendary producer Arch Kerr.
Smoky did a stint in the Australian Army serving with the first entertainment unit during WWII he returned to Australia after falling seriously ill in Borneo.
Smoky married Dot ( who’s real name was Florence Cheers ) on March 13, 1944. They met at radio station 3JR in Melbourne in 1933 when Dot was performing her radio Programme. While Dot is famous for many things, the one thing she will always be recognized for is being the founder of Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight event in 1946. It was at this inaugural event that Norman Banks of radio station 3KZ organized for Smoky to launch the night shouting “coo–ee” from horseback to a worldwide listening audience.
1949 saw Smoky create “The Inlander” show for ABC Radio. The show ran for three years touring Australia’s capital cities. It was during this time that Smoky got the chance to perform with the great Peter Dawson on 5CL in Adelaide.
In 1951 Roy Acuff and Wesley Rose started the Hickory Records label in Nashville USA. Smoky became the first artist to record for Hickory when he recorded “The Lord’s Last Supper”.
In September 1952 Dot and Smoky landed back in Australia at Kingsford – Smith Airport, they were met by a large cheering crowd that included a cinesound news film crew. They were returning to Australia to start a national radio show that was sponsored by Kellogg’s and was called “The Adventures of Smoky Dawson”.
In 1953 the show goes to air and the song “Riding With A Smile And A Song” becomes the show’s theme song. It was also this year that Smoky forms a relationship that lasts for about three decades when he acquires a three month old palomino that becomes known to the world as “Flash”.
In March 1957 for his 45 birthday Dot gave Smoky the keys to a block a land at Ingleside which becomes “Jindawarrabel” Smoky’s fabled radio show ranch. The Ranch becomes the home of TV Shows, an entertainment venue, riding school and holiday camp. At its first rodeo Chips Rafferty, Lance Skuthorpe and Big Chief Little wolf helped raise funds for Rotary.
Hopalong Cassidy comic strips were replaced by Smoky Dawson comic strips in the Sydney morning Herald for five days of the week in 1963.
In 1975 the TV Show this is your life honoured Smoky by doing his life story. The host at this time was Mike Willesee.
1977 was the year Tamworth laid its first hands in cement at the now famous Hands of Fame Corner. The inaugural three legends to make the hands of 1978 saw Smoky inducted into Australia’s Country music Roll of renown.
His beloved sidekick Flash died on April 23, 1982.
Smoky received the Member of The British Empire Award (MBE) New Years Day 1983.
Wax replicas of Smoky and Flash are added to the Gallery of Stars in the Tamworth Wax Museum in 1985.
Smoky and Dot were made honorary life members of the Country Music Association of Australia in 2002 for their contribution to the Australian Country Music Industry.
In 2004 the Australian National Interest Program presented by peter Hughes made the episode “Smoky Dawson - Country Music Legend”.
In 2005 Smoky released his album “Homestead Of My Dreams” to again create another milestone in his life as this release made him the oldest recording artist in the world. The revamped Tamworth Diggers Club that is owned by the West Tamworth Leagues Club had Smoky help launch Smoky’s Bar and Grill also in 2005 as it’s named in Smoky’s honour.
Held in Tamworth, Australia's Country Music Capital, during the 2006 January Festival, the inaugural ACMF dinner paid tribute to Australia's best loved country music couple, Smoky and Dot Dawson.
On his final visit to Tamworth in 2007 he was inducted into “The Galaxy of Stars Monument” during the Country Music Festival.
Smoky was also the patron of the Australian Country Music Foundation.
Details courtesy of the ACMF.
