TEX MORTON 1918 to 1983
Born Robert Lane in Nelson, New Zealand 1918. He ran away from home at the age of fourteen years, ending up in Wellington New Zealand by 1932, where at the age of sixteen he recorded three seven inch aluminium discs making Tex possibly the first country music recording artist outside of America. Crossing the Tasman Sea by ship to come to Australia later that same year. Radio personality Jack Davey came over on the same ship.
In 1936 he recorded a Regal Zonophone Disc at Homebush Sydney, (studio of the Columbia Gramaphone Company). Already being a well known name from country radio broadcasts the album sold phenomenally well.
1937 saw him tour with Gladys Moncrief at a time when all his released recordings had reached hit status. Attempting to establish country music in New Zealand and Australia he travelled the vast outback regions of Australia performing where ever someone would listen to him at the same time learning and experiencing the many ways of the bush for his songs.
He worked in side shows including Jimmy Sharman’s boxing tent and the Wall Of Death as a motorbike stunt rider, at Hotels, with drovers and anything else that arose until he put together the greatest rodeo-circus ever seen in Australia with the help of the Ashton’s Circus, the Skuthorpe’s and Sister Dorrie.
By 1943 he had cut over ninety three tracks and was already on his way towards legend status. In Melbourne on one occasion a charity organised a penny trail down Bourke Street with Tex Morton fans building one trail, while Bing Crosby fans formed another trail to see who was the most popular. Bing didn’t have a chance. Tex won resoundingly.
1948 saw Tex move to Canada and entertain with the best while also travelling and doing his one man show. In this show he was a magician, a sharpshooter, hypnotist, poet and country artist, which appealed to many an audience. After a twelve year run he returned to Australia in 1960 to produce a Grand Ole Opry show in the stadium.
He then went travelling in ASIA after which he returned to Australia carrying on with his recording and live performances into the seventies, his own hit song “The Travelling Showman“ being part of this era.
He also entered television having character roles in “Class of 75“ and “Matlock“ (The Aussie Police Show).
He died in 1983.
