BLACKTOWN ’ S FINEST ...
Jonnie Russell pictured in 1991 just before he ventured to Nashville to perform with the famed Cole Tipton Bluegrass Band . by Greg Martin
One of the most popular children ’ s shows on television from 1963 until 1988 was Romper Room in which the catch cry when a song was about to be sung was : “ Ready Mr Music ”.
In Jonnie Russell , our neck of the woods has its very own Mr Music and for this veteran performer , life through music has been a real romp !
It is a musical journey which has spanned nearly eight decades , but for Jonnie , the last stop at the end of the line is still not in sight .
A talented guitarist , singer and composer , Jonnie ’ s contribution to the Australian music scene earned him a coveted place in Australian Country Music ’ s Hands of Fame garden at Tamworth .
One of Jonnie ’ s handprints sits snugly into a small concrete block in the garden alongside many of the true greats of the music genre in this country .
Jonnie was inducted in 1985 and his handprint is surrounded by the imprints of great performers such as Smokey Dawson , Slim Dusty , Tex Morton , Frank Ifield , Anne Kirkpatrick , John Williamson , Lee Conway , Graeme Connors , Lee Kernaghan , Keith Urban and James Blundell .
His musical talents have taken him to the home of country music , Nashville , Tennessee , where he performed on television and radio .
One of those visits , back in 1986 , came from an invitation to represent Australia in Fan Fair , a nationally acclaimed radio show which featured singers from around the globe .
A talented guitarist , singer and composer , Jonnie ’ s contribution to the Australian music scene earned him a coveted place in Australian Country Music ’ s Hands of Fame garden at Tamworth .
“ I suppose you could say it was an early version of Eurovision but at Fan Fair there was no winner , just singers from many different countries showcasing their talents to listeners all over the United States ,” John explained .
He ’ s had the pleasure of performing with many of this country ’ s greatest country and western talents including a man very dear to his heart , the great Frank Ifield .
“ My career kicked off when I was just 14 when I landed a gig singing regularly on Ken McGlone ’ s country music show on radio 2KA , the Voice of the Mountains ,” Jonnie said .
“ My family was living in Penrith , and I had written to Mr McGlone , told him I could sing and asked if he would let me perform on his show which ran 4pm-5pm Monday to Friday .
“ That wonderful man replied and invited me to join him in the studio and sing two songs – memory fades and I forget what I sang but it impressed him so much that I was invited back several times over the next 12 months .
“ I had travelled to Wentworth Falls by train that memorable day and lugged my guitar case , which was about as big as me , a mile or so to the 2KA studio .
“ At the end of that first performance , Ken put out a call over the radio asking that if any of his listeners were driving down to Penrith , could they give me a lift , and sure enough , one of the show ’ s fans responded to the call .
“ 2KA later invited me to sing on a Sunday morning Country and Western show and on a few occasions , Frank Ifield , who was about to return
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6 ISSUE 15 // JUNE 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT