Its official! Rex Dallas

is a `Living Legend’

By SHIRLEY BROUN

THOUSANDS of country music enthusiasts were in Dubbo over the June long weekend for the second annual Dubbo Country Music Spectacular. 

Rex Dallas with his latest accolade (2018) - the Ken Cameron, Lifetime Achievement, Living Legend Award presented as part of the Dubbo Country Music Spectacular.

Free concerts and a special awards presentation ceremony to acknowledge services to country music were major highlights of the three day event which organiser Mal Norton said had provided outstanding entertainment for all attendees.
On With the Show was particularly delighted to learn that one of the 14 award-winners this year had included Australian Country Music icon Rex Dallas who is a renowned country singer, songwriter, musician, bush balladeer and yodeller.
Rex’s recording history began in 1960 with his first single called `Bicycle Wreck’ and since then his albums have encompassed many themes ranging from songs about coalmining, mothers and war to horses. In 2000, he was inducted into the Australasian Country Music `Roll of Renown’.
When we asked the much-loved and admired performer and multiple Tamworth Country Music Festival Golden Guitar winner about his latest accolade at the Dubbo Country Music Spectacular he said:
“The award I was presented with in Dubbo was the `Ken Cameron, Lifetime Achievement, Living Legend Award’.
“It was a great honour as Ken Cameron was a well-known record producer in the early days of recording. He lived in Dubbo where he had his own recording studio and recorded a lot of early country artists during his time in the industry.
“The Dubbo Country Music Association kept his name alive by presenting this award.
“You can imagine how thrilled I was to be presented this unique award,” said Rex.
Following is a story we published in our original Variety Today entertainment magazine in 1992 when Frank Ifield and I caught up with Rex Dallas at the Tamworth Country Music Awards.

Mining tour after Rex wins `Gold'

On With the Show's

Flashback to 1992

AFTER 14 nominations in 20 years Rex Dallas has won the prestigious Heritage Award and now plans an extensive `Miner's Tour' throughout Australia. 

Rex Dallas in 1992 at the Tamworth Country Music Awards. (Photo by Shirley Broun)

The yodelling extraordinaire, who captured the essence of mining life in his songs, confessed he had been writing towards the Heritage Award for many years.

Spirit of Australia

The Heritage Award is presented to the artist whose performance on record features material which shows the unique quality and spirit of our Australian Country Music heritage.
Rex won it with his song `The Western Main', taken from his 1991 album `We Dig Coal', which was also nominated for Best Album. It is his fourth Golden Guitar at Tamworth.
Now he, and sons Brett 28, Colin 26 and Jeffrey 21 (formerly the Dirtwater Band and now the Fourth Generation Band) are embarking on a 12 month `Miner's Tour' which will see them performing at mining towns such as Lithgow, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Hunter Valley in NSW, Mt Isa, Emerald and Blackwater in Qld, and Collie, Albany, Kalgoorlie and Perth in WA.
"The success of the mining songs and winning the Heritage Award at Tamworth was responsible for us putting this tour together. It will also be a `first' because I have never embarked on a specific miner's tour," said Rex.

Mining background

Rex is a descendent of a miner having been born and raised in the mining town of Wallerawang (NSW). His sons are actually fourth generation miners, hence the name of their band.
After 16 albums, there is still no sign of Rex slowing down. In fact he has just completed a new video clip for `I'm a Miner's Son' off his `We Dig Coal' album. It was sponsored by Coal and Allide and was shot at the Moonee Mine in Catherine Hill Bay, near Newcastle. He is also currently writing for a new album, due to be recorded around June and released later in the year, which he says will be a new direction.
"It will be a departure from mining and tell more stories of farmers and people in the outback. It will also be a new sound incorporating outback country lyrics with an up-tempo beat." he said.

Natural amphitheatre

When not touring, Rex invites the public back to enjoy his latest innovation ... a `natural' amphitheatre set up on his `Gully Park' property just 20 minutes out from Tamworth. "We had about 1000 people to three concerts on our property during the Tamworth festival and plan five for next year. We will also be presenting shows on public holidays and special occasions throughout the year."
The rural venue also boasts a stage at the edge of the creek, tea rooms and barbecue area and set between two mountains provides a brilliant natural sound for performers in Rex's Moonbi Gully Round Ups.
Dirtwater Band, Fourth Generation Band, Heritage Award Tamworth, Miner's tour, Rex Dallas, We Dig Coal album

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