Back Page Updated 5 March 2008

Bonnie’s Laurie Allen Tribute

Jimmy Bragg & Jimmy Kinder 2 members Of The Three Jays at Beaufort Hotel 1959 The Three Jays

Approx.1949… Laurie wins Silver Cup.. Most Improved Guitar Student at Lou Topano’s School of Music at the Malvern Town Hall. The 50’s… Laurie Allen starts a small band called “The Three Jays” with friends Johnny MacGaw on drums and Jimmy Braggs on piano accordion.. March 1959 ..” The Lories” another small band of the young Laurie Allen get an engagement at The Savoy Theatre. 1959 .. The Three Jays with Laurie, Jimmy Braggs and Jimmy Kinder on Drums get a 3 month engagement at The Beaufort Hotel in St Kilda. 1961 Don’t Forget! ….The Big Teen Show..Tomorrow night…starring Merv Benton, Laurie Allen, The Laurie Arthur Four, and others plus the film “Just For Fun”..There’ll be plenty of seats at the door but if I were you I’d book tonight at The Regent as admission is one price 8/- You might to dance, stomp, clap or even laugh at the comedy sketches but there is one thing you can’t do, don’t miss this show! 1962 Jive Centre & Coffee Lounge Gala opening…Racecourse Road Newmarket…featuring The Fabulous Blue Jays and the Phantoms with Grantley Dee, Jill Peachy, Laurie Allen & Steve Denver…Compered by Stan Rofe & Kerry Wood. Commencing Friday May 10..Admit One…1/2 Price 3/- 10^th May only. October 11 1963 .. Melbourne pop vocal star Laurie Allen and Steve Denver rehearse for a Festival Hall dance and concert next Sunday at 2pm. The concert is in aid of the 3DB Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal..other stars that will appear are Peter Doyle, Merv Benton, Dennis Bugat, Dave Howard and Ebbel Tholen with The Valiants, Phantoms, Saxons and The Blue Jays. Admission 6/- by donation. November 26 1963 at 8pm…Johnny Chester In Person with Bobby Bright, April Byron, Laurie Allen, Colin Buckley, The Blue Jays… Benalla Town Hall… March 4 1964 … Laurie Allen appears for the first time on IMT. Laurie sings “John Browns Baby”. 1964 .. Laurie Allen performs on “The Go-Show!!” as a solo artist.…. The rest is history.

Guitarist Roger Treble farewelled by pop star Laurie Allen and members of other pop groups on leaving to commence his national service.. The Herald & Weekly Times Limited 1967

June 5 1964…Rocking Jester…Nutty comedian-rock singer Laurie Allen will serenade the ladies on the harem of “The Court Of King Caracatus” at Festival Hall on Sunday afternoon. This rather weird Rolf Harris tune is the latest addition to Laurie’s comedy repertoire which he mingles with sincere ballads. Laurie has been concentrating on personal appearances and developing an adult act for television lately but his version of “I Who Have Nothing” is one of the most popular big-beat ballads at Melbourne dances. Proceeds of the concert which starts at 2pm will aid the Sporting Globe-3DB Royal Childrens Hospital Appeal .. appearing with Laurie is a who’s who of the Melbourne rock scene..Bobby Bright, The Thinmen, Johnny Cooper, Joy Lemmon, Bobby Shaw, The Saxons, The Phantoms, Ebbel Tholen and the Scorpions. The Sun June 5 1964 Lyrics To Court Of King Caractacus 1964 .. Bobby Bright and Laurie Allen team up and become Bobby & Laurie ( GO!! To page 6) April 6 1966. Laurie Allen’s house is being pulled down to make way for a freeway…Bobby Bright says they’ll never be able to shift all of his records. Go-Set!! Written by Paul Konok 1967 .. Laurie Allen forms new soul revue called “Dice” later renamed “The Laurie Allen Revue”, other members include Barry Rogers, Gary Young, Wayne Duncan, Phil Manning and backing singers Glenys & Colleen Hewett. Managed by Lee Conway. 1967.. The Laurie Allen Revue made a very successful debut in Wangaratta recently Go-Set August 2 1967 1967 Laurie Allen Revue----Come Out On Disc…Cute little bass guitarist Barry Rogers has been backing Laurie Allen Revue since leaving the Rondells, assisted by drummer Ron Cameron and guitarist Manfred Shane. Further along the line are Colleen and Michelle radiating pure talent. The girls are former members of the Creation Trio. The artist behind all this is the “blues happy” person of Laurie Allen. This collection of five hundred Negro LP’s must be quite a help when the band needs a change from “Top Twenty” Known as The Laurie Allen Revue” they have spun out a revival of “SAVED” on Festival. with a little more experience together and better chosen songs they will make the grade. GO-SET!! Vol.2 NO.32 August 16 1967

Laurie Allen, Col Joye, Cowboy Bob Purtell and Jim Cooper … Truck Stop LP 1976 The Don Gibson Tour Warren Neilson, Jan Kelly, Terry Smith Don Gibson, Marven Lanier, Steve,Murphy And LaurieAllen Slim Whitman Tour Program 1973 Laurie Allen, Greg Hayes, Lorraine Bird & Cowboy Bob Purtell stars of The Crossover Country Show. 1982

1967… The next month will probably seal the fate of Laurie Allen, it will show whether he can make it with out Bobby Bright, the other half of Australia’s former pop duo. For since the break up last Christmas, Laurie hasn’t been idle, he has formed a backing group (The Dice) and has ventured into promoting his own floating discotheque. Whether either will be a success has yet to be seen. Until now Laurie as been tight lipped about the split. All we know was that both felt, as a duo they had reached their limit. However it wasn’t quite that simple. “More than anything” said Laurie “The TV show “Dig We Must” killed us as an act. It ruined our image and caused arguments among ourselves. We were signed to do a young adult show not sing bits from musicals and “Ave Maria”. What they really wanted was this- generations of teenagers singing last generations songs. Bobby was more inclined to do as he was told but I was dead against it. This gradually lead to tensions between us. Just before the last show we agreed to split. But it was my suggestion. At the time we were having trouble with our record company. We weren’t allowed to record material we had chosen, so this made the decision a little easier. After two years as one of Australia’s top drawcards I wondered if Laurie had any regrets about the breaking up. “No none at all” he said “at the most, we could have stayed reasonably popular for another 12months, depending on our record sales but I still think we should have made that trip to England as planned”. After getting the idea for a riverboat discotheque Laurie began looking around for a backing group, he found it in Barry Rogers (ex Rondells), Manfred Shane and Ron Cameron from the Nomads. However I’d jumped the gun said Laurie, I realized just a three piece group couldn’t give me the sound I wanted, so I added two girl vocalists, Colleen Hewitt and Michele Kennedy, they are an act in themselves and combined to give us a distinctive sound which can’t be done by any Australian group. We do a lot of Don Gibson and Wilson Picket numbers but no top 40, thats not our style. I’m very pleased with the group and know in time we’ll be even better. The group is now called Laurie Allen and the Dice but will soon be renamed to just the Dice. They will have a record release shortly but for the moment it still very hush hush. In the past with Bobby & Laurie the record company had its own idea of what and how to record, this time Laurie will be on his own. He will be given complete freedom to do as he wants. If the disc takes off it will mean another feather in his cap. as a successful record producer, so perhaps the breaking up of the duo wasn’t so bad after all. Go-Set Vol.2 No.14 April 5 1967 February 14 1968 Good Reception. The Laurie Allen Revue were a big hit in Sydney..at here and the Op Pop, as well as out of town dances. Which is good to see because the rattling sophistication of their delivery is one of the good things around the Melbourne scene, they stayed a week, drove 1000miles flat out from Adelaide to put down their record over at festival studios and have it produced by Pat Aulton. A little drama..like 100 pounds pinched at a dance and a couple of nights with out work but they were happy with their reception. They go back to Adelaide on February 14 to open up a huge disco called Sergeant Peppers, the first licensed dance place for Adelaide. Everybodys Magazine 14 February 1968 March 1968.. Laurie Allen was a model in the modern section of The Victorian Masters Hair Dressing Association Festival in Albert Park. He was brave enough to risk his very very very long locks for the competition by hairdresser Brendon Kupach. Go-set!! Vol.3 no.12 March 20 1968. April 6 1968 The Laurie Allen Revue appearing at Opus East. Go-Set!! Vol.3 No.14 April 3 1968 Easter Monday 1968 The Laurie Allen Revue are appearing at Kew Civic Centre with Johnny Farnham and Compulsion. Go-Set!! Vol.3 No.15 April 10 1968 April 17 1968 Outdoor Happening at Olympic Park on April 21 1968..featuring The Laurie Allen Revue.. admittance… 50cents or 30cents and 6 Tarax bottle tops. Go-Set!! Vol.3 No.16 April 17 1968 Go-Set!! Heard the Laurie Allen Revue at The Rave disco at Collaroy and they are one of the most polished acts we have heard to date. Smooth singing and the fabulous lead guitar of Harry Hearny should ensure further Sydney conquests for The Laurie Allen Revue GO-SET!! May 8 1968 Vol.3 No 19.

Laurie with good friend John Vincent Silver Wings radio promo for Me ‘n’ Jack Daniels

1969… Laurie becomes a regular on Dick Cranbourne’s 3DB Hillbilly Show January 1969.. Leigh’s Quartet with Laurie Allen doing well at various Hotels and Drive Ins. April 19 1969.. Laurie and Leigh’s Quartet perform at The Cow Shed in Wallan. April 28 1969..Laurie Allen sings “Sing Me Back Home” on the 3DB ‘Hillbilly Show” June 8 1969.. Laurie and The Lee Horton Quartet sing at The Watsonia Army Barracks August 1 1969.. Laurie wrote, “I Had To Leave her” in the early hours. August 2 1969.. Laurie wrote “Sunshine On Your Face August 3 1969.. Laurie wrote “Hole In The Ground”. August 5 1969..Laurie Wrote “Mama Dear Mama”. August 6 1969..Laurie Wrote “Problem” & “Who Went ------- When The Lights Went Out” with Bob. August 7 1969..Laurie wrote “Panola County” & “The Amateurs Dream”. August 8 1969. .Laurie Wrote “Aboard The Train Of Love”. August 9 1969..Laurie Wrote “Take Your Lovin And leave”. 1970’s In the early 70’s Lionel Rose toured with Ashtons Circus with Laurie Allen backing him on guitar. April 8 1970.. Laurie and Lionel Rose appear at Ballarat Civic Centre. April 11 1970 Laurie Allen & Lionel Rose sing at Heidelberg. Laurie teaches Lionel to sing”Had To Leave Her”. April 1970 … Laurie is interviewed by Peter Leslie for “On Country Music”. September 22 1970..Laurie Allen and Lionel Rose sing “Mama Tried” on The Dick Cranbourne Show. October 1970 .. Laurie & Lionel Rose perform at Bendigo gaol, with Barry Maddock & Keith Humber. October 30 1970..Laurie Allen & Lionel Rose appear at Winston Charles. 1971 .. Laurie wins Victoria’s Best Guitarist & Best Male Vocal Awards of 1971.

Laurie With his own radio show 2GL

March 26 1971 … Laurie produces first album for Lionel Rose called “Jackson’s Track”.. January 1972.. Laurie Allen at Croxton Park Hotel Preston. 1972 .. Laurie releases solo album “Once Upon A Song”. August 9 1972 Discs + Data Melbourne’s Laurie Allen once of Bobby and Laurie comes up with an album of his own songs. “Once Upon A Song” on ATA Records is all country and Western material which appears to be Laurie’s bag these days . He’s good too. Produced in Sydney together with Col Joye this LP has obvious appeal to C&W fans, especially in rural areas but it has broader scope, much like Roger Miller. In fact Laurie’s song “If I Need You” is too Miller to be funny. “Had To Leave Her” is slow but the others are at the usual tempo for this music. “Closing Of The Door” “Just History” and “Sunshine On Your Face” have good lyrics for authentic C&W. Yo1972 .. Laurie wins Major Network Award for Best Male Vocal in 1972. 1972 .. Laurie collaborates with ex boxer Lionel Rose to produce Lionel’s first album Called “ Jacksons Track”. April 1972… Laurie tours with Red Sovine. 1973 Laurie has regular gig Friday & Saturday nights at The Epping Hotel with Harold Frith, Peter Hayes. February 12 1973..Laurie Allen at The Council Club Hotel with Harold Frith, Peter Hayes and Barry Roy.

In Memory of Peter Hayes who passed away recently (2004) Photo taken Aug 1997 Clifton Hill Hotel Thank you See-through Sue For these 2 photos. Nite Trane 2000 Laurie Allen, Peter Hayes, Bernie O’Brien & Harold Frith

March29 1973… Laurie Allen tours Tasmania. July 9 1973… Laurie starts NSW tour.. Naramine, West Wyalong, Parkes, Griffith, Wagga, Junee, Cootamundra, Gundagai, Boorawee. August 15 1973… Cabra-Vale Servicesmans Club, Lucky Starr, Little Patti, Laurie Allen and the Joy Boys. September..1973.. Laurie Allen performing around Sydney with Col Joye September 9 1973… Laurie Allen & Col Joye perform at Parramatta Jail and Cabra-Vale Diggers Club. -September 1973… Laurie Allen Starts tour with Slim Whitman. Maryborough, Gympie, Toowoomba, Brisbane Festival Hall, Bundaberg Civic Centre, Rockhampton, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay. The Slim Whitman Tour Laurie Allen, once part of the top rated duo Bobby and Laurie who were responsible for such great hits as “Carroll County Accident”, “Through The Eyes Of Love” and “Hitchhiker” won the National Radio Award two years in succession as top recording artists. Considered amongst Australia’s top songwriters, Laurie’s first album “Once Upon A Song” featuring all his own material received comments from such people as Roger Miller who stated “That boy’s a great talent, I’d like to have him write some songs for me. Having spent all his life living and working in Melbourne where he lived with his parents, Laurie is at present Sydney based and has formed his new group which is responsible for the musical backing on his new hit single and his forthcoming album. November 1973…. Slim Whitman Article (Slim Whitman Tour) Laurie Allen.. here’s a boy you all know in Melbourne but is now centred in Sydney, with his group The Black Mountain Band, Laurie Allen a big round of applause. Laurie came on stage looking exactly the same as when he was part of the famous Bobby and Laurie duo. He has changed musically improved and heading almost exclusively in the C&W direction. His act is very pleasant and he managed to draw both laughs and applause from the audience. His final number was an Australian twist on “A Boy Named Sue” the old man was turned into a horse hoof, and he hits him with his handbag, all very stereo typed but the audience loved it. Go-Set Vol 8. No.43 July 1973.. Laurie records with The Webb Brothers May 1974.. Tours with Col Joye and The Joye Boys….Sth Sydney Juniors, Sth Sydney Seniors, Melbourne, Sydney Bowlers Club, Hills Bowlers Club, Penshurst RSL, Cootamundra RSL, Crookwell Ex-Servicemens Club, Canberra, Castle Hill RSL, Pananina East Hills RSL, Alexandria, Inverell, Cumberland Builders Workers Club, Bankstown Trotting Club, Manly Warringah Leagues, Rhyde Civic Centre, Newcastle Workers Club, Marrickville RSL, July 1974….ScreenSound Australia National Screen & Sound Archive have an interview by Laurie archived…Cover No.548361..Title..Benny Hill, Ross D.Wylie, Laurie Allen, Jade Hurley…Interviews July 1974 Class…Oral Histories & Interviews…Music & Popular. August 13 14 15 16 1974 10am til 8pm Laurie recorded, Til The Water Stops Running, Walking In The Footsteps Of A Fool, Frauline, Sweet Becky Walker, Carroll County Accident,Cowboy Bar… Daisy Hill, Country Roads, Country Girl, I Belong With You, Sweet Dreams. 1976 ..Laurie releases album “Any Other Man”. 1976 .. Laurie releases”Truck Stop” album along with Col Joye, Bob Purtell and Jim Cooper, 1976 … Motivatin' Day, Bob Purtells first single, was written by esteemed Country Music songwriter Laurie Allen and won him a Golden Guitar at Tamworth. http://www.geocities.com/reg_lindsay/PAGES/cowboybob 1980 Laurie Allen is involved in a serious car accident, the fact that he is held in such high esteem by his colleagues was evidenced when a benefit was held in Sydney drew a capacity crowd of 500 people saw such artists as Johnny Ashcroft, Allan Caswell, Cowboy Bob Purtell, Mick Hamilton, Ken Kitching, Silver Wings and Johnny Heap.

(Nite Trane CD available from www.warrenkeats.com LBW Bernie O’Brien, Laurie & Warren Keats One Last Round Laurie Allen Available from www.warrenkeats.com

September 1982 “The Crossover Country Show is a brand new CM production show starring Laurie Allen, Lorraine Bird, Greg Hayes, Cowboy Bob Purtell and Cowboys Incorporated with the opening and closing songs “Crossover Country” and “We Could Never Make It Alone’ written by Laurie Allen. Capital News September 1982 January 14,15,16 1982 Nick Erby’s Country Jamboree Bega RSL Starring Cowboy Bob Purtell, Ken Hazelwood, Denise Morrison, Laurie Allen & Cowboys Incorporated compered by Nick Erby The Travelling Country Music Showcase. Featuring Laurie Allen, Deniese Morrison,Wayne Horsburgh, and the Singing Kettles. September 1982 The Survivors Of the 12 people I have written about in my first year of “The Survivor” one man stands out as probably the greatest “Survivor” of all, Laurie Allen, singer guitarist, pianist, record producer and in my opinion Australia’s finest songwriter, has survived the heady rock & roll days of Laurie Allen and Bobby Bright, (which included three number one hits) an almost fatal car accident which hospitalised him for many months, the inventive antics of “ The Cowboy” and many From the Slim Whitman Tour Program, 1972 tours with the mischievous “Singing Kettles” to remain one of Australia’s most respected CM talents. Capital News.. Written by Geoff Quinton September 1982. Thanks to Geoff Quinton for the permission to use this article April 1983 Pub With No Beer writer Gordon Parsons and True Blue creator John Williamson had a good support act in the idyllic Nambucca Valley-hang gliders and bullock drays. But not even they could compete with veteran outlaw grandfather Cowboy Bob Purtell, his cane and Laurie Allen. Cowboys And Outlaws, Dave Dawson The Daily Mirror April 6 1983 Thanks to Dave Dawson for the permission to use this article 1990’s to 2002 Laurie has his own weekly radio show with 2GL in Sydney. March 1991 One of Sydney’s longest running country groups, The Silver Wings Band perform this Saturday night At the Bass Hill RSL Club, these guys performed everywhere from Hardie Ferodo 1000 at Bathurst to the rugby League grand final day at the Sydney Cricket ground. They have also been nominated for a Mo Award as Country As Country Group Of The Year…. The Torch March 20 1991 1994 .. Laurie Releases his first CD “Me ’N’ Jack Daniels”. 2001 Nite Trane- Laurie Allen Revue “Get On Board” Tour Cornish Arms Brunswick, TownHall Hotel North Melbourne, Toolleen Hotel, Mayfieds Fitzroy, The Bush Inn Toorak, Birmingham Hotel Fitzroy, Epping RSL, Red Hill Country Music Festival, Old Homestead Inn North Fitzroy, Clifton Hill Hotel, Healesville Hotel, Pascoe Vale RSL, Southgate Inn Tamworth, Tamworth RSL, Tiara Awards West Leagues Club, The Pub-Showcase, Toyota CMAA Country Music Awards. 2001 … Nite Trane wins “Tiara Award” at Tamworth, Best Instrumental Laurie Allen, Bernie O’Brien, Peter Hayes and Harold Frith. Written by Bernie O’Brien. 2001 .. Laurie introduces Warren Keats into his team and Mystery Train is born later to be renamed LBW with Laurie, Bernie O’Brien and Warren with various drummers and bass players. February 2001.. Mystery Train perform at The Bunyip Country Music Festival. January 2002…. “Closing Of The Door” wins “Tiara Award” at Tamworth, sung by Ian Castles, written by Laurie Allen and produced by LBW Productions. April 2002.. LBW opens Heritage Springs Housing Estate Pakenham along with Ian Castles in the local rotunda. June 2002.. Laurie gets back together for a reunion with Bobby at the Kingston Centre, What turned out to be Laurie’s hooray performance bringing the house down with a standing ovation and a queue up for Turning Point Cd’s and autographs, Laurie was very happy with what he knew could very well be his last performance. June 13 2002.. This is day the music, for me at least really did die, Laurie was gone.

2003 The cd that Laurie had been working on for 18months had the few finishing touches put to it and was released. (Available through LBW Productions)

June 2003 A “Don’t Let His Music Die” raffle was held at the Kingston Centre organised by Russell Pitt to raise enough money to help with much needed finances involved in getting Laurie’s cd finished.

* This is only a small part of Laurie’s Career Diary,

More will be added as information comes to hand,

Any contributions would be greatly appreciated and acknowledged.

A dedication to Peter Hayes & Mike Hayes by Mike Jackson

I toured with Peter Hayes for three months in 1987 and knew his brother Mike really well. Mike is on one of my albums- both lovely men. Mike- very funny, Peter – the calmest, sleepiest person I had ever worked with but my goodness was he talented. One of those people with a sixth sense of what was coming next. We played together with no rehearsal and no chord charts from the day we met, I didn’t even have to