TimeLine
| 1940 | September 18 born in Private Nursing home in Chatswood. Back to Grandparents sheep property in Rowena. |
| 1946 | Started boarding school at Trinity Grammar School Strathfield then 1951 day school at Summer Hill. |
| 1947 – 1952 | Singing in school choir and at home with parents playing piano Learned piano at school. |
| 1953 – 1955 | Went to Crows Nest Technical College Singing in Lavender Bay Christ Church choir Taught himself ukelele Joined Cubs Lavender Bay then Sea Scouts 1st Sailors Bay Sea Scouts |
| 1955 | Sang 30’s and 40’s songs then Johnnie Ray, Hank Williams & others Taught himself guitar. Paper deliveries before and after school.. Worked in Luna Park, on Ferries , in Woostores and factories in school holidays. Left school after Intermediate Certificate. |
| 1956 | Saw Blackboard Jungle Movie – heard Rock’n Roll in movie Australia’s Amateur Hour sang new release Heartbeak Hotel came 2nd First professional singing at small hotels, restaurants, parties Started working in National Bank Crows Nest,Newtown,Marrickville. Study Accountancy. |
| 1957 | Started work at 2GB in Schedules and as Panel Operator. Trocadero Ballroom Australia’s ELVIS, for Love Me Tender promo – won Surryville Ballroom- Sydney’s Elvis Presley Contest – wonSydney’s Sunday Sun Newspaper – 1st full page story about a local rock singer .. Laurie Rix (Lonnie) First Trocadero show with J.OK, one of Sydney first Rock’n’Roll shows Started first Rockabilly Trio with Billy Mostyn & Kenny Hands Performed in ATN7 ‘Sydney Tonight’ – Sydney’s first of it’s type Played dances, charity events, parties,football clubs in halls First full time 6 shows a week at Riverview Hotel Tempe Car accident in late December so father called him home to Rowena |
1958 | Went back to family sheep property at Rowena, near Moree, Walgett Worked as Jackaroo on property Sang at local halls and balls, offered touring with Rodeo, Circuses Sang with country band, Frank Bourke and his White Rose Orchestra Offered to join most popular country band, White Rose Orchestra |
| 1959 | Returned to Sydney in January Started new bands called Laurie Rix and The Beatnix, then Laurie R Lee and The Leemen, then Lonnie Lee and The Leemen Playing nearly every night at dances and shows. Fan Club started by Margaret Roberts and Dianne Farr and others in Bendigo and across Australia. Offered to record first EP for Lee Gordon, ‘This is Lonnie Lee’ Performed on Stadium Show with Fabian. Featured in first Rock’n’Roll Movie filmed at Stadium 1st # 1 of 8 Hit Records… ‘Aint it So” – Lonnie & J.OK wrote it. First Australian Rock’n’Roll tour – across Victoria with J.O’K |
| 1960 | Featured on many Stadium, Festival Hall shows with US stars, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Crash Craddock, Bobby Rydell, Marv Johnson, The Everly Bros, Johnny Cash, The Crickets, Tommy Sands, Chan Romero and many more. Started 2 year run as featured star on Australia’s first Rock TV Show First Rock’n’Roll tour to Queensland and many other dances, shows. On tour in June, Lonnie found J.OK accident near Kempsey. Started own publishing company, ‘Lonnie Lee Music’ Had 3 sings on Hit Parade at same time. Signature song, ‘Starlight Starbright’ released in January. First Gold. First Full colour LP in Australia released, ‘A Night out with Lonnie Lee’. |
1961 | Public vote ‘Most Popular Star ABC TV’s ‘Six O’Clock Rock’ -J.Ok 2nd 2nd most popular star on TV’s Bandstand. Col Joye first. Golden Microphone Award as Australia’s Most Popular Star. Many shows and dances across Australia. Started performing on Showgrounds |
| 1962 | Press Award “Australia’s Most Consistent Hit Parader First tour of New Zealand, ‘Phillips Showtime’ – 2 months. Many more records released.. Sitting by the River, When the bells etc |
1959-1965 | 8 Top 10 Hit Records – 5 Gold Records many Albums Concert tours with every major US superstar of the era. More Australian hits than Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry Tours and record releases worldwide. 1st OZ Stereo LP in 1964 also 1st Full colour album cover in Australia 1960 1st artist to record a Bee Gee song 1960 “I’d like to leave” 1st Australian to top NZ parades and successfully concert tour -1959-64 Started The Bowl Booking Agency Promoted 2nd Wave of Australian stars such as Normie Rowe, Tony Worsley and wrote and produced tracks for Mike Furber, Donna Gaye, The Rajahs and many others. Started own agency ‘ Lonnie Lee Entertainment Agency’ Toured NZ with Dinah Lee Recorded for EMI Records’, HMV Label. ‘Discovered’ John Rowles, named him JA-AR signed and recorded him for Leedon Records and managed and booked him. |
| 1966-1967 | Performed in clubs and tours across NZ and Australia Continued booking stars Offered trip to Europe left on Chandris to Greece. Performed across Europe and England |
| 1968 | Toured South Pacific Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia and Tahiti Managed and produced for Sunshine Records Australia. Helped promote Swinger Circuit.. Australia’s biggest ever tour circuit. |
| 1969 | Toured NZ with Judith Durham – when she left The Seekers. Toured Ivan Dayman’s ‘Swinger Circuit’ across Australia |
| 1971 -1984 | Went to USA to Seattle then Las Vegas then Hollywood & Nashville. Living in Nashville on/off for 9yrs – wrote for and with Roy Orbison and other stars. Roy made him his, ‘Personal Assistant’. 1980 was made an “Honourary Delegate to the USA House of Representatives. Produced Health and Exercise TV Show at Channel 17 in Nashville for 2 seasons for ex Mr America. Promoted franchises for ‘American Health Studios’ Nashville. Managed and promoted Nashville’s top Country Music Nightclubs, Nashville Palace and Web Pierce’s Rhinestone Cowboy. Had world’s first ‘Solar and Alternatives’ Expo in Nashville, ‘Living in the 80’s’ . Lived in Las Vegas on/off 5 yrs performing and had own record label and music companies. Started the first computerised ‘Record Promotion’ company in USA. Performed and had own shows across USA. Spent a year in LA with Motown producer Mickey Stevenson of “Dancin in the Street” fame. A Founder Director of ‘American Society of Country Music’ – Las Vegas. Owned record label & promo company in Nashville & Las Vegas. Produced Country Music TV Show from Silver Nugget Casino Las Vegas. Lonnie Lee’s Nashville Country Music Show first full country show in major clubs and Sydney Town Hall. Had Country Music Radio show for Edels Record Stores, on Radio 2KY. Promoted stars such as Ray Charles, The Hollies, Gene Pitney, Tom T Hall. Toured Australia with Roy Orbison. Toured Australia as Specila Guest on Las Vegas show, ‘Elvis – The Final Farewell Concert’ |
| 1984-2000 | Started radio show ‘ Lonnie Lee’s Rock’n’Remember Show’ on 2GLF 99.3FM Brought back Australia’s first rock stars such as Barry Stanton, Warren Williams, Johnny Devlin, Booka Highland, Lucky Starr and others with guest Glen Shorrack for big Rock’n’Remember’ concert recorded by ABC radio. Chosen to represent pop music by ABC TV at 60th Anniversary. Ausmusic launch, chosen to represent the first Australian Rock Stars. One of the most featured stars at Powerhouse Museum’s “Real Wild Child” exhibit. Major attraction at Canberra festival and other major provincial events. Major show at Darling Harbour “Australia Day” celebrations for 3 years. 1998 and 1999 awarded “Australia Post Best Performing Artist” . 2001 awarded Australia Post ‘Best Nostalgia Act’ Tours all clubs, casino’s, outdoor events,festivals and corporate events. Started Starlite Records and writes, records and releases new CD’s. Recorded major hits with stars of ABC TV show, ‘Six O’Clock Rock’. 1984 Suggested Festival Records re-release albums of original rock stars. Series became known as, ‘The Festival File’. Started and toured ‘Lonnie Lee’s Dance Ranch’, the first major Line Dance show. Cameo performances and interviews on many TV Shows. |
| 2002-2024 | Featured on major venue tour, ‘Long Way to The Top’. Performance on Australia first Music cruise, ‘The Blue Suede Cruise’ . Wrote and released CDs such as Light of Love’, ‘North West Mail’ and ‘Back to Base X’ and DVDs .. ‘Good Rockin’ Tonight’. Releases Black and White DVD series of old TV shows from 1959. Vol 1 and 2 and LIve shows, ’30th Anniversary of Six O’Clock Rock’ Vol1 and 2 and The TV Years 1980 to 2018 Cable TV Channel ‘Ovation’ featuring and repeating Lonnie’s shows. Performing at major venues such as Crown Casino QPAC and festivals with Leemen across Australia. Turned 79 on 18th September 2019 Still writing songs and releasing CDs and DVDs. Writing his book. 180,000 + words so far.. Two week QLD Seniors Tour 2016 and 2017 Victoria West Tour 2017, 2018 and 2019 Melbourne Seniors Tour 2018 – Sydney Premiers Concert to 35,000 in ICC Repeat performances at leading clubs and other venues 2019 new CD Back to Base X of his own songs plus those of John Marascalco (Rip it up) and Otis Blackwell (Don’t be Cruel) Biggest Hits CD from original Masters COVID MANDATES STOPS ALL SHOWS Starts one man solo shows ‘Last Man Standing’, ‘Just me and my Music’, ‘Loving LIfe Tour’ Solo Theatre shows across Australia Victorian Seniors tours every year Tamworth Festival and Parkes Elvis Festival shows |
| OVERVIEW | Lonnie Lee is unique – one of a kind – his music style, his vocal style and energy and his accomplishments attest to that.His shows are unique from all of his peers whether international or local.His ‘firsts’ are also unique.See testimonials from fans and reviewers on another area of this site. |
| Today he still gets more plays than his peers on radio for both older and current releases. Has recently released 45 CDs over recent years, 6 ‘live’ show DVDs and archival DVDs.He has never had a manager or exclusive agent and has always stood alone. So incredibly, 68 years later it’s still..LONNIE LEE – STANDING ALONE – ONE OF A KIND! |