LONNIE LEE STORY

Went to Crows Nest Technical College
Singing in Lavender Bay Christ Church choir
Taught himself ukelele
Joined Sea Scouts 1st

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 Intrenediate Certificate.

Saw Blackboard Jungle Movie - heard Rock'n Roll in movie
Australia's Amateur Hour  sang new release Heartbeak Hotel
First professional singing at small hotels, restaurants, parties
Started working in National Bank Crows Nest,Newtown,Marrickville.
Study Accountancy.

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 - won

First TV apperance - Sydney Tonight
Sunday Sun 1st local rock page story
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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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'

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.

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 DVDs .. 'Good Rockin' Tonight'.
Releases Black and White DVD series of old TV shows from 1959. Vol 1 and 2
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 78 on 18th September 2018
Still writing and releasing CDs and DVDs.
Writing his book. 80,000 + words so far..
Two week QLD Seniors Tour 2016
Victoria West Tour 2017
Melbourne Seniors Tour 2018
Repeat performances at leading clubs and other venues
2018 new CD Back to Base X of his own songs plus those of John Marascalo (Rip it up) and Otis Blackwell (Don't be Cruel)

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 21 CDs over as many years, 4 "live" show DVDs and archivale DVDs.

He has never had a manager or exclusive agent and has always stood alone. So incredibly, 60 years later it's still..

LONNIE LEE  -  STANDING ALONE - ONE OF A KIND!

Solid Gold
Don't Look Back
Really Rockin
Live at The Dance Ranch
I Like it I love it
The Original Definitive Collection - Lonnie Lee - Vol 1 - The Leedon Years
The Original Definitive Collection - Lonnie Lee - Vol 2 - The Leedon Years
Like it is
The Original Definitive Collection Lonnie Lee Vol 3 - The TV Shows
Good Rockin' Tonight - Lonnie Lee - The Live Show 2004 CD
Can't you see it in my eyes - CD Single

VT01
VT02
VT03

50's Forever
Hail Hail Rock'n'Roll
Hot & Honky Dance Ranch
Good quality black 'Hail Hail' cap

F-P1
F-R1

A4 gloss purple 2 sided 2 fold flier
A4 gloss red 2 sided 1 fold flier

SP1
SP2
SP3
SP4