| Summary |
Folkloric recording.
Smoky Dawson, born at Collingwood, Vic. speaks about his family background; his schooling at Victorian state schools; his father's theatrical career and war service at Gallipoli; songs the family sung; story about his baptism by Archbishop Mannix; his enjoyment of classical music; Jack Carew, Smoky's boyhood hero; his 3 years at an orphanage; being fostered by Jack Carew in the country near Colac, Victoria; his return to the orphanage; concerts at the orphanage; Lawson's poetry in songs; his first singing spot; meeting Jim Kelly (brother of Ned ) and others in the Kelly family at Benalla, Vic.; Cobb & Co coaches; Ned Kelly and that era in Australian history; writing songs based on life experience, retaining memories and comments on mateship; learning to play guitar; the era of Hawaiian music; the demise of Island songs; lap steel guitar; names influences on his music in the early days; early radio days, Australian Amateur Hour; Terry Dear; Hawaiian Club; 1st Hillbilly Club; Tex Morton stories; his early radio productions,in particular the Smoky Dawson Radio Show (1952-1962)
TAPE 2: Dawson speaks about the importance of sound effects; making up tunes; he and his brother singing at station 3DB in a competition; playing at the Australian Hotel; his involvement with the Rotary organisation; memories of sideshows, showmen like Chief Little Wolf; his army days serving with the 1st Australian Entertainment Unit; whilst serving in Borneo falling seriously ill; marriage to Florence (known as Dot) Cheers in 1944; his days as an entertainer performing for many years with his horse Flash, who died in 1982; the story of the song The Wild Colonial Boy; putting together a tune for Wild Colonial Boy, changing the words and recording the song Wild Colonial Boy with Glen Campbell (American singer); Frank Clune (Australian author); recording the first talking book for the blind, titled Ben Hall the bushranger; American songs in the United States; Australian accents in the USA; New York in 1950; touring in schools in USA; comparing USA to Australia; going into the backwoods country; a story of Hillbillys in the USA; writing a book on the jaw harp; tuning jaw harp.
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