A Living Legend Of Australian Music Lonnie Lee Chats To Paul Makin About His 82nd Birthday And His Brand New History Making Show

He is not only a living legend of Australian music but a living treasure.  The ever young Lonnie Lee was born on the18th September 1940 and has fronted Lonnie Lee and his band The Leeman until recently
He is a pioneer of Australian rockabilly music but conquered pop and country as well during his over 6 decades in showbusiness.  At the peak of his career, Lonnie had eight top 100 singles, which included three top 20s, "Ain't It So", "Starlight Star Bright" and "I Found a New Love".  He achieved five gold records. 
Lonnie grew up on a sheep farm in Rowena, New South Wales but in 1956 he competed in a radio talent quest, 2UW's Alan Toohey's Amateur Hour, where he came second.  In February of the following year, he won a contest for "Australia's own Elvis Presley" and was soon managed by fellow rock 'n' roller, Johnny O'Keefe who managed to get his rising star signed to Leedon Records.  TV appearances followed such as Six O'Clock Rock and Brian Henderson's Bandstand.  During the 1960s Lonnie Lee toured the United Kingdom and United States before settling in the US from 1971 recording and writing songs.  His songwriting included work with Roy Orbison who he also managed for a time.  In 2007 he toured with fellow performers Crash Craddock, Bobby Vee and Lesley Gore from the original rock'n'roll era and many still say he was the stand out on that tour.
It was an historic tour as 49 years before, he had toured with Craddock and the Everly Brothers.  In 2022 he is still performing and has just celebrated his 82nd birthday with a brand new concept show that started with a sliding doors moment as he prepared to travel to Tamworth.  FAB FM's Paul Makin chats with Lonnie about re inventing himself and his stance on Covid vaccinations that sparked that phone call from one of his band which changed his whole musical direction.   https://www.lonnielee.com/

***Picture is of Paul's annual mates lunch at Revesby (Sydney) with Lonnie Lee front and centre (he must have a portrait somewhere growing old) thumbs up from Paul***