Len (@oldmansteds)
Feb 17th 2020, 9:56 am
378 Listens
115jy74x

Love the song but the last note is a killer.
Thanks if you listen.

Music was instilled into Australian rock icon William Billy Thorpe as a nappy-wearing toddler, when he first heard hit tunes on the radio.

"From that moment I couldn't get enough of music ... any music. I loved it and it was in 1956 in a tiny church hall on the fringes of Brisbane, Australia, that my own music career got its start," he said.

At age 10, Thorpe played his first gig and within six months was belting out tunes on local television, as well as doing his own gigs.

Prominent Brisbane variety booking agent Gwen Iliffe discovered Thorpe as he bellowed out a Hank Williams' tune behind his parents' store on Fegan Drive in Moorooka, Brisbane.

Thorpe auditioned for a children's TV show, was signed and was quickly dubbed "Little Rock Allen - Australia's youngest rock'n' roller".

Over time Thorpe developed his rock style. In the early years he often dabbled in country music, yodelling Slim Whitman on TV programmes and jamming backstage with country music stars Reg Lindsay and Slim Dusty.

In mid 1957 he formed his first band, the Planets, which performed with Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.

Thorpe was just 12.

Following this Thorpe formed his legendary band the Aztecs when he was 16.

Eight months after inception Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs had the number one record in Australia, featuring a cover of Lieber and Stoller's Poison Ivy, and played their first major concert to 60,000 people in Melbourne.

Following national tours and the reshuffling of the Aztecs line-up, Thorpe packed his bags and ventured to the United States in 1977.

In 1979 he released the epic rock song Children Of The Sun.

Early in 1983 he undertook one more Australian tour before retiring from the music business in 1984.

He continued to record and found a lucrative sideline in advertising composition - including the Friday Night Football television promotion for the Nine Network.

He also authored two autobiographical books - Sex and Thugs and Rock'n'Roll, which sold more than 150,000 copies, and Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy), which was released in October 1998 and became the number-one-selling book in Australia.

William Richard Thorpe, AM (29 March 1946 – 28 February 2007) known as Billy Thorpe, was an English-born Australian singer-songwriter, producer, and ...Died‎: ‎28 February 2007 (aged 60); ‎Sydney, Australia.

admin: @oldmansteds Wow Len that was so beautiful and just wonderful on my ears and heart. Loved and enjoyed this tons ♥
Feb 17th 2020, 10:06 am Report
Bev: @oldmansteds Len, this is just so very beautiful. Loved my listen here today. ♥♫
Feb 17th 2020, 10:11 am Report
John Jenson: @oldmansteds I think Bill Thorpe had the best rendition of this song ever. You did him proud Len great sing.
Feb 17th 2020, 12:26 pm Report
Qwilleran: I know why the little blue birds can fly over the rainbow, not gonna spoil it by saying. Will say, you present the ? marvelously. Kudos.
Feb 17th 2020, 1:37 pm Report
Aragorn: @oldmansteds A splendid listen, Len.
Feb 17th 2020, 7:59 pm Report
Cash: @oldmansteds , a awesome sing Len,, its great,,
Feb 17th 2020, 10:27 pm Report
Jay Dotson: jay455Fantastic performance Len much enjoyed you superb rendition
Feb 18th 2020, 4:42 am Report
AlanR: @oldmansteds A really wonderful performance, very relaxing to listen too, I loved this :-)
Feb 18th 2020, 11:34 am Report
Jerry: Jerry: @oldmansteds A superb selection and sing!
Feb 18th 2020, 2:59 pm Report
Len: @admin .. Thank you kindly Kelly, take care. X
Feb 19th 2020, 12:42 am Report
Len: @bevb .. Thank you Bev. Glad you liked it. Take care.
Feb 19th 2020, 12:51 am Report
Len: @sierrajohn . Thanks John.
Feb 19th 2020, 12:53 am Report
Len: @qwirky .. Many thanks Rich. How can they??
Feb 19th 2020, 1:17 am Report
Len: @joyceishere .. Thank you kindly Joyce. Take care.
Feb 19th 2020, 1:19 am Report
Len: @aragorn .. Glad you liked it buddy.
Feb 19th 2020, 1:20 am Report
Len: @cash .. Thank you my friend, much appreciated.
Feb 19th 2020, 1:22 am Report
Len: @jay455 .. Cheers Jay.
Feb 19th 2020, 1:22 am Report
Len: @alanr .. Glad you enjoyed it Alan. Thanks.
Feb 19th 2020, 1:23 am Report
Len: @jerry .. Many thanks Jerry.
Feb 19th 2020, 1:24 am Report
chet bassetti: Len..beautifully done my friend..a great song..loved the BG information...a good story..but he died too young!(last high note was great)
Feb 19th 2020, 8:54 am Report
Len: @chetski .. many thanks Chet. Appreciate the visit.
Feb 19th 2020, 1:18 pm Report
Tom: @oldmansteds Haven't heard this one in such a long time. Your sing was a great pleasure!
Feb 19th 2020, 4:18 pm Report
Joyce Sandvold: @oldmansteds What a Beautiful SING Len! Vocals are smooth as silk! Loved this to pieces! Hugs
Feb 19th 2020, 11:01 pm Report