The LeGarde Twins
The LeGarde Twins | |
---|---|
Also known as | Australia's Yodeling Stockmen[1] |
Origin | Mackay, Queensland, Australia |
Genres | Country, folk |
Years active | 1950–2021 |
Labels | Regal Zonophone Records, American Heritage Records, Festival Records |
Formerly of | Faron Young[2] |
Members | Last line-up: Tom and Ted |
The LeGarde Twins were an Australian country music duo of vocalists and guitarists identical twin brothers—Tom LeGarde and Ted LeGarde— born on 15 March 1931 in Mackay, Queensland.[3][4][5] Ted LeGarde died on 1 August 2018, at age 87.[6] Tom LeGarde died on 30 July 2021, at age 90.[3]
Career
[edit]The twins left home at the age of 15 and after trying their luck on the rodeo circuit as cowboys, they began playing music (they both sing and play guitar)[7] and performed throughout Australia (with the nickname "Australia's Yodeling Stockmen"). They were signed to the Rodeo label from 1950 to 1952, after which they released a string of hits in the 1950s on Regal Zonophone Records.[8] In 1957, they left for North America, initially for Canada (they had acknowledged Canadian country singer Wilf Carter, or "Montana Slim", as an influence);[9] they were even rumored to get their own TV show on the Canadian channel CTV.[10] Soon, however, they left for Hollywood, performed on Doye O'Dell's Western Varieties TV shows, and hosted a TV show on KTLA in Los Angeles, before settling down in Nashville.[8] In the 1970s they were touring the United States,[11] part of a revival of interest in the music of the old western movies.[4] In 1972, they signed with American Heritage Records,[12] and in 1980 with the Australian label Festival Records.[13]
In later years, they opened up the LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre in Twitty City, in Hendersonville, Tennessee; after the death of Conway Twitty, they moved the theatre to the Quality Inn Hall of Fame Hotel in Nashville.[8] They were still active in the first decade of the 21st century, playing in the Nashville Palace in 2007,[14] at the Williamsburg Film Festival in 2008,[15] and at a festival in Franklin, North Carolina in 2008;[16] in 2009 they played with Tommy Cash in Corydon, Indiana.[17]
Movies, TV appearances
[edit]On 10 February 1958, the LeGarde Twins appeared on the radio and television program "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx. They said the secret word "People" and won $100. They won a further $100 on a consolation question after failing to get four questions correct in the quiz. This appearance was later released on an album of original radio broadcasts.[18]
Both Ted and Tom were regulars on the 1963 TV show Network. In 1967 they appeared on Star Trek: The Original Series in the episode titled, "I, Mudd". In 1968 and 1969 they appeared on Laugh-In, season 2, episodes 13 and 14, as the disastrous circus act, "Brothers LeGarde".[19][20] In 2009, Ted played the "Old Man Dalton" character in the movie D4, an action-thriller directed by Darrin Dickerson.[20]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]- "I Can Almost Touch The Feeling" became their top hit on the Billboard Top 100 Charts (Four Star Records)(1979)"In The Jail House Now" / "As Long As I Live" (Regal Zonophone 10" 78rpm G25401 - date ??)
- "Daddy's Makin' Records in Nashville / Grady Family Band" (Invitation 101, 19??)[7]
- "Roll, Rock 'n' Roll That Hula Hoop / HiDi (instrumental)", with Earl Palmer & The Hoopers (Belcanto 45-BC-725, October 1958)[7]
- "Baby Sitter / Where Can The Lovelight Be" (Liberty F-55266, November 1960)[7]
- "A Donut and A Dream / Striped Circles" (American Heritage Music Corporation AH-401-39, April 1972)
Albums
[edit]- Brand New
- Songs of the West[21]
- Ballads of the Bushlands
- One Little Letter[9]
- Down Under Country (1981, Festival)
References
[edit]- ^ "The Legarde twins (music): Australian's yodelling stockmen with their 1st hillbilly folio". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ Williams, Bill (22 July 1971). "Nashville Scene". Billboard. p. 70. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ a b Oermann, Robert K (3 August 2021). "Australian Country Great Tom LeGarde Dies At Age 90". MusicRow. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ a b Tribe, Ivan M. (2006). Country: a regional exploration. Greenwood. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-313-33026-1. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin encyclopedia of country music. Virgin. ISBN 978-0-7535-0236-5. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Cashmere, Paul (2 August 2018). "R.I.P. Ted LeGarde of The LeGarde Twins 1931-2018". noise11.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Legarde Twins". Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ a b c "LeGarde Twins". Country Music Planet. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Legarde Twins: One Little Letter". Venerablemusic.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ Rutherford, Paul (1990). When television was young: primetime Canada 1952–1967. U of Toronto P. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-8020-6647-3.
- ^ "Nashville Scene". Billboard. 5 December 1970. p. 51. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Nashville Scene". Billboard. 11 March 1972. p. 49. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Aussie Deal for LeGarde Twins". Billboard. 5 December 1981. p. 79. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Heroes & Legends Benefit, 26 Aug". Country Weekly. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
- ^ "The Williamsburg Film Festival 2008". The Thunder Child. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ Wheeler, Tony (9 June 2008). "Recording stars to perform concerts for Franklin's all-day Fourth of July festivities". The Macon County News. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
- ^ "Schedule". Legrande Twins. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
- ^ "Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life" Golden Age Records GA 5021
- ^ "Tom LeGarde". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Ted LeGarde". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ "Le Garde Twins - Songs of the West". Starlite Records. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
External links
[edit]- Legarde Twins website
- The LeGarde Twins at IMDb (Ted)
- The LeGarde Twins at IMDb (Tom)