1. Digby George "Dig" Richards was an Australian rock and roll singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, musical theatre actor and television presenter, active during the late 1950s and early 1960s as lead singer with the R'Jays.
19 Facts About Dig Richards
1. 2.
On 17 February 1983 Digby Richards died of pancreatic cancer, aged 42.
3.
Dig Richards was survived by his wife, Sue and two children.
4.
Digby George Richards was born on 12 September 1940 in the rural central western New South Wales town of Dunedoo.
5.
Dig Richards's father, Gordon Forrest Richards, was a rural-based policeman, and his mother was Mona,.
6.
Dig Richards's younger brother is Douglas Ryman Richards was born on ca.
7.
Band practice with Dig Richards started the very next night, he did not disappoint.
8.
However, Dig Richards was hospitalised after a car accident and was unable to tour for months.
9.
Dig Richards was backed on most tracks by the R'Jays but on four tracks he used The New Notes.
10.
In January 1960 Dig Richards supported a tour by US rocker, Billy "Crash" Craddock, promoted by Lee Gordon.
11.
The group, with Dig Richards, issued three further singles on Rex.
12.
Dig Richards then undertook two review show tours with Ted Quig to "gain more experience in stage work and comedy sketches".
13.
Dig Richards had a four-week tour of rural areas working as a comedy singing duo with Clarence "Buster" Noble, where "One of the things he taught me was facial expression".
14.
From October 1964 to January 1965 Dig Richards compered a weekly children's TV general knowledge quiz show, Ampol Stamp Quiz, with co-host and fellow pop singer Little Pattie.
15.
Dig Richards then worked on the club circuit and in 1966 he toured South East Asia and performed for Australian troops in Vietnam.
16.
Dig Richards returned to Australia in 1971 and, as Digby Richards, continued performing and recording with a mainly country style.
17.
On 17 February 1983 Digby Richards died of pancreatic cancer, aged 42.
18.
In mid-October 1959 Dig Richards was seriously injured in a car accident on the approaches to Sydney Harbour Bridge.
19.
Dig Richards was hospitalised for three weeks with a dislocated hip, and received 15 stitches to his face.