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19 Facts About Johnny Chester

1.

John Howard Chester was born on 26 December 1941 and is an Australian singer-songwriter, who started his career in October 1959 with a group known as The Jaywoods, singing rock music and in 1969, changed to country music.

2.

Johnny Chester toured nationally with the Beatles, Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette and Charley Pride.

3.

Johnny Chester hosted various TV series: Teen Time on Ten, Teen Scene and Country Road.

4.

Johnny Chester worked as a radio announcer on commercial Melbourne radio station 3UZ and ABC Radio Australia.

5.

Johnny Chester wrote a musical comedy, Rebound, that opened in Wagga Wagga.

6.

Johnny Chester won Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia for best-selling track in 1975 and for Male Vocalist of the Year in 1981,1982 and 1983.

7.

John Howard Johnny Chester was born on 26 December 1941 and grew up in Melbourne's suburb of Preston.

8.

Johnny Chester's father, Jack, was a mechanic who had a garage in Carlton, and his mother was Norma.

9.

Johnny Chester has two younger sisters, Jill was born on ca.

10.

Johnny Chester attended North Fitzroy Primary School, Tyler Street Preston Primary School and Bell Primary, and followed with Preston Technical School.

11.

Johnny Chester's idols were Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and locally Johnny O'Keefe.

12.

Johnny Chester was backed by The Thunderbirds, which were an instrumental group formed in 1957, and by the end of 1960, consisted of Henri Bource on saxophone and flute, Harold Frith on drums, Charles Gauld on guitar, Gordon Onley on bass guitar and Murray Robertson on piano.

13.

Johnny Chester signed with the label and issued his debut single, "Hokey Pokey", in May 1961 with backing by The Thunderbirds.

14.

In June 1964, Johnny Chester supported the Australian tour by The Beatles with his backing by The Phantoms.

15.

In May 1968, Johnny Chester joined a new backing band, Jigsaw, with Fenton, Ray Eames on lead guitar, Ron Gilby on rhythm guitar, Dennis Tucker on bass guitar, and later in 1968, they toured Vietnam performing for the Australian and American Forces.

16.

Music journalist, author and historian, Ed Nimmervoll, felt that in the early 1960s, Johnny Chester was an "essential inclusion on any major national rock package coming into Melbourne", and during the 1970s he "helped bring Australian country music to pop respectability".

17.

Johnny Chester won Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia for best-selling track in 1975.

18.

In October 1964, Johnny Chester married Larraine "Liz" Isbister was born on ca.

19.

Johnny Chester lived in Greensborough, Victoria, for eighteen years during the 1970s and 1980s.