27 Facts About Smoky Dawson

Smoky Dawson AM, MBE, born as Herbert Henry Brown, was an Australian singer-songwriter and musician, who performed western and folk music with a tinge of country, he was a radio and television presenter, entertainer, and icon.

Smoky Dawson was widely touted as Australia's first singing cowboy complete with acoustic steel string guitar and yodel, in the style of Americans Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.

Smoky Dawson did his own version of "Wild Colonial Boy", rewriting the words and music with American country singer Glen Campbell.

Smoky Dawson met The Kelly Family, and wrote a ditty about Jim Kelly, the brother of Ned Kelly.

Smoky Dawson was born as Herbert Henry Brown on 19 March 1913 in Collingwood, Victoria.

Parker Smoky Dawson enlisted in the Australian Army in June 1915 and fought at Gallipoli from October until January 1916 and served in Borneo.

Smoky Dawson was diagnosed with neurasthenia and was honourably discharged in August 1916 on medical grounds.

At about nine-years-old, Smoky Dawson was so severely beaten that he ran away from home again.

Smoky Dawson travelled to his mother's family, the Muirs, in Melbourne and was sent, by a court order, to live for three years at the St Vincent de Paul Boys' Orphanage, in South Melbourne.

Smoky Dawson had learned to sing at the orphanage and Jack Carew taught him to play the harmonica and piano accordion.

At the age of thirteen Smoky Dawson left the orphanage to join his older brother, Peter, working on a farm at Stewarton.

In 1932 Smoky Dawson worked at a tannery and on weekends he played a lap steel guitar in a duo, The Coral Island Boys, with his younger brother, Ted, on Spanish guitar.

In 1934, Smoky Dawson formed a Western group with an accordionist, a bass guitarist, and Malcolm on violin; which cut a test acetate at Fidelity Records with Jack Murray recording.

In 1935 they were the first Western group to be broadcast live on an Australian radio station, 3KZ, and by 1937 Smoky Dawson had his own radio show.

Smoky Dawson's show was re-broadcast into New South Wales on 2CH as "Hill-billy Artists" by "Smoky" Dawson and Smoky Dawson's Boys.

Smoky Dawson had used music as a way of comforting himself and during World War II he took this talent to boost the morale of others.

When Smoky Dawson returned to Australia in September 1952 he was hailed as an "Australian singing 'cowboy' who has made good in the US at the expense of the world's best".

Flash lived to be 31 years old and Smoky Dawson supplemented his feed by giving him porridge with a spoon.

At its peak, Smoky Dawson's show was broadcast on 69 stations across the country.

Smoky Dawson's performance was so popular with viewers that he made another appearance the following year.

Herbert Henry "Smoky" Dawson died on 13 February 2008 after a short illness, aged 94.

Smoky Dawson was survived by his wife, Florence "Dot" Dawson, an elocutionist, radio actress and presenter, who died on 27 October 2010 at 104 years of age.

Smoky Dawson continued his long career of recording and performing after his radio show, and enjoyed performing until his death.

Smoky Dawson has frequently been recognised for his contributions to music and entertainment.

In 1978 Smoky Dawson was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown.

Smoky Dawson's recording career spanned more than six decades, his last album, Homestead of My Dreams, was released in 2005.

Smoky Dawson Pavilion opened in late 2014 with money from the estate of Dawson and Dot.