Tom LeGarde, who performed in Nashville for decades with brother Ted, passed away on Friday (July 30) in Hendersonville. He was 90 years old.
Billed variously as “The LeGardes,” “The LeGarde Twins” or “Australia,” the siblings were top country showmen who charted with four titles between 1978 and 1988. Tom LeGarde sang lead and usually did the gospel recitations. His identical twin Ted LeGarde, who died in 2018, sang flawless, pinpoint high harmony vocals. Both played guitar and were prominent ambassadors of Australian country music in Nashville.
Born March 15, 1931, the LeGardes were raised on a farm in Queensland, Australia. At age 15, they quit school and became rodeo riders. Influenced by Canada’s Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) and by their homeland’s Tex Morton, they were soon singing for the rodeo audiences, billed as “Australia’s Yodelling Stockmen.”
By age 17, they’d added rope stunts, whip cracking, rifle marksmanship and card tricks to their yodeling act. This reflected their lifelong commitment to audience-pleasing showmanship.
Tom and Ted LeGarde honed their act in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The handsome, clean-cut siblings launched their Australian recording career with a string of successful singles in 1950-57. These were in a very traditional brother-duet style and included such country standards as “They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree,” “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine,” “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” and “There Stands the Glass.”
They migrated to North America in 1957. Following a stint in Canada, the LeGardes landed in Hollywood. They appeared on Doye O’Dell’s Western Varieties TV shows and hosted their own TV series on KTLA in Los Angeles.
In 1958, they relocated to Nashville. The duo recorded for Dot (“Freight Train Yodel”), Liberty (“Baby Sister”) and Bel Canto (“Rock and Roll That Hula Hoop”) and made waves with their colorful costumes and stagecraft. The LeGarde Twins debuted on the Grand Ole Opry with their own tune, “Cooee Call.”
They returned to Sydney, where television and disc stardom continued in 1963-65. Three LPs were released during this period.
Then they returned to the U.S. and were signed to a management contract by Elvis impresario Col. Tom Parker. The LeGardes became casino stars in Las Vegas and also appeared on a 1967 episode of Star Trek portraying androids.
Resettling in Nashville, the twins became ground breakers in bringing the country sounds of their homeland to Music City. Tom and Ted LeGarde worked with Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Roy Rogers, Lassie, Groucho Marx, Dale Robertson, Barbara Mandrell, Nat King Cole, Hopalong Cassidy and Randy Travis as they entertained across the subsequent decades.
In 1978, The LeGardes debuted on the charts with their harmony version of the Cole Porter standard “True Love.” Their other charted titles were “I Can Almost Touch the Feelin’” (1979), “Daddy’s Makin’ Records in Nashville” (1980) and “Crocodile Man” (1988).
They became popular visitors to TNN’s Nashville Now and other TV shows. In 1987, The LeGarde Twins were honored by country Hall of Fame induction at Tamworth in Australia. During the 1980s, the brothers also became popular in Great Britain, becoming favorites at the Wembley Festival.
During the 1990s, they operated their own LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre at Twitty City. Following Conway Twitty’s 1993 death, they relocated to the Best Western/Quality Inn Hall of Fame motor inn adjoining Music Row.
Tom and Ted LeGarde blazed a trail for Keith Urban, Jedd Hughes, Jamie O’Neal, Olivia Newton-John, Kasey Chambers, Catherine Britt, James Blundel, Diana Trask, Sherrie Austin, Morgan Evans and the other Australians who have had an impact on the American country charts.
Funeral arrangements for Tom LeGarde have not been announced.
Live Nation Q2 Results: Concert Revenue, Attendance On The Rise
/by Lydia FarthingLive Nation Entertainment, Inc. has released financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
As communities reopen, Live Nation is seeing the demand for live events. In the U.S. and the U.K., there are strong ticket sales and the restart of concerts and festivals, highlighted recently by Lollapalooza and Rolling Loud in the U.S. and Latitude in the U.K. hosting a combined three quarters of a million fans. This momentum has been building every month, with ticket sales and concert attendance pacing faster than expected, underscoring the strength and resiliency of the concert business and live events in general.
“This progress, combined with our cost discipline, has enabled us to deliver positive adjusted operating income for the second quarter, well ahead of where we thought we would for this quarter. We expect to see further ramp-up accelerate through the rest of the year, with improving operating income and all segments returning to adjusted operating income profitability for the second half of the year, setting us up for a full-scale 2022,” says President and Chief Executive Officer, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. Michael Rapino in the company’s financial report.
He continues, “Looking forward to 2022 and now also 2023, all our leading indicators continue to point to a roaring era for concerts and other live events. Starting with our concerts division, every major venue type–arenas, amphitheaters, and stadiums–have pipelines indicating double digit growth in show count and ticket sales relative to 2019 levels. In some cases our pipeline is so strong we are extending our planning into 2023 and even beginning to discuss tours that extend into 2024.”
Highlights:
For the six months ended June 30, 2021:
Read the full financial report here.
Artist Action: Russell Dickerson, Justin Moore, Cole Swindell, Callista Clark
/by Lydia FarthingRussell Dickerson Celebrates Debut Single, ‘Yours,’ Going Triple Platinum
Pictured (L-R): Jordan Pettit (Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy/ Opry), Jenn Tressler (Manager, Artist & Label Strategy/ Opry), Russell Dickerson, Dan Rogers (Vice President & Executive Producer/ Opry), Gina Keltner (Director of Talent Logistics & Scheduling/ Opry)
Triple Tigers Records recording artist Russell Dickerson’s breakout No. 1 single “Yours” has gone triple Platinum.
Released in 2015 off his full-length debut album of the same name, “Yours” has amassed over 532 million streams, 547,000 downloads, and nearly 58 million views on YouTube to date. The debut single, which reached No 1. on Billboard’s Country Airplay charts, effectively established Dickerson as one of country’s promising hitmakers. Going on to become one of the go-to wedding songs of the year, the romantic smash also earned Dickerson a 2019 ACM nomination for Song of The Year.
“It still amazes me how many people this song has impacted all over the world,” says Dickerson about the achievement. “It’s a beautiful thing to see a song continue to soar.”
Dickerson was surprised by the Grand Ole Opry executive team (Jordan Pettit, Jenn Tressler, Dan Rogers, Gina Keltner) with a 3X Platinum certification plaque at the famed venue, following a performance for a special broadcast.
Justin Moore Holds Special Commemoration For New Gold Certification, No. 1
Pictured (L-R): Travis Crowder (Boys & Girls Club), Justin Aguilar (Boys & Girls Club), Trent Renner (Yerington/Mason Valley Fire Department, feat. in video), Sonora Hall (Yerington Theater for the Arts), Ozzy Brown (feat. in video military scene), Jenna Roberton (Yerington/Mason Valley Fire Department), Anna Draper (Yerington Theater for the Arts), Police Chief Darren Wagner, Fire Chief Scott Draper, Officer Brandon Coombs; [Lower Front] Cody Villalobos (Video Director, L3 Entertainment), Lissa Kellogg (Yerington Theater for the Arts)
Speaking to the songs subject matter, Moore’s video director and management team member, Cody Villalobos, presented special plaques commemorating the achievements to the Yerington Police Department, the Yerington/Mason Valley Fire Protection District and Yerington Theater for the Arts, along with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mason Valley on behalf of Moore.
Moore is set to take the stage in Nashville on Sunday, Aug. 8 during the inaugural Music City Grand Prix.
Cole Swindell’s ‘Single Saturday Night’ Spends Second Week At No. 1
Pictured (L-R): Michael Carter (producer); Ashley Gorley (songwriter); Cole Swindell; Mark Holman (songwriter)
Grammy-nominated, multi-Platinum artist Cole Swindell celebrates a second week at No. 1 on top of the Billboard country singles chart with his 10th career No. 1, “Single Saturday Night.” The track was written by Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy and Mark Holman, and produced by Michael Carter.
The Georgia native’s 2-week No. 1 single has earned more than 180 million streams and adds to his over 4 billion global career streams. Swindell was also recognized for reaching over 15 million in total US track equivalents.
Swindell is on the road headlining his own shows in California and Nevada this week, and will hit the road with Thomas Rhett’s Center Point Road Tour beginning Aug. 20 in Bangor, Maine.
Callista Clark Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut At The Age Of 17
Callista Clark takes the Opry stage on Friday, July 30, 2021. Photo courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer.
At only 17 years old, Callista Clark took the stage for her Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, July 30. The rising young entertainer fulfilled a lifelong dream as she stepped inside the iconic wooden circle and received a heartwarming welcome from the genre’s most faithful audience.
Opening her set with the title track of her debut collection “Real To Me,” Clark wrapped her set with the song she says has changed her life–“It’s ‘Cause I Am.” Her rising debut single has been embraced by country radio, giving her one of the most successful new artist debuts of 2021.
“The Grand Ole Opry has always been a dream venue for me to play,” Callista shared. ”There is no feeling on earth like stepping onto that stage for the first time! It was truly amazing.”
Clark will be joining multi-Platinum entertainer Chris Young on his Famous Friends Tour this fall.
Relative Music Group And Sony Music Publishing Partner To Sign Zach Abend
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Dennis Matkosky, Zach Abend, Hardy, Jesse Matkosky
Relative Music Group, in partnership with Sony Music Publishing Nashville, has signed Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Zach Abend to a worldwide publishing agreement.
The news of Abend’s addition comes shortly after Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Relative Music Group announced their partnership. Founded in 2017 by father/son duo Dennis and Jesse Matkosky, Relative Music Group has quickly found success with its first signed act, Michael Hardy, who recently became a Partner at the company.
Abend has written songs for artists such as Hardy, Ingrid Andress, Chris Lane, Chris Young, Cale Dodds, Matt Stell, Jess Moskaluke, Filmore, and many more. Recently, he co-wrote “Boyfriend” from Hardy’s critically acclaimed 2020 album A Rock; “Anything But Love,” featured on Ingrid Andress’ Grammy-nominated album Lady Like; and Bailey Bryan’s viral TikTok single “Play W/ Me.” Abend also wrote on and produced Filmore’s debut album State I’m In.
“I’ve been a fan of Zach’s for a long time and couldn’t be happier to be working with such a huge talent,” shares Jesse Matkosky.
Hardy adds, “Zach is incredibly talented and I knew that from the first time we wrote together. Not only can he bring songs to life as a producer, but he understands and fights for a good lyric as well. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to work with him and I truly can’t wait to see the inevitable run he’s going to have as a songwriter.”
Abend sums, “I’m thrilled to join the family, and work alongside Dennis and Jesse Matkosky and the rest of the Relative Music Group team. It means a lot to get to work with other creatives who are strong believers in me and what I bring to a song. Hardy has also become one of my good buddies over the last few years, so it will be exciting to continue to watch him grow as an artist and writer from the home team bench.”
Brett Young To Release First Children’s Book, ‘Love You, Little Lady’
/by Lorie HollabaughAward-winning recording artist Brett Young has taken some inspiration from his Gold-certified No. 1 single, “Lady,” channeling it into a brand new children’s book, Love You, Little Lady. The upcoming project goes on sale Aug. 24 everywhere books are sold.
Dedicated to his wife and young daughters, Love You Little Lady reflects the boundless love parents have watching their baby daughter grow into a “little lady.” Through rhymes and sweet illustrations, Young takes readers through the wonder of hearing a baby girl’s first heartbeat, holding her for the very first time, counting her fingers and toes, guiding her first steps, and watching her grow.
“‘Lady’ is easily one of the most special songs I’ve ever written,” Young explains. “Becoming a dad has changed everything for me… I’ve heard from so many families saying how much the song has meant to them as well, which is the dream as a songwriter. When we were given the opportunity to transform ‘Lady’ into a children’s book, it was such an easy ‘yes.’ Taylor and I feel so blessed to have this book as a keepsake and to read to our girls as they grow up.”
Love You, Little Lady celebrates the moments of now and the moments to come—from the meeting one’s newborn daughter, to the years of growing, learning, and sharing that the future brings to families.
The California-born singer has captured the hearts of fans everywhere with his heartfelt lyrics and West Coast-meets-Southern sound. He recently released an 8-song collection, Weekends Look A Little Different These Days, and returns to the road with his The Weekends Tour kicking off in September.
Brent Cobb Unveils Shut Up And Sing Tour Scheduled For Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughBrent Cobb. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen
Brent Cobb has announced his newly-confirmed Shut Up and Sing Tour kicking off Sept. 22 with support from Adam Hood. The upcoming tour will visit Dallas’ The Kessler Theater, Birmingham’s Saturn, St. Louis’ Old Rock House, Columbus’ A&R Music Bar, and Rocky Mount’s Harvester Performance Center, among others. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. local time.
The new dates follow Cobb’s special co-headline Soapbox Derby Tour with Nikki Lane, which includes shows in Chicago, Lexington, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Charlotte and Atlanta, among others.
Cobb has remained busy throughout the summer and released his first ever children’s book, Little Stuff, this past June via his own Ol’ Buddy Publishing. Illustrated by Delaney Royer, Little Stuff was written as a reflection on what’s truly important in life and was inspired by Cobb’s song of the same name from his latest album, Keep ‘Em On They Toes.
Brent Cobb Tour Dates:
Aug. 20—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall*
Aug. 21—Indianapolis, IN—The Hi-Fi*
Aug. 22—Louisville, KY—Brown Foreman Amphitheatre*
Aug. 23—Lexington, KY—The Burl*
Aug. 25—Cleveland, OH—Beachland Ballroom & Tavern*
Aug. 26—Pittsburgh, PA—Thunderbird Café & Music Hall*
Aug. 27—Philadelphia, PA—Ardmore Music Hall*
Aug. 28—Brooklyn, NY—Music Hall of Williamsburg*
Aug. 30—Boston, MA—The Sinclair*
Aug. 31—Washington, DC—Union Stage*
Sept. 1—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theatre*
Sept. 2—Isle of Palms, SC—The Windjammer*
Sept. 3—Wilmington, NC—Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre*
Sept. 4—Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel*
Sept. 5—Columbia, SC—The Senate*
Sept. 7—Charlotte, NC—Neighborhood Theatre*
Sept. 8—Athens, GA—Georgia Theatre*
Sept. 9—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse*
Sept. 22—Houston, TX—The Heights Theater†
Sept. 23—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater†
Sept. 24—Helotes, TX—John T. Floore’s Country Store†
Sept. 25—New Braunfels, TX—Gruene Hall†
Sept. 29—Birmingham, AL—Saturn†
Sept. 30—Decatur, AL—Princess Theatre Center†
Oct. 1—Fort Smith, AR—Majestic†
Oct. 2—La Cygne, KS—Firewater Music Festival
Oct. 3—St. Louis, MO—Old Rock House†
Oct. 5—Columbus, OH—A&R Music Bar†
Oct. 6—Ashland, KY—Paramount Arts Center†
Oct. 7—Covington, KY—Madison Live†
Oct. 8—Rocky Mount, VA—Harvester Performance Center†
Dec. 1—Manchester, UK—Manchester Academy#
Dec. 2—Leeds, UK—O2 Academy Leeds#
Dec. 3—Birmingham, UK—O2 Institute#
Dec. 5—Nottingham, UK—Rock City#
Dec. 6—Newcastle, UK—Newcastle Academy#
Dec. 7—Glasgow, UK—O2 Academy Glasgow#
Dec. 9—London, UK—Roundhouse#
Dec. 11—Cardiff, UK—The Great Hall#
Dec. 12—Dublin, Ireland—Whelan’s#
Dec. 13—Belfast, UK—Limelight#
*Soapbox Derby Tour with Nikki Lane
†with special guest Adam Hood
#with The Cadillac Three
Garth Brooks To Assess Remainder Of Stadium Tour Dates Due To COVID Spike
/by LB CantrellGarth Brooks at a press conference on Friday (July 30). Photo: Sherod Robertson
Days after Garth Brooks‘ scheduled stop at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium was rained out on Saturday night (July 31), Brooks has announced he is planning to use an upcoming break in his stadium tour to re-assess the tour’s continuation with respect to the COVID infection risk.
Numbers of COVID cases have been on the rise due to the highly contagious Delta variant, with the CDC reporting more than 35 million cases in the last 30 days.
Brooks is scheduled to play Kansas City, Missouri on Aug. 7 and Lincoln, Nebraska on Aug. 14. Following the Nebraska show, the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour will have a three-week window without a concert scheduled in which the tour will assess the remainder of the dates this year.
Brooks’ Seattle, Washington stop on Sept. 4 will be the first show back after those three weeks. Due to uncertainty about the remainder of the tour, the tickets for Seattle, which were supposed to go on sale this Friday, Aug. 6, will not be going on sale yet.
“It breaks my heart to see city after city go on sale and then have to ask those sweet people and the venues to reschedule,” says Brooks. “We have a three week window coming up where we, as a group, will assess the remainder of the stadium tour this year. It’s humbling to see people put this much faith in you as an artist, and it kills me to think I am letting them down.”
Maddie & Tae, Breland, Charlie Worsham, More To Appear On Season 2 Of Words & Music
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (clockwise): Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth, Breland, Charlie Worsham, Maddie & Tae
On Thursday, Aug. 5, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will premiere season two of Words & Music at Home, which provides free digital programming and resources to encourage audiences of all ages to try songwriting as a way of self-expression. Season two includes a new slate of in-depth conversations with Maddie & Tae, Breland, Charlie Worsham, and a live co-write with Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth with support from Adam Ollendorff and Kevin Dailey.
The artists share their perspectives on their creative processes and the stories behind some of their hits during the episodes, which will premiere on YouTube every Thursday at 7 p.m. CST througout August. Viewers are encouraged to participate in the songwriting process by submitting ideas via the comments section during the live YouTube broadcast. The programs will also be available to view on-demand on the museum’s YouTube channel, Facebook and website.
Words & Music at Home launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a component of the museum’s flagship educational Words & Music program, which has taught songwriting to more than 150,000 people since its inception in 1979. The digital songwriting initiative is designed to reach those interested in songwriting anywhere, at any time.
Through instructional tools and inspirational programming, Words & Music at Home serves writers at all stages of their songwriting journey, from beginners to practiced writers looking to take their craft to the next level. The program shares the richness of country’s songwriting tradition, while teaching participants to share their own stories, memories, hardships and dreams in song form.
Words & Music at Home Season 2 Episodes:
Aug. 5: Maddie & Tae
Country music duo Maddie & Tae’s compositions include their No. 1 singles “Girl in a Country Song” and “Die from a Broken Heart.” Maddie & Tae have been nominated for 16 ACM and CMA awards, including Vocal Duo of the Year and New Artist of the Year. They co-wrote 14 of the 15 songs on their 2020 studio album, The Way It Feels, and in the fall of 2021, they will join Brett Young on his U.S. tour.
Aug. 12: Breland
Singer, songwriter and producer Breland’s debut single, “My Truck,” was certified Platinum and led to collaborations with artists spanning multiple genres, including Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Nelly, Blanco Brown, Lauren Alaina and Chase Rice. Breland co-wrote two songs on Keith Urban’s most recent album, including “Out the Cage,” to which he also contributed vocals–and he recently collaborated with Urban on his single “Throw It Back.” In 2020, Breland released his debut EP and debuted the Apple Music Radio show “Land of the BRE,” which explores the modern evolution of country music.
Aug. 19: Charlie Worsham
Warner Music Nashville recording artist Charlie Worsham released his new EP, Sugarcane, last month. What began as personal reflections from a daily writing exercise grew into six songs that celebrate the love, perseverance and struggles experienced through life. In addition to his own work, Worsham is a frequent collaborator, having recently worked with Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Brandy Clark, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Kacey Musgraves, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban among several others.
Aug. 26: Words & Music at Home Live Co-write with Ruby Amanfu and Sam Ashworth With support from Adam Ollendorff and Kevin Dailey
Songwriters Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, Kevin Dailey and Adam Ollendorff will co-write a song live on YouTube, incorporating ideas from viewers. Songwriting collaborators who have been married since 2017, Amanfu and Ashworth co-wrote the Top-40 radio single “Hard Place” by multi-Grammy-winning artist H.E.R., which earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Ollendorff has toured and recorded with Will Hoge, Kacey Musgraves and John Oates, appeared on recordings by J.D. McPherson and Carrie Underwood and has had songs cut by Keb’ Mo’. Kevin Dailey is an engineer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with Mikky Ekko, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Brittney Spencer and Abigail Washburn.
Pilgrimage Festival Announces Americana Music Triangle Experience Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughPilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, the two-day celebration of art, culture, and diverse music on Sept. 25-26, has announced the lineup for its Americana Music Triangle Experience (AMTE). Celebrating the festival’s seventh year at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, AMTE honors the past and present of the Americana Music Triangle, offering exhibits, intimate chats, and stripped-down performances.
Set on an antique-built stage designed by Mike Wolfe from American Pickers, AMTE will feature performers and musical storytellers including Butch Walker, Valerie June, Robert Finley, Lilly Hiatt, People on the Porch, Layla Tucker, Sunday Morning Service with Pastor Jeff Simmons and special guests Kathie Lee Gifford and Louis York, Rocky Top Revue, The Local Honeys, Manuel Cuevas, Sound Diplomacy’s Shain Shapiro on Music Tourism, and 13th United States Colored Troops, Company A.
“The Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has always sought to book its AMTE lineup with the Triangle in mind, to both pay homage and to celebrate the contributions–past and present–of the musicians and the towns they came from. This simply has never been done before where the cities in which music history was made get a spotlight to tell their story, show their history onstage, and participate in a vibrant major music festival,” shares event co-producer W. Brandt Wood.
Produced by Better Than Ezra frontman and Franklin resident Kevin Griffin, alongside Wood and Michael Whelan, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival will host 50+ acts across five stages with previously announced headliners Dave Matthews Band, The Black Keys, Maren Morris, and Cage The Elephant. Tickets are available now.
WMG Corp. Q3 Results: Accelerated Streaming, New Music Push Revenue Growth
/by Lydia FarthingWarner Music Group Corp. announced today (Aug. 3) its third-quarter financial results for the period ended June 30, 2021.
WMG’s third-quarter financial results saw a 27% revenue growth, fueled by streaming acceleration and partial recovery in certain COVID-affected areas. Powered by new music, recorded music Streaming revenue grew 27%.
“We’re proud of everything we’ve accomplished during our first year as a publicly traded company,” says Steve Cooper, CEO, Warner Music Group. “During a very challenging time, we’ve focused on investing in our core business and building an array of innovative growth opportunities. Outstanding releases from our artists and songwriters, coupled with imaginative execution by our operators, delivered excellent results in the third quarter. We’re looking forward to wrapping up our fiscal year with a slate of great new releases from established and emerging stars.”
“The third quarter was highlighted by impressive streaming numbers, recovery in several areas that had been negatively impacted by COVID, and strong operating leverage that drove margin expansion,” Eric Levin, CFO, Warner Music Group explains. “We continue to create value through our wide-ranging services to artists and songwriters, to drive shareholder return through our disciplined allocation of capital, and to deliver long-term growth through our digital-first approach to business.”
Financial Highlights:
For the three months ended June 30, 2021:
Read the complete report here.
Australian Country Great Tom LeGarde Dies At Age 90
/by Robert K OermannTom LeGarde, who performed in Nashville for decades with brother Ted, passed away on Friday (July 30) in Hendersonville. He was 90 years old.
Billed variously as “The LeGardes,” “The LeGarde Twins” or “Australia,” the siblings were top country showmen who charted with four titles between 1978 and 1988. Tom LeGarde sang lead and usually did the gospel recitations. His identical twin Ted LeGarde, who died in 2018, sang flawless, pinpoint high harmony vocals. Both played guitar and were prominent ambassadors of Australian country music in Nashville.
Born March 15, 1931, the LeGardes were raised on a farm in Queensland, Australia. At age 15, they quit school and became rodeo riders. Influenced by Canada’s Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) and by their homeland’s Tex Morton, they were soon singing for the rodeo audiences, billed as “Australia’s Yodelling Stockmen.”
By age 17, they’d added rope stunts, whip cracking, rifle marksmanship and card tricks to their yodeling act. This reflected their lifelong commitment to audience-pleasing showmanship.
Tom and Ted LeGarde honed their act in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The handsome, clean-cut siblings launched their Australian recording career with a string of successful singles in 1950-57. These were in a very traditional brother-duet style and included such country standards as “They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree,” “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine,” “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” and “There Stands the Glass.”
They migrated to North America in 1957. Following a stint in Canada, the LeGardes landed in Hollywood. They appeared on Doye O’Dell’s Western Varieties TV shows and hosted their own TV series on KTLA in Los Angeles.
In 1958, they relocated to Nashville. The duo recorded for Dot (“Freight Train Yodel”), Liberty (“Baby Sister”) and Bel Canto (“Rock and Roll That Hula Hoop”) and made waves with their colorful costumes and stagecraft. The LeGarde Twins debuted on the Grand Ole Opry with their own tune, “Cooee Call.”
They returned to Sydney, where television and disc stardom continued in 1963-65. Three LPs were released during this period.
Then they returned to the U.S. and were signed to a management contract by Elvis impresario Col. Tom Parker. The LeGardes became casino stars in Las Vegas and also appeared on a 1967 episode of Star Trek portraying androids.
Resettling in Nashville, the twins became ground breakers in bringing the country sounds of their homeland to Music City. Tom and Ted LeGarde worked with Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Roy Rogers, Lassie, Groucho Marx, Dale Robertson, Barbara Mandrell, Nat King Cole, Hopalong Cassidy and Randy Travis as they entertained across the subsequent decades.
In 1978, The LeGardes debuted on the charts with their harmony version of the Cole Porter standard “True Love.” Their other charted titles were “I Can Almost Touch the Feelin’” (1979), “Daddy’s Makin’ Records in Nashville” (1980) and “Crocodile Man” (1988).
They became popular visitors to TNN’s Nashville Now and other TV shows. In 1987, The LeGarde Twins were honored by country Hall of Fame induction at Tamworth in Australia. During the 1980s, the brothers also became popular in Great Britain, becoming favorites at the Wembley Festival.
During the 1990s, they operated their own LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre at Twitty City. Following Conway Twitty’s 1993 death, they relocated to the Best Western/Quality Inn Hall of Fame motor inn adjoining Music Row.
Tom and Ted LeGarde blazed a trail for Keith Urban, Jedd Hughes, Jamie O’Neal, Olivia Newton-John, Kasey Chambers, Catherine Britt, James Blundel, Diana Trask, Sherrie Austin, Morgan Evans and the other Australians who have had an impact on the American country charts.
Funeral arrangements for Tom LeGarde have not been announced.