The LeGarde Twins

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The LeGarde Twins
Also known asAustralia's Yodeling Stockmen[1]
OriginMackay, Queensland, Australia
GenresCountry, folk
Years active1950–2021
LabelsRegal Zonophone Records,
American Heritage Records,
Festival Records
Associated actsFaron Young[2]

The LeGarde Twins are a pair of identical twins, Tom and Ted (b. 15 March 1931, in Mackay, Ted LeGarde passed Aug 1,2018. Tom LeGarde passed July 30,2021Queensland),[3] from Australia who play country music.[4]

Career[]

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)[5] 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.[6] In 1957, they left for North America, initially for Canada (they had acknowledged Canadian country singer Wilf Carter, or "Montana Slim", as an influence);[7] they were even rumored to get their own TV show on the Canadian channel CTV.[8] 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.[6] In the 1970s they were touring the United States,[9] part of a revival of interest in the music of the old western movies.[3] In 1972, they signed with American Heritage Records,[10] and in 1980 with the Australian label Festival Records.[11]

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.[6] They were still active in the first decade of the 21st century, playing in the Nashville Palace in 2007,[12] at the Williamsburg Film Festival in 2008,[13] and at a festival in Franklin, North Carolina in 2008;[14] in 2009 they played with Tommy Cash in Corydon, Indiana.[15]

Movies, TV appearances[]

Both Ted and Tom were regulars on the 1963 TV show Network. They also both appeared on the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "I, Mudd" (1967).[16][17] In 2009, Ted played the "Old Man Dalton" character in the movie D4, an action-thriller directed by Darrin Dickerson.[17] On 10 February 1958, the Le Garde 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 get four questions correct in the quiz. This appearance was later released on an album of original radio broadcasts.[18]

Discography[]

Singles[]

  • "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??)[5]
  • "Roll, Rock 'n' Roll That Hula Hoop / HiDi (instrumental)", with Earl Palmer & The Hoopers (Belcanto 45-BC-725, October 1958)[5]
  • "Baby Sitter / Where Can The Lovelight Be" (Liberty F-55266, November 1960)[5]
  • "A Donut and A Dream / Striped Circles" (American Heritage Music Corporation AH-401-39, April 1972)

Albums[]

  • Brand New
  • Songs of the West[19]
  • Ballads of the Bushlands
  • One Little Letter[7]
  • Down Under Country (1981, Festival)

References[]

  1. ^ "The Legarde twins (music): Australian's yodelling stockmen with their 1st hillbilly folio". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  2. ^ Williams, Bill (22 July 1971). "Nashville Scene". Billboard. p. 70.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Tribe, Ivan M. (2006). Country: a regional exploration. Greenwood. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-313-33026-1.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin encyclopedia of country music. Virgin. ISBN 978-0-7535-0236-5.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Legarde Twins". Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "LeGarde Twins". Country Music Planet. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Legarde Twins: One Little Letter". Venerablemusic.com. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  8. ^ Rutherford, Paul (1990). When television was young: primetime Canada 1952–1967. U of Toronto P. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-8020-6647-3.
  9. ^ "Nashville Scene". Billboard. 5 December 1970. p. 51.
  10. ^ "Nashville Scene". Billboard. 11 March 1972. p. 49.
  11. ^ "Aussie Deal for LeGarde Twins". Billboard. 5 December 1981. p. 79.
  12. ^ "Heroes & Legends Benefit, 26 Aug". Country Weekly. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  13. ^ "The Williamsburg Film Festival 2008". The Thunder Child. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Schedule". Legrande Twins. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  16. ^ "Tom LeGarde". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ted LeGarde". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  18. ^ "Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life" Golden Age Records GA 5021
  19. ^ "Le Garde Twins - Songs of the West". Starlite Records. Retrieved 1 December 2009.

External links[]

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