Tex Morton

Tex Morton was born in New Zealand but became Australia's Jimmie Rodgers, setting the foundation for the development of country music on that continent. His style, though audibly derived from Rodgers, is nonetheless his own -- his yodeling technique is full of trills and eccentric flourishes, and he fought to include Australian material in his recorded repertoire from the very beginning. With only an acoustic guitar for accompaniment, Morton's early recordings usually dealt with Western themes and American locations, but even in his first year of recording he managed to wax "On the Gundagai Line" and several other originals. The Regal Zonophone Collection, Vol. 1 is the first of two double-disc sets that compile Morton's rare early sides. This first volume contains 46 songs from 1936-1938, and the importance of these recordings in the history of Australia's country music scene cannot be exaggerated. Morton made a bid for U.S. acceptance in the '40s and '50s, opening for Hank Williams and releasing a handful of records. Although he never broke through to the American audience, his spiritual connection with Jimmie Rodgers and his general artistic excellence make him well worth discovering for country music enthusiasts around the world. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide