George Assang was a singer and actor from Thursday Island. He performed under his own name and the stage name Vic Sabrino. Assang was of Aboriginal, Islander and Asian descent.

As Vic Sabrino he may have made the first Australian Rock'n'Roll recording. A single he recorded with Red Perksey & His Orchestra included a version of the Rock Around The Clock

Rock Around the Clock

"Rock Around the Clock" is a 12-bar-blues-based song written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers in 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was recorded by Bill Haley and His Comets in 1954...

. This single may have been recorded in 1955, before Johnny O'Keefe

Johnny O'Keefe

John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...

's Wild One in 1957.

As an actor Assang had a major part in Barrier Reef

Barrier Reef (TV)

Barrier Reef was an Australian television series that was first screened in 1971.Barrier Reef centred around a group of marine biologists on board a ship called the New Endeavour, researching around the Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland, Australia. "It was the first series in the world to feature...

(1971–72) and appeared on Number 96

Number 96 (TV series)

Number 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects...

.

George and Ken Assang

• Just A Closer Walk (1965) Philips
• "Songs From Down Under" - The Colonials (1967) Phillips PD 200

Vic Sabrino

• "Dust In The Sun / Who Needs You" Festival

with Red Perksey & His Orchestra and Sheila Sewell

• "The End Of The Affair/Drifting Along" Pacific AUS #19

with Red Perksey & His Orchestra

• "The Magic of Love/(We're gonna) Rock Around the Clock" (1955) Pacific
• "Merry-go-round/Time For Parting" (1955) Pacific
• "Blue Suede Shoes/Heartbreak Hotel" (1956) Pacific

with Dave Owens and his Blue Boys with The Blue Notes

• "Long, Long Lane/Painted Doll" (1957) Festival

with Gus Merzi's Orchestra and with Harry Willis Orchestra; and The Belltones & Iris Mason Singers

• "Fraulein/Hitch-Hiking Heart" (1957) Festival

with Graeme Bell and his Skiffle band

• "Sweet Georgia Brown/ Freight Train" (1957) Columbia
• "John Henry/Don't You Rock Me, Daddy-O" (1957) Columbia
• "The Gospel Train/Come Skiffle Chicken" (1957) Columbia
• "Gamblin' Man/Skiffle Board Blues" (1957) Columbia

External links

• Pop Archives feature
• National Library of Australia Biographical cuttings on Vic Sabrino, actor and singer