Shirley Abicair
Encyclopedia
Shirley Abicair is an Australia
n-born singer, musician, TV personality, actress and author.
, Australia. Some sources show her year of birth as 1935, but a contemporary account shows she was 23 or 24 on arrival in England and, as she had completed tertiary studies in Australia
, the earlier date seems more likely. She was the only daughter of a Wing Commander
in the RAAF.
and/or (as with her year of birth, accounts differ) Sydney University
(where she took Philosophy, Languages and the Arts), she resided in Adelaide
.
she began singing at parties and private functions to support her studies, accompanying herself on the zither
. Self-taught, she is said to have found the zither whilst rummaging in a cupboard as a small child. She then entered and won a Sydney
radio talent quest. This led to offers of engagements on radio and in theatre and cabaret.
In 1953, she left Sydney for London
. She was photographed by a newspaper photographer looking for pretty faces whilst disembarking at London airport. Her photo was spotted by a radio producer in the newspaper and within weeks this led to her appearing on BBC
television. Not much later that year she had her own programme in which she sang and played the zither
. In December, she also appeared in the title role of the pantomime Cinderella with George Martin, the Casual Comedian, at the Brixton Empress Theatre. The zither
was, along with her Australian-ness, to become her trademark. She released her first record "Careless Love" that year. During 1954 she co-starred with comedian Norman Wisdom
in the film One Good Turn
.
In 1956 she recorded (with the other George Martin
producing) the title song for the soundtrack of the classic Australian movie "Smiley
". Through the middle/late 1950s she hosted (with help from her puppet friends, Australian indigenous children, Tea Cup and Clothespeg), a series called Children's Hour
, a children's TV show. In the process she became an unofficial ambassador and promoter of Australia to a generation of British children. This Australian image was reinforced by her release of records with titles such as "(I Love You) Fair Dinkum" & "Botany Bay". During 1959 she returned to Australia briefly to record a series of television documentary films she had conceived, based on Australian folk songs, entitled "Shirley Abicair in Australia", for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
(ABC) TV network.
In 1962 she toured the Soviet Union
, and in the same year she gave a recital at the Festival Hall in London. Later that year in October she visited the USA for performances. It was in 1962 as well that her children's book, "Tales of Tumbarumba" was published. In June 1963 she returned to the US and appeared on the "Smothers Brothers
" TV show. 1965 saw her put out an EP, "On the Nursey Beat", which was a number of nursery rhymes put to a Mersey beat
. During 1965 she did a tour with British comedian Frankie Howerd
to entertain British forces stationed in the Malay Peninsula
and Sarawak, Borneo during the unrest there. This tour was filmed and later released as a TV special "East of Howerd". During 1966–1967 she released a number of more mature songs on record including her version of the Gerry Goffin
–Carole King
song "So Goes Love'" and Paul Simon
's "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall". She had previously, in the early 1960s, released three albums of folk songs.
She joined up with harmonica player Larry Adler
in 1968 to do a children's theatre show. She began her own one-woman theatre show in 1969 at the Arts Theatre
in London.
In 1971 she moved to the United States
(Oregon
), where she appeared in a series of college concerts with the famed American writer Ken Kesey
. Shirley Abicair currently lives in London and divides her time between Britain, the USA and Australia.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born singer, musician, TV personality, actress and author.
Early life
Shirley Abicair was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia. Some sources show her year of birth as 1935, but a contemporary account shows she was 23 or 24 on arrival in England and, as she had completed tertiary studies in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the earlier date seems more likely. She was the only daughter of a Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in the RAAF.
Education
Prior to pursuing studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of MusicSydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
and/or (as with her year of birth, accounts differ) Sydney University
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
(where she took Philosophy, Languages and the Arts), she resided in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
Career
While studying in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
she began singing at parties and private functions to support her studies, accompanying herself on the zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
. Self-taught, she is said to have found the zither whilst rummaging in a cupboard as a small child. She then entered and won a Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
radio talent quest. This led to offers of engagements on radio and in theatre and cabaret.
In 1953, she left Sydney for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She was photographed by a newspaper photographer looking for pretty faces whilst disembarking at London airport. Her photo was spotted by a radio producer in the newspaper and within weeks this led to her appearing on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television. Not much later that year she had her own programme in which she sang and played the zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
. In December, she also appeared in the title role of the pantomime Cinderella with George Martin, the Casual Comedian, at the Brixton Empress Theatre. The zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
was, along with her Australian-ness, to become her trademark. She released her first record "Careless Love" that year. During 1954 she co-starred with comedian Norman Wisdom
Norman Wisdom
Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE was an English actor, comedian and singer-songwriter best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring his hapless onscreen character Norman Pitkin...
in the film One Good Turn
One Good Turn (1955 film)
One Good Turn is a 1955 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Joan Rice, Shirley Abicair and Thora Hird...
.
In 1956 she recorded (with the other George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
producing) the title song for the soundtrack of the classic Australian movie "Smiley
Smiley (film)
Smiley is an American-British film made in 1956 and set in Australia. It was produced and directed by Anthony Kimmins. It starred Ralph Richardson, Chips Rafferty, and Colin Petersen as Smiley. Other cast members were Bruce Archer, Guy Doleman, Reg Lye, John McCallum, Leonard Teale and Bud Tingwell...
". Through the middle/late 1950s she hosted (with help from her puppet friends, Australian indigenous children, Tea Cup and Clothespeg), a series called Children's Hour
Children's Hour
Children's Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal recreational service for children during the period when radio dominated broadcasting....
, a children's TV show. In the process she became an unofficial ambassador and promoter of Australia to a generation of British children. This Australian image was reinforced by her release of records with titles such as "(I Love You) Fair Dinkum" & "Botany Bay". During 1959 she returned to Australia briefly to record a series of television documentary films she had conceived, based on Australian folk songs, entitled "Shirley Abicair in Australia", for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC) TV network.
In 1962 she toured the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and in the same year she gave a recital at the Festival Hall in London. Later that year in October she visited the USA for performances. It was in 1962 as well that her children's book, "Tales of Tumbarumba" was published. In June 1963 she returned to the US and appeared on the "Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
" TV show. 1965 saw her put out an EP, "On the Nursey Beat", which was a number of nursery rhymes put to a Mersey beat
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
. During 1965 she did a tour with British comedian Frankie Howerd
Frankie Howerd
Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...
to entertain British forces stationed in the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
and Sarawak, Borneo during the unrest there. This tour was filmed and later released as a TV special "East of Howerd". During 1966–1967 she released a number of more mature songs on record including her version of the Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
–Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
song "So Goes Love'" and Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
's "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall". She had previously, in the early 1960s, released three albums of folk songs.
She joined up with harmonica player Larry Adler
Larry Adler
Lawrence "Larry" Cecil Adler was an American musician, widely acknowledged as one of the world's most skilled harmonica players. Composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Malcolm Arnold, Darius Milhaud and Arthur Benjamin composed works for him...
in 1968 to do a children's theatre show. She began her own one-woman theatre show in 1969 at the Arts Theatre
Arts Theatre
The Arts Theatre is a theatre in Great Newport Street, in Westminster, Central London. It now operates as the West End's smallest commercial receiving house.-History:...
in London.
In 1971 she moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
), where she appeared in a series of college concerts with the famed American writer Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
Kenneth Elton "Ken" Kesey was an American author, best known for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , and as a counter-cultural figure who considered himself a link between the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s. "I was too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a...
. Shirley Abicair currently lives in London and divides her time between Britain, the USA and Australia.
External links
- Photo of Shirley Abicair
- Whirligig TV (including photos)
- Smiley - The Movie
- British Pictures
- British TV
- Australian ABC TV
- Reference to her 1962 visit to the US - Newspaper Article "Kennedy's finest hour" The SpectatorThe SpectatorThe Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, 19 October 2002 by Peregrine WorsthornePeregrine WorsthorneSir Peregrine Gerard Worsthorne is a British journalist, writer and broadcaster. He was educated at Stowe School, Peterhouse, Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford. Worsthorne spent the largest part of his career at the Telegraph newspaper titles, eventually becoming editor of The Sunday Telegraph...
. - Internet Movie Data Base
- Smothers Brothers TV performance
- Pop Music Info - List of 45rpm Record Releases
- Pop Archives "Where Did They Get That Song" entry