Robert William Lane (1916 - 1983)

Born 30 Aug 1916 in Nelson, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Marjorie (Brisbane) Lane — married 24 Nov 1937 (to 1979) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 23 Jul 1983 at age 66 in Saint Leonards, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Robert Lane is Notable.

Tex Morton was a pioneer of New Zealand and Australian country music (aka country and western music), vaudevillian, actor, television host and circus performer.

Tex Morton was born Robert William Lane on 30th August 1916 at Nelson, New Zealand. He was the eldest of four children to Bernard William Lane, a postal clerk, and Mildred Eastgate. ^[1] Bobby, as he was known, attended Haven Road and Nelson Boys’ schools and Nelson College. By the age of fourteen, he was busking and within another two years was playing in a travelling band.

Robert Lane migrated from New Zealand to New South Wales.

Between 1932 and 1934, Bobby migrated to New South Wales, Australia with the intent of launching a recording career. He initially worked as a tent hand and performed with travelling shows under the name Tex Morton. Winning a talent quest as a country and western singer on Sydney radio station 2KY, he subsequently recorded four songs for the Columbia Graphophone Company and his career began in earnest. Gradually, Tex incorporated Australian themes into his songs, leading to a select genre of country music: the Australian bush ballad. Other singers, including greats such as Slim Dusty, [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Egan Ted Egan ] and [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williamson_(singer) ] John Williamson], rose in Tex's shadow, following the new style.

On 24th November 1937 Bob married Marjorie Brisbane, in the historic St Philip’s Church of England (Anglican), Sydney, a salesgirl. ^[2] They had twin sons, however, after a long separation, divorced in 1979.

In the 1950s, Tex Morton toured in Canada and the United States as a stage hypnotist, memory expert, whip cracker and sharpshooter; recording in Nashville in 1953. He returned to Australia and introduced a Grand Ole Opry style show in 1959, featuring Roy Acuff and others, however, the show was not popular with Australian audiences and the tour was soon cancelled. ^[3]

Tex continued record during the 1960s and 1970s, becoming the first inductee into the Australian Roll of Renown in 1976, in recognition of his pivotal role in the development of country music in Australia and New Zealand. ^[4] His Goondiwindi Grey won the Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) – known as the Golden Guitar Awards – APRA Song of the Year in 1974. During the latter 1970s and 1980s he appeared in episodes of several Australian television serials and films.

In his latter years, Tex Morton devoted more time to his hobby of amateur radio (aka ham radio). He was a member of the Manly-Warringah Radio Society.

He passed away on 23rd July 1983 in the Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales. ^[5] He was survived by his partner, Kathleen Bryan, and one son.

A bronze bust of Tex Morton stands in Bicentennial Park, Tamworth, New South Wales: Australia's country music capital.

Sources

1. ↑ New Zealand Birth Index #1916/26881
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #17150/1937
3. ↑ Smith, A. 'Cowboys And Hillbillies Down Under: The First Wave of Australian Country Music'. Journal of Country Music (USA) vol 13 no 2, 1991; accessed 13 Jan 2021
4. ↑ Roll of Renown; accessed 13 Jan 2021]
5. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #16351/1983

See also

• Waterhouse, Richard. 'Morton, Tex (1916-1983)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2012; accessed online 13 Jan 2021.
• Wikipedia profile: Tex Morton; accessed 13 Jan 2021.