Jean Stafford (musician)

Jean Stafford
Birth name Jean Stafford
Born (1950-01-01) January 1, 1950
Latrobe,Tasmania, Australia
Genres Country, Western Swing, gospel
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter, Paintist.
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1965 - present.
Labels Hadley Records, EMI, Universal Music
Associated acts Kitty Wells, Johnnie Wright, Dolly Parton, Smoky Dawson, Jimmy Little, Slim Whitman
Website www.jeanstafford.com.au,

Jean Stafford (born 1 January 1950 at Latrobe, Tasmania) is an Australian country music artist. She has won three Golden Guitar awards. In 1989 Stafford was crowned "Australia's Queen of Country Music" by Smoky Dawson. Stafford has received many honours and awards, including the key to the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Stafford was also a regular on the Midday Show hosted by Ray Martin[1]

Personal life

Stafford was born and grew up in Tasmania. Her mother was a Tasmanian, and she discovered many year later that her father was a Navajo Native American.[2]

Stafford has been married and divorced twice. She has three children to her first marriage, Stafford had no children to her second marriage. Stafford spends most her private time as a paintist and songwriter.

Awards and honors

Stafford has won the Country Music Awards of Australia's "Golden Guitar" award as Female Vocalist of the Year three times: in 1975 she became the first Australian-born artist to win this award, for What Kind of a Girl Do You Think I Am?,[2][3] then in 1980 for Hello Love,[4] and in 1981 for That Glory Bound Train.[4]

In 1979, Stafford was inducted into the Australian Country Music Hands of Fame.[5]

In 1991, she was given the key to the city of Nashville and appointed an "Honorary Citizen" of the state of Tennessee by Governor Ned McWherter for services to Country Music in America.[6][7]

In recognition of her significant contribution to Australian country music, in 2008, Stafford was inducted into The Country Music Roll of Renown. The plaque reads:

Jean is one of our outstanding stars. Coming to prominence during the 1970s and '80s, she learnt her craft singing at hotels, country halls and dances. Recording initially with Dusty Rankin in 1965, Jean released her debut solo album in 1974, the song What Kind Of A Girl Do You Think I Am? winning the first of her three Golden Guitars and setting Jean on the road to stardom. From Northern Tasmania to Tamworth and Nashville, it has been a triumphant journey for the silver voiced girl who made her first public appearance at the age of 12. With many awards, honours and accolades to show for her long and illustrious career, we salute Jean Stafford as one of Australian country music's finest and most enduring talents.[8]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Boxhall, Geraldine (1991). "Chapter 14: Newsmakers". Meander Valley memories. Meander: Meander Primary School. p. 190. ISBN 0-646-04684-5.
  2. 1 2 "Previous Artists - Jean Stafford". Devil Country Muster. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "1970s". http://country.com.au/. Retrieved 22 November 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  4. 1 2 "1980s". http://country.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  5. ↑ "Hands of Fame - Jean STAFFORD (1979)". http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au/. Retrieved 22 November 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  6. ↑ Walsh, Kevin (producer) (7 June 2015). "Jean Stafford - The Golden Voice of Country". Good Morning Country. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Achievements". http://jeanstafford.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015. The site includes a copy of the certificate. External link in |website= (help)
  8. ↑ "Roll of Renown - JEAN STAFFORD 2008". http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au/. Retrieved 22 November 2015. External link in |website= (help)

External links

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