Carol Ann Lloyd (1948–2017), born as Carol Ann Cramb, was an Australian singer, songwriter, composer, and advertising executive. She was described as "Australia's original rock chick" for her role in the Brisbane-based bands Railroad Gin (1973–75) and Carol Lloyd Band, as well as her solo career. She was recognised for her long, curly red hair, which was insured with Lloyd's of London for $100,000.Lesbians On The Loose "A Confessional with Carol Lloyd, Australia's Original Rock Chick", 10 June 2014. Retrieved on 28 March 2017. Carol Ann Lloyd died on 13 February 2017 due to complications from her interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diagnosed four years earlier.

Early years

Lloyd was born as Carol Ann Cramb on 17 October 1948 at the Fermoy Private Hospital, Auchenflower, Queensland to D and E Cramb of nearby Taringa. She had two older brothers. Lloyd attended Rocklea State School.Sydney Morning Herald "Hundreds say goodbye to Carol Lloyd, Brisbane's Ruby Tuesday", 20 February 2017. Retrieved on 28 March 2017.

Musical career 1970s Lloyd became the lead singer of Brisbane R&B group, Railroad Gin, in September 1971. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, observed "[Lloyd] was the band's focal point with her commanding stage presence, husky blues voice and wild mane of red hair."

In 1973 Railroad Gin performed a Rock Mass with the Queensland Youth Orchestra at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane. The band were signed to PolyGram and had three singles that reached the top of the local charts, "A Matter of Time" (June 1974), "Do Ya Love Me?" (October) and "You Told the World" (March 1975).

In August 1975 Lloyd left Railroad Gin due to throat problems and to pursue her solo career. By the end of the year she had formed Tonnage, which was soon renamed as The Carol Lloyd Band. The line-up was Lloyd on lead vocals and percussion, Gary Broadhurst on bass guitar, Peter Harvey on keyboards, Mark Moffatt on lead guitar and pedal steel guitar, and Danny Simpson on drums. They signed a worldwide recording contract with EMI Records - a first for an Australian artist.QMusic "Women in Music Industry Development Panel" , 18 February 2016. Retrieved on 8 August 2017. They had a hit in Queensland with "Storm in My Soul" and released an album, Mother Was Asleep at the Time, on 18 October 1976.The Carol Lloyd Band Story: The legend continues . Retrieved on 8 August 2017.

Tony Catterall of The Canberra Times was impressed by Lloyd "[who] is a blues singer and, being part of the seventies, she's singing in the most acceptable blues style of today; the southern US sound pioneered by the Allman Brothers Band." The album was produced by Clive Shakespeare (ex-Sherbet), Catterall observed "on many of the 10 tracks – [Shakespeare is] refusing to let her be out front where a blues shouter belongs or by use of double tracking or echo chamber. The resultant sound isn't exactly displeasing, but it isn't true, either... her power and that of her band, has been too often diluted on 'Mother' by Shakespeare's wrong-headed approach."

1980s Carol Lloyd issued a solo album, Take It or Leave It, in 1980 on RCA, which provided the title track as its lead single in January of the following year. Lloyd was co-writer of the theme song for World Expo 88, "Together, We'll Show the World".

2010s Lloyd performed a series of shows at the Brisbane Powerhouse: "It Takes Two, Baby" with Sue Ray in January 2014,Brisbane Powerhouse Facebook page "It Takes Two, Baby!", 27 November 2013. Retrieved on 8 August 2017. "It Takes Two Baby" with Pearly Black in July 2014,Rough Red "It Takes Two Baby - Return Show With Pearly Black". Retrieved on 8 August 2017. and "It's Time: the No.1 hits of Railroad Gin and The Carol Lloyd Band" in December 2014, at which the All The Good Things live album was recorded.Brisbane Powerhouse Facebook page "It's Time: the No.1 hits of Railroad Gin and The Carol Lloyd Band", 18–19 December 2014. Retrieved on 8 August 2017.Rough Red "All The Good Things". Retrieved on 8 August 2017.

A benefit show was held for Lloyd at QPAC on 20 October 2016 to assist with medical expenses and artists including Katie Noonan, Alison St Ledger, Yani, Ellen Reed, Troy Cassar-Daley, Peter Harvey, Annie Petersen and Leah Cotterell donated their performances. The show was named Goodbye Ruby Tuesday after the Rolling Stones song frequently covered by Lloyd, and she made an appearance on stage in a decorated wheelchair to join Ellen Reed in performing it.brisbanetimes.com.au "QPAC benefit for Railroad Gin's Carol Lloyd to feature Katie Noonan", 19 October 2016. Retrieved on 8 August 2017.

Personal life

Carol Cramb had married Donald Lloyd and took his last name, but they separated by 1972, "I'd been married, my marriage had broken up, and I'd found my way back to where I was in my teens when I thought I was the only gay woman in the world." Prior to joining Railroad Gin she had worked in advertising, which had taken her to London.

Lloyd was diagnosed with a terminal illness, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in January 2013. In December 2014 she described her symptoms "I have difficulty breathing if I get too excited. The disease was halfway up my lungs when I was diagnosed 18 months ago, probably more now. It creeps up your lungs and creates this crackling." Lloyd and her domestic partner, Annie, held a commitment ceremony on 10 August 2013 at The Edge, Queensland State Library, Brisbane during an event, "The Party of a Lifetime".Gay News Network "Sexuality, drugs and the delicious voice of Carol Lloyd", 8 December 2014. Retrieved on 28 March 2017.

Carol Ann Lloyd died on 13 February 2017 at the Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower – due to complications from her fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.themusic.com.au "Qld Rock Icon Carol Lloyd Passes Away After Lengthy Illness", 13 February 2017. Retrieved on 28 March 2017.

Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS Mother Was Asleep at the Time Released: October 1976 Format: LP, cassette Label: EMI (EMA-321) 42

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album AUS "Storm in My Soul" 1976 66 Mother Was Asleep at the Time "All the Good Things" 56 "Take It or Leave It" 1980 — "Love Me Tender" 2013 — It Takes Two, Baby (musical)

Awards

Q Song Awards The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.

(wins only) |- | 2010 | Carol Lloyd | Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2016 it was announced that the Queensland Music Festival and Queensland Government were creating an award in Carol's name to honour her lifetime achievements and support of up-and-coming female artists. The Carol Lloyd Award is worth $15,000 and was to be presented for the first time in 2017. The inaugural award was presented on 30 May 2017 to Georgia Potter (singer-songwriter with alternative rock/pop trio Moreton), who described herself as "a genuine Carol Lloyd fan", having attended Women In Voice concerts. In 2018 the winner of the Carol Lloyd Award was Leanne Tennant and in 2019 it was received by Sahara Beck.

References

External links

Carol Lloyd oral history and digital story Produced by State Library of Queensland