Lenore Somerset (1931–2006) was an Australian folk singer who was popular in the 1960s. She recorded for various labels which included W&G Records, EMS Records and CBS Records. She was also an actress, appeared in Australian television series' Young Ramsay, Division 4, Homicide and Bluey, etc.
Background Lenore Somerset was born in Brisbane, Queensland in 1931.History of Aussie Music, Tuesday, 10 January 2017 - LENORE SOMERSETPop Archives - Olivia Newton-John – The Banks Of The Ohio, Lenore Somerset (1931-2006) She moved to Melbourne in the late 1950s. She was discovered by her neighbor who heard her singing over the fence. With his help, it led to television appearances and performing around town.Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 6 Oct 2013 - Female folk singers of the golden age, Lenore Miller-Somerset – All My Trials
She was the niece of Australian country singer Buddy Williams. In her early days she was known as Lenore Miller. She recorded five duets with her uncle which were released on the Regal Zonophone label.eHive - BUDDY WILLIAMS; BUDDY WILLIAMS; HOF_1977_WILLIAMS, 1945: In March, Buddy had army leave and recorded six songs for Regal Zonophone, five of them as duets with his niece Lenore Miller With the Regal Zonophone recordings behind her, it was in the 1960s she found success when known as Lenore Somerset.The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Edited By Colin Larkin 1995 - (UK) - Page 4484 Williams, Buddy
According to a 1963 issue of Billboard, Lenore Somerset was likely the best-known folk singer in Australia.Billboard, July 6, 1963 - Page 33 AUSTRALIA, W&G Distribs Duke-Peacock By GEORGE HILDER She rode the crest of the folk popularity wave in the early 1960s.The Canberra Times, Saturday, December 10, 1966 - Page 12 LEISURE-THE ARTS, POP CULT By Garry Raffaele, Change of Course
Some of the venues she appeared in locally include the Melbourne Jazz and Folk Center in 1963,I've Always Kept a Unicorn The Biography of Sandy Denny, By Mick Houghton · 2015 - - 6: The Wild Colonial Boy 1943 - 1969, Melbourne's Jazz and Folk Centre the Sydney Conservatorium in 1964,The Tribune, Wednesday, July 29, 1964 - Page 7 Four Capitals Folk Song and the Chevron Hotel in 1972 etc.The Australian Jewish News, Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page Twenty-six DAVE MEADOWS AT CHEVRON
Career 1960s Debut album By June 1963, Lenore Somerset's debut album had been released. She was pictured on page 18 of the 20 June 1963 issue of The Age. By that time, she had already appeared on all three of the television stations in Melbourne. Her album was reviewed by "Orpheus" on page four of the edition.The Age, Thursday, June 20, 1963 - Article clipped from The Age, LENORE SOMERSET It was speculated by Billboard that the album should secure a personal management contract with Woomera Music.Billboard, July 6, 1963 - Page 33 AUSTRALIA, W&G Distribs Duke-Peacock By GEORGE HILDER The album, Lenora Somerset Sings featured fourteen songs which included "All My Trials", "Moreton Bay", "Andy's Gone with the Cattle", "The Ox Driver Song", "The Riddle Song", and Little Moses".
Australian Newport folk festival Somerset along with Marian Henderson, Gary Shearston, Tina Lawton, Martin Wyndham-Reade, Jeanne Lewis, and compere Leonard Teale were scheduled to appear at the Australian Newport Folk Festival which was held at the Newport Oval in Newport, New South Wales from 8–10 January 1965. According to The Canberra Times, the festival was expected to bring in up to 12,000 people over its three-day run.Powerhouse Collection - Concert program Object No. 99/113/12 1965, Music program, Newport Folk festival, Newport OvalThe Canberra Times, Friday, January 1, 1965 - Page 9 leisure, the arts, A gathering of folk singers
The event was recorded, and according to the 4 March issue of The Canberra Times, there were six programmes. The first of them was to be broadcast by the A.B.C on 7 march. Paul Marks, a jazz / blues singer & guitarist was the featured artist. The second and third programmes would be of Tina Lawton and Lenore Somerset respectively.The Canberra Times, March 4, 1965 - Page 35 Leisure, Newport Jazz Tapes
Further activities Along with Judy Jacques, Hans Georg, Brian Mooney, Martin Wyneham Read, Kirk & Jane, Juan da Montagne (Spanish Guitarist), Somerset was scheduled to appear at the Melbourne Folk Festival on 9 April 1965.The Age, April 3, 1965 - Page 80 Amusements, Melbourne Folk Festival, Featuring
It was written in the 14 May 1965 issue of The Australian Jewish News that Mike Seeger, brother of Pete and his band, the New Lost City Ramblers would be playing two concerts at the Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday 26 May and Tuesday 1 June. The stars of the Australian Newport Folk Festival, Marian Henderson, Gary Shearston, Paul Marks, Tina Lawton, Lenore Somerset, The Wesley Three, And Sean and Sonja etc. would be on the same programme.The Australian Jewish News, Friday, May 14, 1965 - Page Eight, SEEGAR & TWO
Somerset was pictured with folk singers Doug Owen and Margaret Smith in the 22 July 1965 issue of The Age. They were to appear in a variety show, televised on GTV-9 on the 29th. A song they were expected to perform was "Follow the Drinking Gourd which was described by the paper as an American Negro freedom song, which references a constellation pointing the way to freedom. Also scheduled to be at the event were Chris Beard and his sister Robina, Toni Lamond, Bon Maguire, Judd Laine, Roger McDougall, and Mary Hardy.The Age, July 23–29, 1965 - Page Three The Age TV-Radio Guide, Brother and sister meet at the top
It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's 13 November 1965 issue that Somerset had released her self-titled EP and was in the process of recording her third album release.Billboard, November 13, 1965 - Page 26 International News Reports, Music Capitals of the World, * Continued from page 24, Sydney
In a December 1966 article Garry Raffaele of The Canberra Times, she was described as lengthening and broadening her musical scope, so unlike some other folk singers, she was able to make a full-time living from her music. While her musical recordings were in the folk genre, her television appearances and cabaret work were more commercial.The Canberra Times, Saturday, December 10, 1966 - Page 12 LEISURE-THE ARTS, POP CULT By Garry Raffaele, Change of Course
According to the 16 July 1966 issue of Billboard, popular W&G Records artist Lenore Somerset was doing well with her low-priced album.Billboard, July 16, 1966 - Page 32 International News Reports, Sydney It was described by Cash Box as an interesting set of early Australian tunes drawn from old miner and sheep drover songs.Cash Box, June 11, 1966 - Page 56 Cash Box Australia
With Normie Rowe, Maureen Elkner, Phil Lanham, Pauline Murphy and Danny O'Meara the compere, Somerset appeared on stage at Nui Dat, South Vietnam on a government sponsored show to entertain Australian troops. The event was held on 25 April 1969.Australian War Memorial - Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1969-04-25. Trooper Norman J (Normie) Rowe (who is also a singer), joins ..., Description She was also photographed that month at Nui Dat by David Reginald Combe, giving a letter from home to Private David Jones of the 3rd Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment.Anzac Portal - Veterans' Stories Vietnam, Keeping the home fires burning, Singer Lenore Somerset hands a letter from home to Private David Jones
According to the "On-the-scene" section in the 21 May 1969 issue of The Altona Star, Somerset had changed her singing style from the days when she was at Frank Traynor's club.The Altona Star, Wednesday, May 21, 1969 - Page Eight ON-THE-SCENE
1970s - 1980s Along with Graeme Thompson, Peter Carr, Peter Robinson, John Farrar, Pat Carroll, Doug Owen and Terry Walker, Somerset was part of a concert party that went to Saigon in 1970.Australian Government - AWM FAI/70/0361/VN, Concert party arriving in Saigon
It was reported by Cash Box in the 27 November 1971 issue that W&G Records had re-entered the singles race with Lenore Somerset's "Listen to the Man" record that was composed by David Langdon, a local writer.Cash Box, November 27, 1971 - Page 48 Cash Box Australia
On 13 April 1974 Somerset and Barry Krause were booked to appear at the Hakoah Eastern Suburbs football club with Somerset in the first show slot.Soccer World, April 5, 1974 - Page 2 AT YOUR CLUB, HAKOAH Eastern Suburbs SFC Ltd., Saturday, April 13: First Show — LENORE SOMERSET. Second Show — BARRY KRAUSE.
Somerset recorded an album Misty that was released on the EMS label (GNLP 7056) in 1978,The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Australian Popular Music Catalogue – Vinyl Records - Page 385 - 286 Collection guide: N-T, Lenore SomersetPunk Journey - Page 136 AUSTRALIAN INDIE LABELS, 1955–1990, GNLP 7056 MISTY LP LENORE SOMERSET 1978 which was run by Graham Morphett,Australian Record Labels - Page 53 NATIONWIDE / RAVEN / E.M.S. the same label that Veronica Overton, Patsy Biscoe, Mike Quarmby and Pam Tamblyn had releases on.Australian Record Labels - INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN LABELS 2, LARGER LABELS Page 57 INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN LABELS 2, L.P.’SAustralian Record Labels - INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN LABELS 2, LARGER LABELS Page 61 INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN LABELS 2, L.P.’S, EMS TV 7154 FANTASY WORLD PAM TAMBLYN
1980s - 2000s According to the 17 May 1980 issue of TV Week, 'Reg Lindsay was looking forward to recording more of his Reg Lindsay's Country Homestead show at QTQ9 in Brisbane. His guests were said to be Lenore Somerset, Maria Dallas, Derwood Magill and Jan Kelly.TV Week, May 17, 1980 - Page 59 REG GIVES US THE DRUM FROM NASHVILLE, COUNTRY COUSIN
Somerset was still performing in the 2000s while aged in her seventies.The Age, April 15, 2006 - Music, Music made Maton
In the 2000s, prior to her death, Somerset was honored at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.The Phoenix, Monday, April 20, 2009 - Page 4 Locals Create Musical Harmony
Death Lenore Somerset died in Melbourne, Victoria on 17 October 2006.Legacy - Lenore Somerset
Later years According to the 20 April 2009 issue of The Phoenix, recording engineer Marcus Herman had been working on a live set of performances from thirty years prior. The CD album, Wandong Country Live included Lenore Somerset, Kevin Shegog, David Pincombe, The Hawking Brothers and Tex Morton.The Phoenix, Monday, April 20, 2009 - Page 4 Locals Create Musical HarmonyThe Phoenix, Monday, April 20, 2009 - Page 4 Wandong
Discography + Singles Act Release Catalogue Year Notes The Yodeling Jackaroo & Lenore Miller "Brown-Eyed Sweetheart of Mine" / "The Bushman's Rodeo" Regal Zonophone G24929 1945 shellac, 10", 78 RPM Buddy Williams & Lenore Miller "Where the Lazy Murray River Rolls Along" / "The Drover's Song" Regal Zonophone G24947 1945 shellac, 10", 78 RPM Buddy Williams and Lenore Miller "Rhythm in the Saddle" / "Bushland Paradise" Regal Zonophone G24963 ? shellac, 10", 78 RPM Discogs - Lenore Miller Discography Lenore Somerset "Mary's Boy Child" / "Little Moses" W&G S 1798 1964 7" 45 rpm Lenore Somerset "Massachusetts" / "What Now My Love" CBS BA 221475 1968 7" 45 rpm45Cat - Lenore Somerset - Discography, Australia Lenore Somerset "Listen to the Man" / "You've Gotta Learn to Stand Together" W&G S 8282 1970 7" 45 rpmAustralian Folk Songs - AUSTRALIAN FOLK SONGS DISCOGRAPHY (08/06/2000) M-Z, SOMERSET, Lenore You’ve Gotta Learn to Stand Together
+ EP Act Release Tracks Catalogue Year Notes Lenore Somerset Requests "Hava Nagila", "Moreton Bay" "Foggy Foggy Dew", "Little Moses" W&G WG-E-2415 1965 Lenore Somerset Lenore Somerset Live "Jericho", "Oh Freedom", " Come, Go With Me to That Land" "Hava Nagila", "he Ox Drivers" W&G WG-E-2485 1965 45Cat - Lenore Somerset - Discography, AustraliaAustralian Folk Songs - AUSTRALIAN FOLK SONGS DISCOGRAPHY (08/06/2000) M-Z, SOMERSET, Lenore, Lenore Somerset Live; Lenore Somerset Requests