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Review

"The TEX MORTON Songbook" by Gordon Spittle

Review by Max Ellis

This is an interesting publication with a lot of information about Tex Morton that is probably not widely available or known these days.

Entitled "Songbook" for a reason, it is clearly not a full length biography of the great Father of Australasian Country Music. Rather it is a  summary of his extra-ordinary life and achievements, for the most part told through Tex's own words when interviewed informally by New Zealand country music historian Garth Gibson in 1969.

There are snippets, too, from some of John Minson's 2TM interviews with Tex and Sister Dorrie in the early 1980s as well as from other radio interviews on the ABC and NZ radio stations at various times.

The author has also obtained material from the Lane family and acknowledged Morton experts like Pat Ware of Tamworth. Tex's huge success as Dr Robert Morton, stage and clinical hypnotist, especially in Canada and his association with Hank Williams and other American stars like Gene Autry and Hank Snow are revealed in some detail.

There are extensive Endnotes, attributing authorship and reference material and explaining the background of specific circumstances covered in the book. The book also carries the lyrics of 18 Tex Morton songs and many rare black & white pictures and illustrations relating to Tex.

While this is not a comprehensive chronicle of Tex's talented and complex character or of his brilliant patchwork of a career, it is, never the less, a valuable contribution to keeping alive the memory of this incredible, legendary figure who played such a leading role in establishing country music here.

Gordon Spittle is a New Zealand journalist and musician and this 140 page, privately published book is available from PO Box 105981, Customs Street, Auckland, New Zealand, 1143. Retail price is NZ$30 - or AUD$25 plus AUF$3 postage, available by airmail within three to five days.

For more info: gwspittle@actrix.co.nz