Reg Lindsay Biography

Reg began his musical career at the age of two when his father gave him a harmonica. Within a few years, he had demonstrated a remarkable proficiency with the instrument and later on went on to master the mandolin, banjo, guitar and fiddle. But the youngster had his heart set on becoming a stock man and, without the intervention of fate; he might today be anonymously riding the dusty reaches of some outback station. By his teenage years, he was already adept at shearing, fencing and general stock work. He had been accepted for a job at Mutooroo Station outside Broken Hill but a rodeo injury occasioned a long period of recuperation.

Reg became a ‘dial-twister’, scoring the radio frequencies for his favourite music: country music. It was during this time he came across Tim McNamara’s talent quest at Sydney Station 2SM. Fired with enthusiasm, he rode an old ex-Army dispatch bike to Sydney to compete, and eventually win!

1929

  • July 7, Reginald John Lindsay born Waverly, Sydney.

1950

  • Working on a sheep station at Mutooroo, near Broken Hill
  • Reg busted his knee while riding a bull on the Mutooroo Station
  • Dial-twisted and heard of a Hillbilly Talent Quest in Sydney on 2SM
  • Reg and a friend rode from Adelaide to Sydney to appear on Talent Quest
  • November, Reg won the first heat of Tim McNamara’s Talent Quest, Sydney Town Hall.

1951

  • January, Reg won Tim McNamara’s Talent Quest, Sydney Town Hall
  • February, started recording for Rodeo label.

1952

  • Joins Radio 2CH with his own show
  • Reg Lindsay’s Hillbilly Album released (Song Book).

1953

  • Joins Bonnington’s Bunkhouse Show on Radio 2GB (Sydney)
  • Reg joins Radio 2SM (Sydney)
  • June – invited to perform at the Queen’s Coronation celebration, Gosford
  • Reg Lindsay endorsing ‘Levin Guitars’.

1954

  • February, a celebration of the Queen’s visit to Australia, Gosford

1955

  • January, Toured with Wilf Carter – making the show his own.

1957

  •  The Reg Lindsay Show on tour.

1959

  • February, Reg appeared in the first episode of ABC’s 6 O’Clock Rock
  • Reg Lindsay Show on tour (NSW and QLD).

1963

  • Appeared on John Laws ‘Star Time Show’ and Bryan Davies Show.

1965

  • Reg started hosting Country & Western Hour (South Australia).

1968

  • June, Reg made his first trip to America
  • Grand Ole Opry, appearing on the Saturday night, first Australian to do so
  • Nashville, record the EP ‘Reg Lindsay In Nashville
  • Made an Honorary Citizen of Tennessee
  • Established ‘Reg Lindsay’s Country Store’, Parramatta Aust.

1969

  • Established Reg Lindsay’s Country Store/Trading Post at Concord Aust.

1971

  • Reg records ‘Armstrong’.

1974

  • Golden Guitar ‘Best Male Vocalist’ for ‘July You’re A Woman’
  • Toured with Hank Snow on his first and only tour of Australia
  • December appeared on on ABC TV Country Show, Sydney Opera House.

1977

  • Inducted into the Hand of Fame, Tamworth
  • Hosted ‘Country Road’ on ABC TV
  • Began hosting Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead, Brisbane.

1978

  • Gold Guitar ‘Best Male Vocalist’ for ‘Silence On The Line’
  • In Nashville, appeared on CMA Special hosted by Charlie Pride
  • This Is Your Life program, Channel 7
  • Gold Logie for Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead (Queensland).

1979

  • Gold Logie for Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead (Queensland).

1980

  • Gold Guitar ‘Best Male Vocalist’ for ‘Empty Arms Hotel’ (Australia recording).

1982

  • Reg prepared the music score for Dream World’s Koala theme show, Gold Coast.

1984

  • Roll of Renown, Tamworth (presented to Reg in December 1982)
  • Represented Australia at Nashville’s Fan Fair
  • Involved in the inhouse TV shows for Sheraton Hotel chain, world wide
  • His hand and boot prints in Music Valley Drive’s Walkway of Stars, Nashville
  • Toured extensively, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana and California.

1986

  • Represented South Australia at the Texas Sesquicentennial celebrations
  • Awarded an Honorary Citizen of Fort Worth, Texas
  • He was offered his own TV Show in Austin, Texas, Reg declined
  • Reg’s recording of ‘Armstrong’ added to Time Capsule, Johnson Space Center.

1988

  • October 12, Reg married Roslyn Winfield on Brampton Island.

1989

  • Reg was awarded the OAM for his service to the Music Industry.

1995

  • January, Reg suffered a brain haemorrhage during Tamworth’s Country Music Festival
  • March, the first Reg Lindsay & Friends Rodeo, Cessnock.

2008

  • August 5, Reg Lindsay passed away.

2015

  • March, unveiling of the Reg Lindsay Statue, East Cessnock Bowling Club
  • July 28, Reg posthumously awarded MO Award.

2016

  • January, Launch of the first Remember Reg Lindsay Showcase in Tamworth.

2018

  • Reg Lindsay DVD ‘Country All The Way’ released
  • August 5, a concert at East Cessnock Bowling, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Reg’s passing.

2021

  • Reg Lindsay ‘Setting The Pace’, a pictorial book (first of its kind).

“It would be hard to find a friendly, more down-to-earth individual than the Great Man of Australian Country Music – Reg Lindsay – whose career has spanned over 50 years. His voice is trademark: rich and mellow and, like fine wine, it just keeps getting better with the passing of time. He has recorded over 60 albums, 6 of them Gold; a multitude of singles: has won the Order of Australia Medal for services to music and to the community; had his own top-rating, nationally syndicated television and radio programs; and has toured every inch of this great continent”.

Reg Lindsay is without a doubt, and in the opinions of thousands of Australians, a truly great and honourable Australian. He is known, not only for his high quality performances, but also for the sincere contribution he has consistently given to the entertainment industry and to the community during his lifetime. Reg has supported innumerable charities and benefits during his 50 years or so in the industry and it is the enormous variety and number of organisations he has supported that is the reason he has been honoured with this award.

Reg has always supported worthwhile causes and has put on shows to raise money for a variety of causes, from hospitals, nursing homes, public schools, benefits for terminally ill people and for their families, medical research, church appearances, shows for disadvantaged children, children’s homes, Vocal, SIDS, APEX, a radio program for Aboriginal children, even dancing schools and the list goes on. He has appeared on many telethons in all States, has flown all over the country to appear at fundraisers for outback communities and has given his time and support to many benefit concerts all over Australia and has donated royalties from his record albums to several organisations.

In the 50’s, Reg began performing Christmas concerts at Barnados Children’s Home, they loved him and his show and the story goes that they were asked “Who comes and Christmas time?” and the answer was “Reg Lindsay!!”

In 1962, Reg toured part of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific with a small group performing shows for the Red Cross in remote areas for 2 weeks. The entire royalties of his record album ‘World of Rodeo’ was divided between The Royal Flying Doctors and a Rodeo Fund for Injured Riders.

A Victims of Crime group was threatened with closure because of lack of funds and Reg stepped in, put on a show and they are still operating today. Reg is also Patron of the West Helicopter, Northern Region.

Reg was able to give many artists a start in the industry by having them appear on his stage and television stages or tour with his travelling show and there are many well-known entertainers today who had their first appearances on the Reg Lindsay Show.

Reg collapsed with a cerebral haemorrhage in 1995 at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the support received from friends, fans and colleagues was absolutely overwhelming, demonstrating the enormous respect and friendship of the Australian people for him. A benefit show was held for Reg at Rooty Hill RSL and Reg donated the proceeds raised to the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where they purchased a much needed piece of equipment for the neurological wing.

Unfortunately, Reg is not able to perform any longer as he passed away on the 5th of August 2008.

  • Star of First Country Show in Sydney
  • Opera House
  • Country and Western House TV Show
  • Country Homestead TV Show
  • ‘Logies’ for Top State Variety TV Show
  • Award Federation Commercial
  • Broadcasters Record Awards
  • Three Gold Guitars
  • Top Male Vocal Australia
  • National Television Producer
  • 64 Album Releases
  • Records Released Europe, USA, NZ and Australia
  • Star of 600 1hr Reg Lindsay National TV Shows
  • Pope’s Welcome – Melbourne
  • Produced 1500 Radio Shows
  • Harmony Homestead Radio Show
  • Countrypolitan Show
  • Royal Expo; QLD Birthday TV Show
  • Burswood Island Resort WA
  • Brampton and Dunk Islands
  • Hobart, Darwin and Alice Springs Casinos
  • ‘Grand Ole Opry’ Nashville. Tenn.
  • Lord Mayors Command Performance Brisbane
  • Waratah Festival Sydney
  • Warana Festival Brisbane
  • Australia Day, Adelaide
  • Walkway of Stars, Music Valleydrive, Nashville
  • Hands of Fame, Tamworth
  • Roll of Reown, Tamworth
  • Honorary Citizen Tennessee
  • Honorary Citizen Texas
  • Award for Excellence of Performance: Texas Senate and Governor
  • Key of City Fort Worth TX
  • Good Morning Australia
  • Good Morning Melbourne
  • Ray Martin Noon Show
  • Voted Pro. Rodeos Favourite Entertainer
  • Trophy Buckle Award for Services to Rodeo
  • Over 10,000 live shows produced by R. Lents
  • 1st Country Package Show to Cruise the Pacific Area
  • Toured Australia and Continent 6 Times
  • Silver Pop Award
  • Alice Springs Henley on Todd Festival
  • New Guinea Pacific Island Tour – Red Cross
  • Air New Zealand Commercial
  • TV Special for P.B.S Network USA
  • KVET Radio Austin Texas Guest DJ
  • Special Achievement Plaque from C.M. Assn, Nashville
  • Star ion ABC Aboriginal Teaching Radio Program
  • ‘Gavin’ Hit Pick of the Week in USA
  • Record Trade Paper
  • 1985/6 Performed in Texas for Australia and South Australia SESQUI Celebrations
  • Special Citation Awarded from Institute of International Education for Performances at World Trade Centre, Houston
  • Special Award from QLD for Encouraging Young Talent
  • Awarded the ‘Industry Award’ for South Australia, Barmeta, SA
  • Represented Australia at ‘Fan Fair’ Nashville
  • M.C of ‘International Shows’ – Nashville
  • ‘Armstrong’ Video in Worlds Largest Time Capsule, Mission Control (Johnson Space Centre), Clear Lake, Houston
  • Jerry Lewis ‘Telethon’ National TV USA
  • Dick Clarke Network TV Show USA
  • Bunkhouse Radio Show
  • Special Award for Stetson Hats
  • Major Broadcasting Network, Network Award
  • Reg Lindsay ‘Australian Show’, San Jacento, Houston TX
  • Headlined with Actress Dyan Cannon in Show Tribute to Australia in USA
  • MO Award
  • Inducted in ‘Variety Club Entertainer of the Century’

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