Denis Gibbons
Denis Alfred Gibbons | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1932 Port Elliot, South Australia, Australia |
| Died | 2002 |
| Occupation(s) | Folk artist, radio presenter, music scholar |
| Years active | 1951–2002 |
| Known for | Australian folk music, radio broadcasting |
Denis Alfred Gibbons (1932–2002) was a prominent Australian folk artist, radio presenter, and music scholar. He embarked on his broadcasting journey in 1951 with the Macquarie Radio Network and began capturing Australian folk tunes on record by 1954. His inaugural albums were released in 1960, and he regularly appeared on Channel Nine in Australia, often presenting segments leading into news programs. In recognition of his outstanding influence on Australian folk music, he was honored with an Advance Australia award in 1982. Additionally, Gibbons held a production role at Radio Australia. He died in 2002.
Biography
Denis was born in 1932 to Alfred Charles Gibbons, a hotel owner, and spent his childhood in Port Elliot, South Australia. His education included attendance at the Sisters of Mercy school located in Victor Harbour and later at Rostrevor College in Adelaide. Before establishing his career in radio, he worked in various positions including manual labor, hardware retail, managing a bicycle shop, truck driving, and roles within the Postmaster-General's Department as well as factory work. His radio career commenced in 1951.
By August 1953, while employed at 3SR FM, he gained recognition as an upbeat announcer for breakfast and lunchtime shows and was preparing to launch a folk music program inspired by Burl Ives. By May 1954, he served as the host of Time for a Song on station 3AW. In November 1955, he wed Joan Carey in Shepparton.
His first album, Trads and Anons, released in September 1960, showcased a wide-ranging selection of folk songs drawn from Dutch, Irish, Australian, English, and Scottish traditions, demonstrating his appeal across diverse folk music audiences.
Albums
- Trads and Anons (September 1960)
- Folksongs of Australia – The Struggle For Survival (W&G, double LP, 1975)
- Folk Songs with Denis Gibbons (W&G; release date unknown)
- Fair Dinkum Matilda (Move, 1995)
Extended plays
- Bush Songs (W&G, 1960)
- Shearing Songs (W&G, 1962)
- Folk Songs from Australia (W&G, 1967)
Singles
- "Jamaica Farewell" (1957)
- "Take a Message to Mary" (1959) – W&G (WG-SL-777)
- "Here Comes Summer" (1959) – W&G (WG-SL-814)
- "Along the Old Bush Track" (1959) – W&G (WG-SL-841)
- "The Drover's Dream" (1960) – W&G (WG-SL-986)
- "Michael (Row the Boat Ashore)" featuring the Unichords and the Jack Varney 5 (1961) – W&G (WG-S-1254)
- "Tina" featuring the Unichords and the Jack Varney 5 (1962) – W&G (WG-S-1301)