Frank Ifield began his music career in New Zealand, where his song Guardian Angel reached number one. He moved to England in 1959 and started recording for EMI, initially experiencing moderate success. However, his final session with Norrie Paramor produced a massive hit, I Remember You, which stayed at number one in the UK charts for seven weeks. This song also topped the charts in Australia and reached number five in America, becoming a million-seller, a rare feat for British recordings at the time.
Following the success of I Remember You, Frank Ifield had three more consecutive number one hits in the UK with Lovesick Blues, She Taught Me How To Yodel, and The Wayward Wind. He also achieved four British top 10 albums. Despite initial advice against yodeling, Ifield’s performance at the London Palladium, where he headlined a royal Command Performance concert before Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother, led to the success of his yodeling songs.
During the 1960s, Frank Ifield engaged in various activities in the music industry, including pantomimes, tours with famous artists like Duane Eddy and the Everly Brothers, and trying out for Britain’s Eurovision entry. He also appeared in the 1965 film Up Jumped a Swagman. Despite being born in Coventry, Ifield presented himself as an Australian artist, a trend followed by other Australian acts like the Bee Gees and the Easybeats.
Frank Ifield’s interaction with the Beatles is notable, as he was initially asked by Brian Epstein to take the group on tour with him. While he found the Beatles too loud for his audience, their version of I Remember You appeared on a live album. Ifield’s influence on John Lennon’s harmonica playing and their joint record on Vee Jay Records are evidence of their mutual respect. Ifield also performed at the Grand Ole Opry and had a career highlight when Louis Armstrong referred to him as “one of us.”
After experiencing health issues in the late 1960s, Frank Ifield moved back to Sydney in 1988 to recover with his family. He faced a collapsed lung and subsequent surgery, which affected his singing voice. Despite this, he maintained a presence in the music industry as a talent spotter, TV/radio host, and mentor to young country music performers. He established the Frank Ifield Award/International Spur Award, recognizing new talent in the industry. Collaborations with artists like Nicki Gillis and Wayne Horsburgh further solidified his legacy.
Frank Ifield’s later years were marked by marriage to Carole Wood in 1992 and a quiet life in Dural. He continued to support emerging artists in the country music scene and was honored with induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007. His kindness and courtesy were widely acclaimed, as evidenced by the outpouring of positive sentiments upon his passing in Hornsby Hospital from pneumonia. His contribution to music and nurturing new talent left a lasting impact on the industry.
