Legendary Australian singer and guitarist Frank Ifield has died aged 86.
The iconic musician’s passing was announced by his friend, music historian and journalist Glenn A. Baker, who revealed on Facebook that Frank died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday night.
He is survived by his wife Carole Wood and two children he shared with his ex-wife Gillian Bowden.
Frank, who was born in England but grew up in Australia, had a brilliant musical career that began when he was just 13 years old.
At the time, the teenager was living in the Sydney suburb of Dural, where he worked on his parents’ farm and often listened to country music.
Legendary Australian singer and guitarist Frank Ifield has died aged 86 (Frank is pictured in 1965).
After his grandmother gave him a guitar, the talented young man taught himself to play and began writing songs that included yodeling.
By the time he was 19, Frank had released 44 albums and become the number one artist in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.
Taking a chance at the peak of his stardom Down Under, Frank moved to London in 1959 and released four number one hits on the UK singles chart: his covers of the songs I Remember You, Lovesick Blues and The Wayward Wind. and Confessing that I love you.
He is survived by his wife Carole Wood (right) and two children he shared with his ex-wife Gillian Bowden.
Frank, who was born in England but grew up in Australia, had a brilliant musical career that began when he was just 13 years old. (Frank pictured after being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007)
By the time he was 19, Frank had released 44 albums and become the number one artist in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.
Three of these hits came before the Beatles rose to fame, and for a time it even allowed the British band to perform as an opening act.
Other achievements include performing in front of Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Show in 1965, starring in his own film Up Jumped a Swagman and receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the arts as an artist in 2009.
In 1986, Frank was diagnosed with pneumonia and underwent surgery to remove part of a lung.
Her vocal cords were damaged during surgery, preventing her from singing and yodeling for years.
In 2005, Frank co-wrote his autobiography, I Remember Me: The First 25 Years.
Taking a chance at the peak of his stardom Down Under, Frank moved to London in 1959 and released four number one hits on the UK singles chart: his covers of the songs I Remember You, Lovesick Blues and The Wayward Wind. and confessing that I love you
