Lee Gordon/Leedon
Discovered by 2SM radio DJ and JO'K associate Allan Lappan in 1959 while playing during the interval in between Marlon Brando and James Dean movies at Manly's Embassy Theatre, Johnny O'Keefe didn't waste any time in recruiting Barry as a regular spot on Six O'Clock Rock. Doing his first television appearance at eighteen years old, Barry quickly became one of the most popular Australian rock'n'roll singers of his time. One of the few artists to use his real name, O'Keefe branded him the 'Big Boy of Rock' due to his solid physique.
Signing to the Lee Gordon label (which would later become Leedon Records) later that year, he released his first single - a cover of Roy Hamilton's Don't Let Go/I Got A Woman. During this period he began touring with several other popular artists at the time including Digby Richards, Jimmy Little, and Warren Williams.
May 1960 saw Barry take part in the longest rock'n'roll tour ever undertaken in Australia with a star-studded line-up consisting of Johnny O'Keefe and The Dee Jays, Laurel Lea, Booka Hyland, Lonnie Lee, The Sapphires, Ray Hoff, and himself. This would be the tour that would almost end O'Keefe's life after losing control of his Plymouth Belvedere near Kempsey on 27 June 1960. Stanton's follow-up single Don't You Worry 'Bout That/You Are Gone was well received in most states, reaching #37 on the Sydney music charts. A 'viewers' choice' poll for the most popular artists of 1960 showed Barry to be the fourth most requested artist to appear on Six O'Clock Rock, with Lonnie Lee taking out the #1 position, JO'K coming in second, and Digby Richards at third.
Read more about this topic: Barry Stanton
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