1959 Onwards
Devlin continued to record while in Australia. Between 1959 and 1981, while using at least 14 different record labels, he released a further 40 singles, ten EP's and three albums. Music World released an album called 24 Original Golden Greats in 1980 that contained all of his New Zealand singles. In 1963 and 1964 he recorded "Stomp The Tumbarumba", "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" on which the Bee Gees sang backup vocals on the three songs.
Johnny Devlin still continues to perform on the club level in Australia. Of the original Devils, only Claude Papesch dedicated his life to music. Widely traveled around Australasia, he eventually settled in NSW, working more in the jazz field than the rock'n'roll which launched him. Battling cancer during the last years of his life, he served time on the Lithgow City Council and was elected Mayor of Lithgow in 1984 but due to ill health was unable to complete his term. Claude died in February 1987, aged 45. Keith Graham went on to play with the Embers.
Festival released two CDs that cover pretty much all of Johnny's work. The first in 1998 covers his Australian years, while the second, released in 2001, was a compilation of his New Zealand Prestige years.
Read more about this topic: Johnny Devlin