Lionel Long OAM
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Lionel Joaquin Paul Long OAM (1939 - 1998)

Lionel Joaquin Paul Long OAM
Born in Burwood, New South Wales, Australiamap
Ancestors ancestors
[sibling(s) unknown]
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at about age 59 in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 19 May 2020
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Contents

Biography

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Lionel Long OAM is Notable.

Lionel Long was an Australian country and folk singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and artist. He became one of Australia's most successful and popular country and folk artists in the 1960s, releasing over a dozen albums for EMI. He was also well known for his acting appearances on television programs such as Crawford Production's Homicide.

Formative years

New South Wales flag
Lionel Long OAM was born in New South Wales, Australia

Lionel Joaquin Paul Long was born in 1939 at Burwood, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Ernest Long who was an accomplished violinist, and his wife, Aileen Ellis-Lynch. His father committed suicide in 1940, following which Lionel and his mother moved to Rose Bay, in Sydney's eastern harbour-side, often spending time at Bondi. After completing his formal education at Christian Brothers School, Lionel worked as a jackaroo in the Hunter Valley and the expansive outback of Queensland, where he also honed his skills in singing and playing guitar. Returning home, he attended Hawkesbury Agricultural College, studying commercial art and marine biology. [1]

Lionel married Carole Sue Newgrosh in 1964 at Chatswood, New South Wales. [2] They have two children, one of whom is daughter, Amberwren Eryn Hillcoat Gorrick Long, who was the title subject of Lionel's 1966 album. Amberwren married Darren Giles and had two children. [3]

Music

While at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Lionel's musical talent was noted by Ron Wills of EMI Columbia and he was signed to the music label; being encouraged to move from his preferred country genre to the growing folk genre. He moved to RCA in the 1970s, releasing four albums, before returning to EMI for one final album. His albums were: [1]

  • Waltzing Matilda (1961)
  • Wild Colonial Boy (1962)
  • The Bold Bushrangers: Songs of Wild Colonial Days (1963)
  • Songs of the Sea (1964)
  • Long Ago: Folk Songs of the British Isles (1965)
  • A Sunburnt Country (1965)
  • Amberwren and Other Folk Songs (1966)
  • Lionel Long Today (1967)
  • Walkabout (unknown)
  • Troubador (unknown)
  • Close Up (1970)
  • The Man From Snowy River (1973)
  • Australia! Australia! (1975)
  • Brandied Plums (1977)
  • The Best of Lionel Long (1979)
  • High, Wild and Handsome (1980)

In the late 1980s, Lionel appeared at the Sydney Opera House, before travelling to Nashville, Tennessee. His illustrations of the era graced several books and guides. [1]

Television

During the 1960s Lionel's profile was boosted by appearances on several television shows, including the hit Channel 9 music program,

  • Bandstand, which he hosted in 1962 as Sing, Sing, Sing. Returning Bandstand to regular host Brian Henderson, Lionel was given his own show, which continued in 1963-65 hosted by 'The Wild One', Johnny O'Keefe
  • Music Time (1963-66)

He also performed on several other television shows:

  • Country and Western Hour (1963)
  • Singalong (1964)
  • A Night of Stars tv special (1969)
  • In Melbourne Tonight (1970)
  • The Ernie Sigley Show (1974, 1975)
  • National Star Quest as the host (1980)

Lionel's best-known television appearance was on the police series Homicide as Detective Bert Costello. His character was planned for only a few episodes, but Lionel's popularity was such that he appeared in 49 episodes between 1968 and 1969. Other series included: [4]

  • Whiplash (1961)
  • Riptide (1969)
  • The Link Men (1970)
  • The Rovers' (1970)
  • Matlock Police (1971, 1974)
  • Division 4 (1972)
  • Spyforce (1972)
  • Serpent in the Rainbow (1973) mini-series
  • Solo One (1976)
  • Chopper Squad (1978)
  • Cop Shop (1980)
  • A Country Practice (1986)

Films

Lionel dabbled in films in Hollywood, where he was even selected to be on the voting panel for the Academy Awards: [4]

  • This Is It (1964)
  • The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965)
  • Inn of the Damned (1975)
  • Barney / Lost in the Wild (1976)

From the early 1980s, he operated an acting school at Bankstown, New South Wales, moving it to the inner city of Sydney in 1984. [4]

Honours and awards

Medal of the Order of Australia

Lionel was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 1993 Australia Day honours, for 'service to the performing and visual arts'. [5]

Final curtain call

Lionel has left an indelible legacy to the world as a musician, actor, artist, tv personality and entrepreneur

Aged 58 years, Lionel passed away on 1st January 1998 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales and his ashes are placed in the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville. [1]

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wikipedia profile: Lionel Long; accessed 20 May 2020
  2. New South Wales Marriage Index #12722/1963
  3. My Heritage; accessed 3 Jan 2021
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 IMDb; accessed 3 Jan 2021
  5. Australian Honours; accessed 3 Jan 2021




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