Gary Shearston dies aged 74

By JONATHON HOWARD

FAMED singer songwriter Gary Shearston has died at age 74 after suffering a stroke this month at his Tenterfield home.

A statement from Gary’s official website reads; “We regret to confirm that Gary Shearston has died suddenly after suffering a stroke at his home near Tenterfield, NSW.”
“We have lost a great artist and a great friend – our most heartfelt condolences to his family, especially his children Bonnie and Luke, and wife Karen.”
Gary leaves an impressive legacy and even in his last days he was putting the finishing touches on a new collection of songs.
He had a Top 20 hit in Australia and the UK in 1974 with a cover of Cole Porter’s ‘I Get A Kick Out Of You’.
Gary was born in Inverell, NSW, on 9 January, 1939.
He became a professional singer at age 19 and in 1962 signed to Leedon Records, the Australian record label started by Johnny O’Keefe’s manager Lee Gordon and bought in 1960 by Festival Records.
In 1963, Gary signed with CBS Records and released the album ‘Australian Broadside’.
Radio started playing ‘Sydney Town’ and it became a Top 10 hit in Sydney.
Another benchmark success for Gary was when famous trio Peter (Yarrow), Paul (Stookey) and Mary (Travers) covered his song ‘Sometime Lovin’.
They invited him to the USA where he lived for four years as well as one year living in London.
In London, Gary re-recorded songs from his album ‘Dingo’. The album included ‘I Get A Kick Out Of You’ which climbed to number seven in the UK and number 11 in Australia.
Gary returned to Australia in 1989 and became an Anglican priest in 1992.
His last album ‘The Great Australian Groove’ was released in 2012.