The Hawking Brothers - 1976 - Special Edition FLAC

A Good Love Is Like A Good Song/Release Me/I've Found My Freedom/Me And Bobby McGee/Eighteen Yellow Roses/Molly Breen//Old Bark Hut/Julianna/Wild Rover No More/Home Ain't On The Range Any No More/Catfish John/This House Runs On Sunshine/Last Train To Clarkeville/Long And Dance/Wild Colonial Boy/Pretty Brown Eyes/My Elusive Dream/The Convict And The Rose/Maggie May/Mamma Tried


 Russel - born: July 1st 1931 / Died: November 2nd 1976 Alan - born: July 7th 1933 / Died: September 19th 1988

Alan was raised by his mother’s parents (his mother died when he was only 2yrs of age) whereas Russel was brought by his father’s parents.  They spent most their childhood days apart.

Mid 1950’s, both Russel and Alan joined The Trailblazers which were early Melbourne country music concert troupe.  It was in June 1955, the Hawking Brothers recorded their first disc for Regal Zonophone (EMI) – ‘My Darling Daisy’.  They would later record for W&G and RCA.
In the early 1960’s Alan & Russell Hawking were already established on the Australian Country Music Scene.  Later they decided to form a band which became one the greatest bands in Country Music history – they had an excellent career for over a decade ‘The Hawking Brothers & The Wildwoods.’  

The Hawking Brothers band included – Peter Cohen, Garry Newton, George Xanthos, Joe Attard, Peter Hayes, John Faubel, Leo Dalton and Doug Foley.
The Hawking Brothers & The Wildwoods were supporting band on the Johnny Cash and Buck Owns tour of Australia in early 1970’s and late 1970’s toured with Charlie Pride.  The highlight of their career was being the first Australia group to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, 1975. Later they would revert back to the Hawking Brothers.

Their biggest hits were: Hand in the Hand, Catfish John, The Melbourne Cup and Eighteen Yellow Rose.  There were a total of 16 LP’s cut by the brothers before the untimely death of Russel on November 2, 1976. 
Alan decided to carry on with the band – and 4 more albums were released – which included their biggest hit ‘One Day At A Time’.  In 1971 the Hawking Brother’s fan club was founded by a Dianne Johns.

 The Hawking Brothers arguably won more awards than any other Australian country group.   When the band started to have promotional problems and difficulties which saw the group falling to pieces, in 1981, Alan Hawking decided to go solo.
Alan’s solo recordings include:- RCA single ‘Just For Today’ and an LP of the same title. In 1983, Alan received a Gold Guitar for best instrumental. Up until his death, Alan recorded his own tracks in his home studio on multi track recording system.  Thanks to Mustang