The LeGarde Twins

The LeGarde Twins were an Australian country music duo of vocalists and guitarists identical twin brothers—Tom LeGarde and Ted LeGarde— born on 15 March 1931 in Mackay, Queensland.[2][3][4] Ted LeGarde died on 1 August 2018, at age 87.[5] Tom LeGarde died on 30 July 2021, at age 90.[2]

The LeGarde Twins
Also known asAustralia's Yodeling Stockmen[1]
OriginMackay, Queensland, Australia
GenresCountry, folk
Years active1950–2021
LabelsRegal Zonophone Records,
American Heritage Records,
Festival Records
MembersLast line-up: Tom and Ted

Career

The twins left home at the age of 15 and after trying their luck on the rodeo circuit as cowboys, they began playing music (they both sing and play guitar)[6] and performed throughout Australia (with the nickname "Australia's Yodeling Stockmen"). They were signed to the Rodeo label from 1950 to 1952, after which they released a string of hits in the 1950s on Regal Zonophone Records.[7] In 1957, they left for North America, initially for Canada (they had acknowledged Canadian country singer Wilf Carter, or "Montana Slim", as an influence);[8] they were even rumored to get their own TV show on the Canadian channel CTV.[9] Soon, however, they left for Hollywood, performed on Doye O'Dell's Western Varieties TV shows, and hosted a TV show on KTLA in Los Angeles, before settling down in Nashville.[7] In the 1970s they were touring the United States,[10] part of a revival of interest in the music of the old western movies.[3] In 1972, they signed with American Heritage Records,[11] and in 1980 with the Australian label Festival Records.[12]

In later years, they opened up the LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre in Twitty City, in Hendersonville, Tennessee; after the death of Conway Twitty, they moved the theatre to the Quality Inn Hall of Fame Hotel in Nashville.[7] They were still active in the first decade of the 21st century, playing in the Nashville Palace in 2007,[13] at the Williamsburg Film Festival in 2008,[14] and at a festival in Franklin, North Carolina in 2008;[15] in 2009 they played with Tommy Cash in Corydon, Indiana.[16]

Movies, TV appearances

Both Ted and Tom were regulars on the 1963 TV show Network. They also both appeared on the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "I, Mudd" (1967).[17][18] In 2009, Ted played the "Old Man Dalton" character in the movie D4, an action-thriller directed by Darrin Dickerson.[18] On 10 February 1958, the Le Garde Twins appeared on the radio and television program "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx. They said the secret word "People" and won $100. They won a further $100 on a consolation question after failing get four questions correct in the quiz. This appearance was later released on an album of original radio broadcasts.[19]

Discography

Singles
  • "I Can Almost Touch The Feeling" became their top hit on the Billboard Top 100 Charts (Four Star Records)(1979)"In The Jail House Now" / "As Long As I Live" (Regal Zonophone 10" 78rpm G25401 - date ??)
  • "Daddy's Makin' Records in Nashville / Grady Family Band" (Invitation 101, 19??)[6]
  • "Roll, Rock 'n' Roll That Hula Hoop / HiDi (instrumental)", with Earl Palmer & The Hoopers (Belcanto 45-BC-725, October 1958)[6]
  • "Baby Sitter / Where Can The Lovelight Be" (Liberty F-55266, November 1960)[6]
  • "A Donut and A Dream / Striped Circles" (American Heritage Music Corporation AH-401-39, April 1972)

Albums
  • Brand New
  • Songs of the West[20]
  • Ballads of the Bushlands
  • One Little Letter[8]
  • Down Under Country (1981, Festival)

References
  1. "The Legarde twins (music): Australian's yodelling stockmen with their 1st hillbilly folio". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  2. Oermann, Robert K (3 August 2021). "Australian Country Great Tom LeGarde Dies At Age 90". MusicRow. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  3. Tribe, Ivan M. (2006). Country: a regional exploration. Greenwood. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-313-33026-1.
  4. Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin encyclopedia of country music. Virgin. ISBN 978-0-7535-0236-5.
  5. Cashmere, Paul (2 August 2018). "R.I.P. Ted LeGarde of The LeGarde Twins 1931-2018". noise11.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. "Legarde Twins". Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  7. "LeGarde Twins". Country Music Planet. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  8. "Legarde Twins: One Little Letter". Venerablemusic.com. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  9. Rutherford, Paul (1990). When television was young: primetime Canada 1952–1967. U of Toronto P. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-8020-6647-3.
  10. "Nashville Scene". Billboard. 5 December 1970. p. 51.
  11. "Nashville Scene". Billboard. 11 March 1972. p. 49.
  12. "Aussie Deal for LeGarde Twins". Billboard. 5 December 1981. p. 79.
  13. "Heroes & Legends Benefit, 26 Aug". Country Weekly. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  14. "The Williamsburg Film Festival 2008". The Thunder Child. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  15. Wheeler, Tony (9 June 2008). "Recording stars to perform concerts for Franklin's all-day Fourth of July festivities". The Macon County News. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  16. "Schedule". Legrande Twins. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  17. "Tom LeGarde". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  18. "Ted LeGarde". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  19. "Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life" Golden Age Records GA 5021
  20. "Le Garde Twins - Songs of the West". Starlite Records. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
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