The story of the Country Music Guild of Australasia is the story of Les Keats, his family and his band. In the early 30's a young Les Keats, turned on by the music of Tex Morton, Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Snow, decided he wanted to become a country musician.
Armed with a guitar and a hat, Keats performed before his first audience and embarked on a lifelong career as a country cowboy. He married a young lady, Kathleen Joy Boden, from Scottsdale in Tasmania and she became not just his wife but his country music partner. The two of them co-founded the Country Music Guild of Australasia in 1968.
Having gotten himself a wife, Les Keats proceeded to found his country music dynasty. Their son Garry David was born in July 1947 and the next son Kerran Geoffrey in December the year after. In the 40's and 50's, Les and Joy Keats started to make a name for themselves throughout Australia as hosts of their own radio show on 7LA. In the early 50's they moved to Melbourne where Les became famous for his recording of the Slim Dusty hit “A Pub With No Beer” and following this up with his own composition “A Pub With More Beer”. Les also performed as one of the lead singers of the popular country and western group The Trailblazers.
The Keats formed their own band called The Dakotas which later changed its name to The Country Styles. The band gave Keats a chance to develop his music in the mould of his idol, the Canadian Hall of Fame awardee Hank Snow. The group became the back up band for the live appearances of Lionel Rose, the Australian boxing champion.
A third son, Warren, was born in October 1961. The elder boys, Garry and Kerran, started to join the band. Through the years, Les and Joy Keats appeared either as the Les & Joy Keats band or, when joined by their children as The Keats Family Band. Throughout the 80's and 90's. Les Keats passed away in 2002 and Joy five years later. The Keats music dynasty goes on with the grandchildren getting into the act. Michelle, the daughter of Warren, joined the band in 2002.
The organization co-founded by Les and Joy Keats continues going strong. The Country Music Guild of Australasia features the leading country musicians in regular shows and stages competitions where members of the Guild honor winners with, among other trophies, the annual Les Keats Memorial Award for the most popular band. Les and Joy Keats
The Country Music Guild Of Australasia
Established 1968
The Country Music Guild Of Australasia presents the best in country music every Friday at the Pascoe Vale RSL
40 Cumberland Road Pascoe Vale, Victoria.
(Cnr of Cumberland Rd and O’Hea St)
Country Music Guild of Australia
Hear the artists that play regularly at the Guild on Friday's by tuning into...
'That’s Country'
with Frank McHugh
Sundays 12 noon - 3 pm
98.9 North West FM Glenroy
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