Kevin Shegog
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lower Turner Marsh, Tasmania, Australia
Wallaroo, South Australia
Kevin Shegog | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kevin Joseph Alfted Shegog |
| Born | 20 August 1933 Lower Turner Marsh, Tasmania, Australia |
| Died | 9 November 2000 (aged 67) Wallaroo, South Australia |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1955–1975 |
| Labels | W&G, Canetoad, Octagon, Planet |
Kevin Joseph Alfred Shegog (20 August 1933 – 9 November 2000) was an Australian country music singer from rural Tasmania. From 1960 to 1962 he released three top 40 singles, "Little Kangaroo", a cover version of Claude King's hit "Wolverton Mountain" and "One Small Photograph".
Kevin Joseph Alfred Shegog,[1] was born on 20 August 1933 in Lower Turner Marsh near Launceston, Tasmania to Joseph (1902–1995) and Elvie Shegog (née Briant, 1910–1989).[2][3] His parents were dairy farmers.[4] When he was nine years old, Shegog taught himself to play guitar by listening to country songs on radio.[2] He was also a member of the choir at Lower Turner Marsh State School. At the age of fourteen, he started performing at venues and began to write songs. He performed "western music" at a concert in Longford in June 1953.[5] In 1955 the singer relocated to Melbourne (and later to Shepparton, Victoria) and joined the Gold-Toppers.[4] He recorded his first tracks in 1959 with Planet Records, Melbourne.[2] They appeared on a five-track extended play, Deep Down in Shegog (1959) and include his cover versions of "Riders in the Sky", "High Noon", "Mule Train" and "The Cry of the Wild Goose".[2]
Kevin Shegog and the Gold-Toppers released Shegog's written single, "Little Kangaroo", in late 1960 via W&G Records.[6] It had been issued earlier that year by fellow Country and Western singer, Johnny Ashcroft.[7] It depicts Ned Kelly's girlfriend "The Roo".[6] Shegog's most popular single, "Wolverton Mountain" (1962), is a rendition of Claude King's song, which was released in the United States in the same year.[3][8] A W&G executive had learned of King's proposed single and arranged for the Australian to record it before the US version had appeared.[3] Shegog's version reached No. 3 on the Melbourne singles chart.[2][8] His next charting single, "Fall Out Shelter" (1962) reached the top 40.[2][9] Shegog continued touring into the mid-1970s.[3][10]
Personal life
Shegog married Shirley May (née Haas) (1936–1981).[4] Shegog and Haas were dating by August 1954.[11] The couple had five children, Dallas, Susan, Lorena, Angela and Travis (1972–1994). From 1970 the family lived in Melbourne's suburbs of Preston, Reservoir and then Box Hill.[4] Shegog was a distant cousin of Vivian Bullwinkel.
Death
Shegog died on 9 November 2000 in Wallaroo, South Australia at the age of 67 from complications of a stroke he had seven years earlier.[4] His ashes were buried with Shirley and Travis in Springvale, Victoria.[4]
Legacy
In 1983, Shegog was inducted into the Australian Country Music 'Hands of Fame' cornerstone.[3]
