Alan Dale

An month ago Australian rock and roll lost one of it's pioneers Alan Dale who started the rock and roll dance scene in Sydney with his band the Houserockers and performed around the Sydney scene during the 50's as well as never quiet achieve the huge success like Johnny O'Keefe and Col Joye but started the scene which sadly he does not get recoginition as he should but must get acknowledgement for his part in the history of Australia rock. Dale started performing in 1951 on the radio show Rumpus Room on 2UE hosted by Howard Craven and doing big band music around the Sydney scene and then when rock and roll was making an impact in Australia Alan jumped on the bandwagon by forming Sydney's very first rock and roll band the Houserockers which among musicians including John Charter who would go on to become an member of Johnny Rebb and the Rebels which they played their very first show at the Maroubra Memorial Hall in February 1957 as well as playing at Liverpool Town Hall, Botany Town hall, Bull and Bush Hotel, Alexandria Town Hall, Glebe Town Hall and many others. Alan was friends with Johnny O'Keefe who they knew each other in the army doing training and they continued their friendship with the printing shop where Alan worked was above the funiture shop owned by JOK's father Ray on Castlereagh Street. The Houserockers lasted with Alan until 1958 and he then played with the Casuals around Sydney and then he began recording for Columbia Records which he would have the hit Crackin Up in that same year as well as other singles . He also did an 6 year stint at the Pagewood Rex and he took on a job running the office of Brian Fehan an agent at Rushcutters Bay when he was overseas. He also promoted, booked and produced shows including the JOK Memorial Show and was manager for many years at Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club as well as involved with the Echidnas-The Australian Order of Comedians and Arrows luncheons which gets together Australian music entertainers. He made appearances at the rock and roll festival on the Gold Coast Wintersun for many years until 2009 and it was for the first 6 years of me with my family I saw Alan there which he did the intro for many acts at the weekend shows on Marine Parade which I remember he introduced Digger Revell and Tony Worsley as well as hosted breakfast with the stars in 2005 which I attended the Sunday one (Sunday June 12th 2005) which had Catfish Purser, Vicki Forrest and Johnny Rebb, 2006 at the Coolangatta Bowls CLub and 2009 at the Greenmount Surf Club (3 Times) Thursday June 4th with Gary Jaguar, Ronnie Kitchin and Catfish Purser which they told stories and sang which they did Bye Bye Baby, Sing, She's My baby and an few others which was an great morning as well as getting CD's and autographs as well as photos with Alan and Catfish, Friday June 5th had Little Pattie and Saturday June 6th had Lucky Starr and the two times I saw him performed at the Coolangatta Bowls Club June 13th 2004 along with the Dave Bridge Group, Ray Hoff, Ray Burton and Emerge an young girl duo who did the oldies songs too which I got Alan's autograph that night and then he performed in the Marquee in Coolangatta Saturday June 9th 2007 as part of the Golden Years of Rock and Roll with Johnny Rebb, Vicki Forrest, Johnny Devlin, Ian B MacLeod, Lee Sellers and the DeKroo Brothers which Mum came with me to that show as well as getting Alan's autograph and an photo. I never saw Alan again after 2009 but we stayed connected on Facebook for the last 7 years and it's a shame he never came up for Cooly Rocks On which would have been great to see another Aussie rock legend up there telling stories and introducing acts. It is sad that he has passed away but has left an legacy and an impact which should never been forgotten.