The LeGarde Twins, Ted and Tom Legarde, were Australian farm kids raised in the rural north in Queensland, where they worked on cattle ranches and learned how to do some trick riding and roping, as well as discovering the musical skills that took them far from their home, though not from their roots. In the late 1940s they joined country star Buddy Williams' road show (which was also a rodeo) and began their recording career in the early 'Fifties, back in the era of 78s. By the end of the decade they had become nationally famous, recorded their first full album, and had embarked on a successful tour of North America, with particularly strong support among Canadian fans. They stayed in America for several years, working on TV and recording in Nashville, then moved to the States permanently in 1965 and though they found only modest success on the charts, they made several albums, including those listed below...
The LeGarde Twins "Ballads Of The Bushland" (Columbia Records, 1959-?) (LP)
(Produced by Russ Malloy)
Their debut album was solidly produced and decently twangy, with a definite debt to the Everly Brothers harmony sound. Like many Australian albums of the era, the tunes are populated with plenty of regional kitsch, including "Cooee Call," a modest hit which became their signature song in Australian and America. The Legardes had also recorded a string of singles for Regal Zonaphone and other labels back in the early 'Fifties, material that I imagine must be collected elsewhere. Though producer Russ Malloy is called out by name, alas, the backing musicians are not.
The LeGarde Twins "Sing Songs By Slim And Buddy" (Columbia Records, 19--?) (LP)
This album pays homage to two giants of Australian country music, with all the songs on Side One being old Slim Dusty classics, and Side Two songs from Buddy Williams, who helped bring the twins to national fame in the early 'Fifties. As with their other Aussie albums, this includes no musician or producer credits, so the backing band remains a mystery.
The LeGarde Twins "Twincerely Yours" (Columbia Records, 196--?) (LP)
Unlike the two albums above, this disc concentrates mainly on covers of American hits, not Aussie kitsch. The twins are backed by a group called the Rodgers Brothers Band; this album also came out in Canada, though on a different label.
The LeGarde Twins "One" (LGT Records, 197--?) (LP)
(Produced by Bill Walker)
This American-made album came out on a label based in Los Angeles, where the LeGardes may have still been pursuing their joint acting careers. It includes three songs credited to Sharon LeGarde, as well as one by Ted and Tom LeGarde called "If Those Lips Could Only Speak," which closes the album out.
The LeGarde Twins "Down Under Country" (LGT Records, 1981) (LP)
