Francis Joseph Davidson OAM (12 January 1934 − 22 July 2022)[1] was an Australian entertainer who had several hit records in the 1960s, appeared on many TV variety shows, and acted in several Australian television police dramas, including Matlock Police and Bluey, as well as guest roles in soap operas including A Country Practice, E Street and Home and Away and a small role in film Muriel's Wedding.
Frankie Davidson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Francis Joseph Davidson 12 January 1934 Black Rock, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 22 July 2022 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
| Years active | 1959–2001 |
Career edit
Davidson was born in Black Rock, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria.
While undergoing compulsory National Service training, he sang to entertain fellow recruits,[2] and was an early adopter of the rock 'n' roll idiom. In 1959 he signed to W&G Records, and in 1960 found success with his single I Care for You.[3]
His next success was a comedy song "Yabba Dabba Doo" (referencing the Flintstones catchphrase) in 1961, followed by "Have You Ever Been to See Kings Cross" in 1962, a humorous ditty sung at breakneck speed in Australian vernacular, which became a best-seller. Other comic songs followed: "Hector the Trash Collector", a spoof on John Farnham's hit "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)", and "50 Million Blowflies Can't Be Wrong". In 1963, he won first prize in Export Talent, an Australia's Got Talent–type contest, which sent him to England, giving him valuable overseas exposure and experience. He returned to Australia in 1965, but over the next five years he spent much time performing in Europe and America, where he appeared on The Dick Clark Show. In 1970, he made two further comic songs in a country and western vein: "Gimme Dat Ding" and "Ball Bearing Bird". He also acted in several Australian TV series, the best-known being Homicide and Matlock Police.[3]
In 1975, he changed labels, to M7 Records (a project of the Macquarie Broadcasting Service, Herald and Weekly Times and ATN-7),[4] for whom he recorded around a dozen singles, including "I Love a Sunburnt Football" in two versions—Australian rules and rugby league—and "I Hope Your Chooks Turn into Emus (and Kick Your Dunny Down)". They also released his album, A Generation of Children's Hits,[3] which included covers of "The Candy Man", "Rubber Duckie", "Three Little Fishies", "Puff, the Magic Dragon", "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", "Any Dream Will Do", "The Ugly Duckling" also "Little White Bull" and "What a Mouth", two Tommy Steele classics.
In 1981, he released on Big Aussie BBQ, an album of familiar Australian songs, including the Slim Dusty favourite "Duncan", the traditional songs "Wild Colonial Boy" and "The Man from Snowy River", Peter Allen's "I Still Call Australia Home", and Joe Dolce's irreverent "Shaddap You Face".
Discography edit
Charting albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [5] | ||
| Frankie Davidson |
|
58 |
Charting singles edit
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [5] | ||
| 1970 | "Gimme Dat Ding" | 21 |
| 1971 | "The Ball-Bearing Bird" | 55 |
| 1973 | "I Love a Sunburnt Football" | 79 |
| 1981 | "The Australian Barbecue Song" | 53 |
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Caddie | Bar useful (uncredited) | Feature film |
| 1982 | Save the Lady | Blue | Feature film |
| 1994 | Muriel's Wedding | Sergeant | Feature film |
| 2001 | The Finder | Ted Sterling | TV movie |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Contrabandits | Shepherd | TV series |
| 1969 | Woobinda, Animal Doctor | Towtruck Driver | TV series |
| 1970 | The Link Men | Frank | TV series |
| 1970 | The Rovers | Mechanic | TV series |
| 1970 | Dynasty | Athol McCauley | TV series |
| 1974 | Matlock Police | Bill Thomas | TV series |
| 1975 | Armchair Theatre | Bruce | TV series |
| 1968-74 | Homicide | Dave Tate / Ron Peterson | TV series |
| 1976 | Alvin Purple | Chassa | TV series |
| 1977 | Bluey | Fred Barnett | TV series |
| 1983 | A Country Practice | 'Burrigan Bert' | TV series |
| 1989 | E Street | Fred | TV series |
| 1990 | Rafferty's Rules | Eric Graham | TV series |
| 1991 | Home and Away | Jake Wood | TV series |
| 1998 | All Saints | Stan Humphries | TV series |
| 1999 | Farscape | Newsstand Guy | TV series |
| 2000 | Water Rats | Boat Owner | TV series |
Awards edit
Mo Awards edit
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Frankie Davidson won one award in that time.[6]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Frankie Davidson | Most Versatile Act of the Year | Won |
References edit
- ^ Frankie Davidson Dies Aged 88
- ^ "Listen Here". The Australian Women's Weekly. 13 July 1960.
- ^ a b c Noel McGrath (1978). Australian Encyclopedia of Rock. Outback Press. ISBN 086888216X. Retrieved 21 May 2019. A "zac" was a six penny piece, worth about a dollar in today's money.
- ^ Michael De Looper. "M7, 7 Records and Powderworks 1970–1987" (PDF). Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 83. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
External links edit
- Frankie Davidson at IMDb
- Frankie Davidson discography at Discogs