Biography

Born of a Scottish father and English mother, Ian B. MacLeod first set foot on Australian soil whilst with the Merchant Navy when he and some fellow crew members appeared on 2UW's Amateur Hour and won it, only to be disqualified later when it was discovered that they weren't residents!

This was all the incentive Ian needed and when he got back home, he packed his guitar and bags and set sail for Australia. At the Great Northern Hotel in Chatswood he won his first talent contest and headed straight for the A.B.C. and Johnny O'Keefe who after hearing him sing, booked him for A.B.C. Radio's "Rockville Junction" and "Six O'Clock Rock". He was "ADAM - Teenage Idol", a product of Australia's early rock era and probably the first true Rockabilly artist to emerge.

From 1960-1964 he enjoyed the fleeting success of the artists of that era with over a hundred T.V. shows, national tours and guest spots at every teenage dance in town. The bubble burst in 1964 on a new style of music heralded in by The Beatles and similar groups, and for the next three years Ian started again from the bottom as an unknown singer, fronting various bands that played Country and Rockabilly music. In 1967, he decided it was time to go solo again and by 1968, Ian was back in demand on numerous television shows, with Club dates and offers of country tours pouring in.

The early seventies saw Ian cruising with Sitmar, taking Country music to the cruising public for the first time. He continued up until 1978 when he decided to stay ashore to concentrate on producing new records & working the Sydney club scene.

Dubbed "Australia's King of Rockabilly", the warmth, charisma and magnetism of Ian B. MacLeod still shines through today whether he's dressed in black leather belting out "Blue Suede Shoes" or in rhinestones and fringes crooning "Love Song of the Waterfall". Performing at over two hundred concerts a year, supported by his band "The Rockabilly Express" and his singer/dancers "The Living Dolls", Grandmas through to teeny-boppers love his style; young musicians look to him for advice; greats like Frank Ifield and Alan Dale admire and respect his professionalism. The ultimate accolade came in 1988 when Ian recorded his seventh album "Thank You, Mr. Perkins" - a tribute to THE "King of Rockabilly", Carl Perkins - who personally wrote from Jackson, Tennessee to say, "I've listened to your album, man, I'm very impressed, it sounds great...."

Following Carl's untimely death in January, 1998, Ian rereleased the album on CD & with the support of his band, "Rockabilly Express" & "The Living Dolls" & has put together "Blue Suede Shoes" a wonderful tribute show to Carl Perkins - The Godfather of Rockabilly.

Ian's current show, "A Tribute to Slim Whitman" shows Ian at his best with a fabulous array of Whitman classics, showcasing his three octave range & featuring all the great hits from one of country music best-loved icons. In June, 2000, Ian was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" at the Wintersun Festival on the Gold Coast & in October, 2000 into the "International Rockabilly Hall of Fame" - more great milestones in a country music career that has spanned four decades.

2001 saw Ian return to the road after many years away from touring & he made several personal appearances at Country Music Festivals, as well as major Clubs. Ian's last album "Waterfall" received rave revues when it was released in September, 2001 at the World's largest Independent Country Music Festival in Mildura, Vic. In 2002 two of the singles were lifted from the album, "Waterfall" & "Mountain Lowry Call", and are enjoying airplay on numerous radio stations throughout Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the UK, Canada & the US. Throughout 2004, Ian toured Australia & New Zealand extensively promoting the "Waterfall" album.

Early 2005, during yet another tour of New Zealand, Ian released his new album, "Blue Misty Mountains" which includes eight Australian written songs. Two singles, "The Ellenborough Falls" & "Waltz Of The Wind" were subsequently released in the US on a compilation CD & are currently enjoying the same success.

Ian is currently back in the recording studio putting down tracks for his new album "The Whitman Yodel" which will be released later on this year.

IAN'S ALBUMS AVAILABLE FROM: PINEWOOD RECORDS