Noel Watson (4)

Australian singer, songwriter and musician (1942 - 2013). Noel Alexander Watson was born on December 17th, 1942 in Melbourne, Australia. At 16 he joined his first group, the Tridents. In 1959 when he was 17, he signed a 3-year contract with Kevin McLellan, who was the biggest dance promoter/talent agent in Melbourne at the time. McLellan’s top group were the Thunderbirds, and Noel was one of the 4 or 5 featured vocalists. Noel was included as one of the featured singers on a live recording (‘Quite A Party’) made during this time. In 1960, Noel married Gloria Staples when he was 18. Their first child James was born in 1961, followed a few years later by Glenn and Leanne. Noel was the father of three children at the age of 21. Noel went into songwriting and wrote for Merv Benton. In early 1965 Merv Benton formed his own backing band and he wanted Noel to be part of it. The band was called the Tamlas. While touring with a band in Perth in early 1968, Noel enlisted in the Royal Australian Army. Why the talented young musician made this unusual choice is not known, possibly a marital issue he thought the best way to deal with was to join the Army. Noel did recruit training and was assigned to the Signals Corps and began training to become an Electrical Technician. After completing the Tech course Noel was posted back to Melbourne and re-united with his family. He was then posted to Brisbane early in 1969, then in April he was sent on a tour of duty to Vietnam. In May 1970 Noel completed his tour of duty in Vietnam and returned to his family in Brisbane. During 1973 Noel was posted to Singapore. Aftr Singapore Noel was posted to Ingleburn Army Camp in the Western suburbs of Sydney then in mid-1975 he was posted back to Melbourne and was assigned as an instructor at the School of Signals at Watsonia. One of the most popular bands on the Melbourne pub circuit at the time was Country/Bluegrass outfit Saltbush and they would always ask Noelto get up to do a couple of songs with them, which always went down well. Noel was invited to play at the 1979 Broadford Rock Concert, a 3-day outdoor music festival organised by the Hell’s Angels. When Ross Nicholson left Saltbush, Noel was asked to take his place. Saltbush released their first album, ‘At Twin Rivers’ in 1976 and their highly acclaimed second album ‘Saltbush’ followed in 1978. The group’s next release in 1979 was the single Razor Back Mountain Blockade a song written by Noel. Salbust disbanded in 1981 Noel began working in a duo with Bernie O’Brien performing at various pubs around Melbourne. They started to build up a collection of songs that each had written and decided to record an album together titled ‘Pickin’ The Pieces Up’ released in 1980. Noel signed up to do an officer’s training course. completed it and was given a commission and promoted to the rank of Major. Noel recorded an album during this time called ‘Noel Watson’. Noel retired from the Army on April 20th, 1987. After leaving the Army Noel followed through with his long-term plan of becoming a farmer and he bought a goat farm in Redbank in Central Victoria. Noel remarried during this time, grew his hair and a long flowing beard. 1988 was Bicentennial year in Australia. A 2-hour documentary ‘Australia – A Celebration of a Nation’ was broadcast nationally on ABC TV and Noel’s recording of Waltzing Matilda was chosen for the closing credits and was asked to sing Waltzing Matilda at the 1988 VFL Grand Final. The Grand Final appearance turned Noel’s life around, all of sudden he was in high demand for pub gigs, corporate functions and television shows. He released a number of solo albums. In 2001 following an operation he lost sense to his extremities, he had difficulty walking and his fingers did not work, which meant that he could no longer play the guitar. In 2011 Noel was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which unfortunately spread to other parts of his body. Sadly, Noel died on October 10th, 2013 aged 70