JEZEBEL (1963) by Rob E G - sixties Aussie slide guitarist

Rob E G was a young lap steel guitarist who had (mainly instrumental) hit singles in Australia in the sixties. As a kid, I originally heard 'Jezebel' done by Frankie Laine and subsequently I loved this instrumental version when it came out, (and one of his other hits, 55 Days At Peking).

Robert George "Robie' Porter was born in 1942 and grew up in the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. When he was eight his mother bought a steel guitar and a course on how to play the guitar from a door to door salesman. He was recruited by Australian television's 'Bandstand' program to cover Santo And Johnnys steel-guitar hit, 'Sleepwalk'. Making an impression both with his playing and his good looks he was recalled for further TV appearances. Tragedy struck in 1961. Robie was involved in a car accident and received serious spinal injuries. It might have put an end to his career but instead it gave him the breathing space from which to relaunch it. He came back compering the Sydney version of the talent TV show 'Opportunity Knocks', with his own special brand of instrumental pop songs, and because of his spinal injuries, with his own way of performing them. His lap steel guitar was placed in a stand which he played while standing up. The impact was four national top tens in a row, including number ones with 'Si Senor' and '55 Days At Peking'.

In 1964 the Beatles came to Australia and their manager Brian Epstein encouraged the instrumentalist to try his luck in England. Becoming Robie Porter he spent the next couple of years in the UK, without success, moved to the US to write and record. During 1967,while in the US, he appeared in several television shows, including Malibu U, Popendity, Daniel Boone and The Immortal and in 1969, he co-starred in the movie Three. In 1970 he returned to Australia and formed his own record label Sparmac, and had great success as a producer, especially with the band Daddy Cool, whose debut album became the biggest selling album at the time. Eventually, he returned to the US where he moved into television production, and ultimately, became a highly successful and wealthy horse breeder (Adapted from Wikipedia and Howlspace).

As there is no film clip for Jezebel, I have made my own slideshow. Comments and ratings are welcome.