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Tumbleweeds: Golden Years of the Tumbleweeds | |
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The Tumbleweeds have a very special place in New Zealand's music history for they were the first true country band to be recorded in New Zealand. Their early hit recording of MAPLE ON THE HILL initiated a long and successful career that spanned the years from March 1949 to January 1989, just short of 40 years.
The original members were COLE WILSON on vocals and guitar. He wrote many of the songs, was an accomplished yodeller and was elected leader of the Tumbleweeds in 1950. NOLA HEWITT (now McCrorie) was vocalist, and played on guitar, ukulele and mandolin. COLIN McCRORIE played electric steel guitar and pedal steel from 1966. BILL DITCHFIELD played bass, harmonica and banjo. Bill could not tour for family reasons and was replaced by various bass players over the years. From the 1970's the Tumbleweeds became a trio when Nola took over the bass (COLE, NOLA and COLIN being the members). The trio disbanded in January 1989 with the illness and death of Cole Wilson. Over the years the Tumbleweeds have been much honoured by their peers in the New Zealand country music industry. Most noticeably in receiving the "Pioneer Award" in 1985 and the " Hands Of Fame Award" in 1988. |
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