* JADE’S BIOGRAPHY
&
* PERSONAL FAVORITES
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BIOGRAPHY
JADE HURLEY O.A.M. is the undisputed “KING” of COUNTRY and ROCK ‘N’ ROLL music in Australasia.
It was the legendary Johnny Cash who stated quite openly that Jade was the best act he had ever worked with and was quoted in the Irish Press as saying … “If I wasn’t who I am, I would find it very hard to follow him on any stage anywhere in the world … he’s one hell of a showman and entertainer this Aussie … and he can sure play that damn piano”.
EVERY album this unique “piano pumping/country rocker” has recorded has achieved GOLD, PLATINUM, or DOUBLE PLATINUM status. Likewise his two great VIDEO’S have also received “GOLD” and “PLATINUM” awards … and his AUTOBIOGRAPHY (JADE – THE JADE HURLEY STORY) sold over 32,000 copies.
In his show, there is something for everyone … no matter what age as this “country-rock and show-biz experience” includes classics like “ROCKIN’ ALL OVER THE WORLD” and “OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL” … Johnny Preston’s “RUNNING BEAR” … Buddy Holly’s “OH BOY” and “PEGGY SUE” … Little Richard’s “LUCILLE” … Jerry Lee Lewis’s “GREAT BALL OF FIRE” … Del Shannon’s “RUNNAWAY” … Chuck Berry’s “SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN” … and the Eddie Hodges novelty hit “I’M GONNA KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR” among dozens of others.
In between, he slows the show down with Roy Orbison’s “CRYING” and “LEAH”, Jim Reeves number 1 “HE’LL HAVE TO GO”… his own number 1 hit “DOWN IN THE RIVERINA” … and latest show stopper and song off his latest CD “YOU RAISE ME UP”.
As well as being a headline act in his own right, Jade Hurley has toured with some of the all time greats including America’s JOHNNY and JUNE CARTER CASH, JOHNNY RAY, WOODY HERMAN and DON WILLIAMS, as well as the late JOHNNY O’KEEFE throughout Ireland, America, New Zealand and Australia.
In America Jade was billed as a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Liberace. Jerry Lee, because of his energetic piano antics like jumping all over his piano and kicking the keys with his feet (like Jerry Lee used to do but this Aussie rocker still does) … Little Richard because just like Richard, Jade Hurley always makes a great and controversial headline … and Liberace, because of his flamboyant and glittery sequin stage outfits combined with $250,000 worth of diamond, sapphire, and ruby jewellery … and the energy with every show many critics describe as “breathtaking” and wonder how he does it performing so many shows.
One respected American journalist wrote … QUOTE “Every time you see this Aussie Jade Hurley rocking away and jumping all over his piano, you get the same high class performance … I just don’t know how he does it or where he gets the energy from” … end quote.
It has long been acknowledged by many that this “Aussie King of Country Rock” is the “ULTIMATE SHOWMAN”, and it has also been stated by some of the greatest critics in the world of show biz that JADE HURLEY is quote … “The hardest act for anyone to follow on stage”.
He was awarded the HIGHLY prestigious ORDER OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL (OAM) for his contribution and hard work within the entertainment industry encouraging and nurturing young talent, and for his tireless performances and appearances over many years in aid of charitable organisations including The Arthritis Foundation … The National Heart Foundation of Australia … Camp Quality (kids with cancer) … The Australian Cancer Foundation for Medical Research … and numerous others.
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Jade’s 2022 Christmas Newsletter
Hi Folks,
It is nice to finally get back to some sort of normality, in regards to being able to do what we do best, like performing for our ever faithful fans!. Even though we still hear of people getting Covid, the stupid lock-downs, stopping kids going to school etc. now seems to be in the distant past, which is great. So far, touch wood, Christine and I still haven’t had Covid.
Since my last newsletter, I have done shows at DENILIQUIN R.S.L. Club [DOWN IN THE RIVERINA] on MOTHERS DAY, and then returned to TWIN TOWNS SERVICES CLUB at Tweed Heads before heading off to YAMBA BOWLING Club and LAURIETON SERVICES CLUB near Port Macquarie in August. All of these shows were great. We then travelled in our Motorhome, all the way to WINTON in outback Queensland for the WINTON 50th ANNIVERSARY OUTBACK FESTIVAL … this was FANTASTIC. One real disappointment was the cancellation AGAIN, and FOR THE THIRD TIME, was the CLARENCE VALLEY MUSTER at ULMARA in Northern N.S.W. Wendy Gordon who owns the property/farm where the muster is held every year, in normal circumstances, had to cancel because of the pandemic, then her place was flooded out when the north coast of New South Wales was destroyed by the terrible floods and nonstop rain.
When the floodwaters started to recede, and the constant rain stopped, there was an added problem…… the paddocks where over 600 caravans and motorhomes were to be situated for the muster was simply too wet and would have been terribly uncomfortable for so many fans, living in MUD for a week … so was cancelled AGAIN … BUGGER. I was so looking forward to this particular show, as I had never performed with the legendry CHAD MORGAN … but this will happen sometime into the future hopefully…………
One concert I will NEVER FORGET, is a show I did at Drysdale, near Geelong, Victoria in August. It was at the Drysdale Grove Aged Care home for the 80th birthday of a dear old friend, Beverley Walker … We all had a marvelous time … and I must say that it is one of the best aged care facilities that I have ever been in. The folk who run it and the care the staff give the residents, is exceptional. Once again dear Bev … happy 80th.
Sadly, due to circumstances beyond my control, we have had to cancel the “3 LEGENDS IN CONCERT” shows with Normie Rowe, Dinah Lee and myself. This was very sad for me as I had put a great deal of work into potentially, a Fabulous show, as was evident with shows we did do, earlier this year but, moving on to “Bigger and Better” things, I have written a brand new show, which I have named “THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF ROCK and ROLL”. I approached some real living legends including LITTLE PATTIE, DIGGER REVELL, LUCKY STARR, my old mate DINAH LEE, who was part of the “3 LEGENDS IN CONCERT” shows. At the time of writing this newsletter, we have performed two HUGE shows … one at HOTA [Home of the Arts] THEATRE on the Gold Coast, the second at the EMPIRE THEATRE in TOOWOOMBA. Both shows were just FANTASTIC. HOW MARVELOUS it is to perform with great performing mates, as together, we go back such a long way where we all started, in the Rock and Roll infancy years when we were ALL so young! All of us performed on some of the great television shows in those days, including SIX O’CLOCK ROCK with JOHNNY O’KEEFE and BANDSTAND with BRIAN HENDERSON. So here now in 2023, we will be performing “THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF ROCK and ROLL” all over the place and EVERY PERFORMER, Lucky, Pattie, Dinah, Digger and I are so looking forward to many of these shows in the future. Hopefully, you will get to see us, somewhere along the touring track next year.
Christine and I are going to Thailand and Laos on the 27th December for three weeks. We are doing a road trip with friends who live in Thailand, through both countries … and I must admit, I can hardly wait to get on the plane. The past few years with the so-called pandemic, then trying to re-establish what went before and hopefully, will never happen like it that again. Let’s hope we can make the best of what time we have left.
I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and everything you wish for yourselves in 2023.
Stay safe and well.
Your friend always
Jade
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Jade’s “FAVOURITES”
* FAVOURITE MOVIE STAR
Clint Eastwood perhaps the full package (Actor, Movie Producer, Movie Director, Musician)
Australia’s Cate Blanchett is all class…likewise, RUSSELL CROWE
* FAVOURITE TV PROGRAMS
I enjoy current affairs/news based programs
* FAVOURITE AUSSIE TV PERSONALITY
VERY EASY … BERT NEWTON and MIKE WALSH
* FAVOURITE RADIO STATIONS
Talk-back radio stations
Community radio stations
*FAVOURITE RADIO PERSONALITY
Most talk back personalities …too many to choose from
* FAVOURITE MALE SINGER
My dear friend … the late Johnny Cash
The “singers” singer … George Jones
Vince Gill
Ray Charles
* FAVOURITE FEMALE SINGER
My dear friend … the late Tammy Wynette
Celine Dion
* FAVOURITE ALL-TIME ENTERTAINER
My dear friend … and the greatest showman/entertainer of all time … the late LIBERACE
My great mate and friend … Australia’s King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (FOREVER) … the late Johnny O’Keefe.
Elvis Presley
“THE KILLER” … Jerry Lee Lewis … a FABULOUS PIANO PLAYER
* FAVOURITE FOOD
Thai and chinese (almost anything asian)
A great baked leg of lamb with baked vegies
Pea and ham soup
Lamb shanks
A good steak
*FAVOURITE DRINKS
Chocolate thick shake (1 every 10 years now)
Galway Pipe port
Green ginger wine and brandy (Jade’s Elixer)
* FAVOURITE COLOUR
Green (of course)
* FAVOURITE RELAXATION
Recording in my own studio
* HOBBIES
Computers and recording
* FAVOURITE SPORT
I like all sports
*FAVOURITE SPORTSPERSONS
Dawn Fraser
Betty Cuthbert
Aussie “Tour De France” superstar … Cadel Evans
* FAVOURITE FOOTY TEAMS
Essendon BOMBERS
St George DRAGONS
Brisbane BRONCOS
* MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
Splitting my pants on stage at Revesby Workers Club
Falling TWO STORIES off the Roof of my home at my farm (and BREAKING MY WRIST) trying to retrieve Twinkie (my Budgie)
Almost swallowing an EXTREMELY LARGE cockroach that crawled into my drink during a show at Lismore RSL Club … (IT’S IN THE BOOK)
*MOST REWARDING ACHIEVEMENT
Being “discovered” by Australia’s King of Rock ‘n’ Roll … the late Johnny O’Keefe
Being presented with my first GOLD and PLATINUM RECORD by MIKE WALSH
Being awarded the “ORDER OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL” (OAM)
* LIKES
Performing
Good Loyal friends
Recording
Travelling overseas
Every member of my Friendship Club
* DISLIKES
Graffiti … and the bloody imbeciles who do it
Lying, deceitful and “tricky” politicians.
People who don’t return phone calls
Cigarettes
Drugs … anyone caught dealing … put them in JAIL … FOR LIFE … drugs are KILLING OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY
Violence in society
Egomaniacs
Car Hoons
* AMBITION
To stay healthy
To keep entertaining as long as I can
To get to France for the “TOUR DE FRANCE” bike race .. to cheer on the Aussies
To up-date my autobiography (when I can get the time)
Jade Hurley OAM Is Indeed
“AUSTRALIA’S KING OF COUNTRY ROCK”