27 July 2018 - 0 Comments

“Some voices have that intangible quality that makes them instantly recognisable. The velvety rich baritone of Brendan Dugan is one such voice. Most singers can't even think to the low notes he can reach, although his familiar tone evolved a few years after his television debut. Fresh-faced Brendan Dugan won ‘Studio One - New Faces’ as a 16-year-old in 1968 and became a star overnight in New Zealand.”  (Audio Culture)

50 years on and 2018 is a milestone to celebrate for one of New Zealand's greatest country music legends, Brendan Dugan. It was TV programmes Like ‘Country Touch’, that was hosted by Tex Morton, and ‘That’s Country’, which debuted in 1980, that helped to make Brendan Dugan a household name in New Zealand.

The early 1980's saw the first of many trips to the United States for the International Country & Western Music Association Awards in Fort Worth, Texas, with Kiwi Country Artists, including one that Australian’s will be familiar with like, Patsy Riggir. Later trips brought appearances on TV shows such as ‘Nashville Now’ and ‘The Barbara Mandrell Show’, engagements at all manner of honky tonks, and a performance on the ‘Grand Ole Opry’ in Nashville. also making his name familiar in the USA.

In 1992, Dugan released his first solo album since 1985. One of the songs was by Brendan’s old mate, the late Ritchie Pickett. The song, Honky Tonk Heroes, tells of all the passed loved big country stars jamming in heaven and was re-mastered and recently released on the Kiwi Country TV - Compilation Best Kept Kiwi Secrets. Some Australian presenters may recognise the voice from Aly Cook’s hit single Western Line.

See Brendan here on the Cafe recently chatting about Best Kept Kiwi Secrets CD and his 50 years.

With a career spanning 50 years. 15 albums and thousands of performances. Brendan can still pack a club and theatre with full houses in New Zealand. Brendan Dugan releases a new single Honky Tonk Heroes to Australian and Global Country Radio.

For more information

Brendan on Facebook

Brendan Dugan - Honky Tonk Heroes is available on www.key2store.com

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