Ron Tudor facts for kids

Ronald Stewart Tudor (born May 18, 1924 – died August 21, 2020) was an important Australian music producer. He also worked as an engineer, owned record labels, and was a leader in the music business.

Ron Tudor started his career in 1956 at W&G Records. He began as a sales person and later became their main producer. He helped find new artists for the label. In 1966, he left W&G Records. After a short time at Astor Records, he started his own company, June Productions, in 1968. He then created his own record label, Fable Records, in 1969. He was the boss of Fable Records until he sold it in 1984. In 1979, he was given an award called Member of the Order of the British Empire for his great work in the music industry.

Ron Tudor received more awards later in his life. In 1996, he got the Ted Albert Award for his amazing contributions to Australian music. In 1999, he shared a Special Achievement Award with Bill Armstrong at the ARIA Music Awards of 1999.

Early Life and Army Service

Ronald Stewart Tudor was born on May 18, 1924. He grew up in a small country town called Toora, Victoria. Ron was one of ten children in his family.

During World War II, he joined the Australian Army. He served from February 1943 until May 1946. When he left the army, he was a gunner.

Ron Tudor's Music Career

Ron Tudor began working for W&G Records in 1956. He started as a sales representative. Later, he became the person who found new artists and produced their music.

He helped record early songs for many artists. These included Ernie Sigley and Diana Trask. He also worked with the Seekers on their first album in 1963.

Ron Tudor recorded an instrumental song called "Wild Weekend" in 1961. This song was by a rock-and-roll band called the Thunderbirds. A local radio DJ, Stan Rofe, suggested the band to him.

Tudor said that he had a good relationship with Stan Rofe. Rofe always encouraged him to find local music talent. Music expert Ian McFarlane said "Wild Weekend" was one of Australia's most successful instrumental songs. Ron Tudor produced more music for the Thunderbirds. He also used them to play music for other artists.

Stan Rofe also suggested Johnny Chester. Chester had already worked with the Thunderbirds. They played music for Chester's first song, "Hokey Pokey," in 1961.

Ron Tudor stayed with W&G Records until 1966. Then he moved to another record company, Astor Records. He worked there as a promotions manager. For his recordings, he used Armstrong Studios. This studio was started by Bill Armstrong in 1965. Ron Tudor left Astor Records in 1968 to start his own company, June Productions.

Starting Fable Records

Ron Tudor started his own record label, Fable Records, in late 1969. It officially launched in April 1970. In 1969, Tudor was a judge on a TV talent show called New Faces.

He signed two artists from the show to Fable Records. These were John Williamson, who won, and Liv Maessen, who came in second. Liv Maessen's song "Knock, Knock Who's There?" became very popular in 1970. John Williamson's first song, "Old Man Emu," also did very well.

From May to December 1970, there was a "pay per play" issue in Australia. This was known as the 1970 radio ban. It made it hard for local and UK artists on big labels to get their songs played on the radio. Because of this ban, Liv Maessen's version of "Knock, Knock Who's There?" was played on the radio, but Mary Hopkin's original version was not.

Fable Records had more success during this time. The Mixtures covered the song "In the Summertime" by UK group Mungo Jerry. Their version was number one for nine weeks.

Another song, "Yellow River," also became a hit. This song was originally by the UK band Christie. The ban accidentally helped more local musicians get their music on the radio. It also opened doors for smaller record labels like Fable Records.

In 1971, Ron Tudor put together a studio band called Drummond. They recorded a fun version of "Daddy Cool." This song was originally by an American group from the 1950s. The Drummond version became number one in September. It stayed at the top for eight weeks.

Creating Bootleg Records

Ron Tudor started another record label called Bootleg Records in late 1971. He partnered with Brian Cadd. Brian Cadd was a member of popular bands like the Groop and Axiom. Cadd became the in-house producer and helped find new artists for Bootleg.

Brian Cadd also started his solo music career. He formed a band called the Bootleg Family Band. This band played music for his own songs and for other artists on the Bootleg label. Bootleg's first big hit was "Kings of the World" by Mississippi in 1972. Brian Cadd's first solo song, "Ginger Man," also did well.

In June 1979, Ron Tudor was given the award Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. This was to honor his important work in the music industry.

Ron Tudor continued with Fable Records into the early 1980s. He later said that because he didn't join the radio ban, bigger record labels made it hard for his business to get records distributed. He sold Fable Records in 1984. He then joined Armstrong Studios, which was renamed AAV Studios. Ron Tudor stopped working in the music industry in the late 1980s.

Awards and Honors

Ron Tudor received several important awards for his contributions to music.

• In June 1979, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. This award was "For service to the recording industry."
• At the APRA Music Awards of 1996, he received the Ted Albert Award. This award recognized his outstanding services to Australian music.
• In 1999, the Australian Recording Industry Association gave Ron Tudor a Special Achievement Award. He shared this award with Bill Armstrong.

Personal Life

Ron Tudor lived in the countryside in his later years. Since 2015, he lived in a care facility in Maldon, Victoria. Ronald Stewart Tudor passed away on August 21, 2020, at the age of 96.