Australia may have "turned to America" during WWII, but culturally, it was still doggedly British. This changed in the 1950s. We look at one arbiter of the change -&nbsp; Lee Gordon -&nbsp; an American with a shady backstory who arrived in Sydney in 1953 and within a year had created the Australian concert circuit! And how! But it's a very strange story too, and poses a lot of questions....&nbsp;&nbsp;



Hear choice samples from some of the acts Gordon brought to Australia; Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, LaVern Baker and more.







Playlist







Lee Gordon: Get The Message




Elmer Bernstein: The Street




Eddie Cochran: Scratchin'




Gene Vincent: Catman




Frank Sinatra: I Got The World On A String




Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Hums The Blues




Johnnie Ray: Lotus Blossom




LaVern Baker: Tiny Tim




Elvis Presley: Reconsider Baby




Alis Lesley: Handsome Man




Johnny O'Keefe: Don't You Know




Chuck Berry: Downbound Train




Little Richard: Directly From My Heart




The Leemen: Make Love To Me




Lee Gordon: She's The Ginchiest

Ep 2, Part 2: John Highfield on Lee Gordon

A series focussing on the intersection between music and history, The Intersection traces the evolution of ideas, social norms and cultural forms in Australia – and the characters and events behind them.

Be prepared for an immersive journey into the dramatic moments that shaped our lives and tastes today, and the role that music, musicians, promoters, the media and audiences played within it.

An audio documentary, produced by Two Star Studios, sits at the heart of each weekly episode, followed by interviews with academics in the field.

As you listen, you’ll be captivated by music from different eras and genres – from 100 years ago until today – and will hear it in ways you’ve never quite heard it before.

Email: theintersection@eastsidefm.org