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Rex and Noelene News Letter

November 2011

Hello all,

Age is catching-up with us, and we are gradually winding-down our performing dates.

This month, we celebrate 56 years working as a duo, so we have done pretty well, we think, we are probably the last of the recording artists in New Zealand who recorded on 78rpm records, (although Faye Charlett-nee Doell , may still be doing some music around Christchurch, playing bass) and although nationally, the music industry at large seem not to notice, we are very proud of our achievements, and are chuffed to have been a feature of Chris Bourke's remarkable book "Blue Smoke".

To have been asked by the world's foremost mail-order record company, BEAR FAMILY RECORDS, permission to release much of our recorded output onto two memorable CDs back in 1999, was an honour no other New Zealand singers can attest to, and we have heard of just one or two from Australia who have had a release on the label.

Thank you to the organisers of the GORE COUNTRY MUSIC HANDS OF FAME (2000),

the TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC HANDS OF FAME in Australia (1980),

THE PROFESSIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC RECORDING INDUSTRY AWARDS (1988)

THE OLD-TIME COUNTRY MUSIC SOCIETY in Napier (50 years Commendation Trophy)

THE HAWERA 2ZH COUNTRY AND VARIETY MUSIC CLUB, (and Mary Eunson in particular) for their special night for us in August 2010

JIM SUTTON of Newstalk ZB,

PHIL GODFREY of Big River fm in Dargaville,

PAUL HAZELL, Great Britain broadcaster and music critic,

and to all the other disc jockeys around the country and abroad for playing our music over the years.

We have some rest homes to do in the coming weeks, we will be guest artists at THE DANNEVIRKE COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB on the 18th of December, we make our farewell appearance at THE BIG RIVER COUNTRY MUSTER in Aranga Dargaville, on December the 31st, and the 1st of January 2012, and then we will be flying down to Invercargill to catch-up with some old friends and fans, and to sing at a concert organised by THE BALCLUTHA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB.

Sunday the 15th of January at their clubrooms, and commencing at 2 pm.

The deep South has been very good to us over the years, and we are really looking forward to seeing as many as possible along there, for what we expect will be our final trip down South.

It has been a great ride, and we have met, and befriended many many kind people, but unfortunately our time is running out. We will probably do the occasional appearance, who knows.

Rex will continue to do his 4 weekly radio programme on THE TARANAKI COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW, along with Ron Hayward, Maurice Boyd and Val Ryan.

Rex will be next be heard hosting the show on Tuesday the 29th of November, at 10 am NZ time, and every four weeks from then. The link is http://www.accessradiotaranaki.com/listen.html These programmes are repeated each Saturday at 1 pm.

Those of you who use Facebook will see our Music Store, and will still have the opportunity to purchase our albums, through CDBABY, or you can contact us by phone or email. We would love to hear from you.

Our present phone number is 06 7532962, and the email address is renoe.franklin@clear.net.nz

Our sincere thanks to Charlie Baars for his help and kindness over a long period, the same goes for Annette Mehrtens, broadcaster and promoter, and Eddie O'Strange, and Merv Walters.

Until next month,

Keep it Country,

Rex and Noelene.

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