Frank Ifield

Francis Edward "Frank" Ifield (born 30 November 1937) is an English-born Australian easy listening and country music singer who often incorporated yodeling into his performances. Ifield achieved considerable success in the early 1960s, especially in the UK Singles Chart, where he had four No. 1 hits in 1962 and 1963.

Born in Coundon, Warwickshire, England, to Australian parents, Ifield emigrated to Dural, 50 km (31 mi) from Sydney, with his parents in 1946. It was a rural district and he listened to hillbilly music (now called country) while milking the cows. He learned how to yodel in imitation of country stars like Hank Snow. At the age of 13 he recorded "Did You See My Daddy Over There?", and by 19 was the No. 1 recording star in Australia and New Zealand. He returned to the UK in 1959.

His first record in the UK was "Lucky Devil" (1960), which reached No. 22 in the UK charts. His next six records were less successful, but he finally broke through with "I Remember You", which topped the charts for seven weeks in 1962. Known for Ifield's falsetto and a slight yodel, it was the second-highest-selling single of that year in the UK and became the seventh million-selling single.

His next single was a double A-side: "Lovesick Blues" and "She Taught Me to Yodel". "Lovesick Blues" was originally sung by Hank Williams and was treated in an upbeat "Let's Twist Again" style. The other song is a virtuoso piece of yodelling with the final verse – entirely yodelling – sung at double-speed. It also reached No. 44 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. His next hit, "Wayward Wind", made him the first UK-based artist to reach No. 1 three times in the UK in succession. The only other person to have done so at that point was Elvis Presley.

His other recordings include "Nobody's Darling but Mine", "I'm Confessin'" (his fourth and final UK No. 1), "Mule Train" and "Don't Blame Me". In 1963 he sang at the Grand Ole Opry, introduced by one of his heroes, Hank Snow. Many of his records were produced by Norrie Paramor.

Ifield also was featured on Jolly What!, a 1964 compilation comprising eight of his tracks and four of those of the Beatles which has been considered an attempt to cash in on Beatlemania. Despite changing trends Ifield continued to have further hits up to 1966 including 'I should care' 'Paradise' 'No One will ever know' 'Angry at the big oak tree' and 'Call her your sweetheart'.

Ifield starred in the 1965 comedy musical Up Jumped a Swagman.

Ifield twice entered the UK heat of the Eurovision Song Contest. He came in second in the 1962 heat with "Alone Too Long" (losing to Ronnie Carroll). In the 1976 heat he tried with "Ain't Gonna Take No for an Answer", finishing last of 12.

Ifield had been told by his management not to yodel because it would brand him. Nevertheless, he sang "She Taught Me to Yodel" as an encore in a Royal Command Performance at the specific request of the Queen Mother to sing a yodelling song. In 1991, Ifield returned to the UK chart when a dance remix of "She Taught Me to Yodel", called "The Yodelling Song", billed as 'Frank Ifield featuring the Backroom Boys', reached No. 40 in the UK Singles Chart. In more than 30 years, it is his 16th appearance on that list. The song was mentioned by Victor Meldrew in the One Foot in the Grave episode "Love and Death".

On 10 June 2012, Ifield joined Paul Hazell on his World of Country show on the community radio station Uckfield FM. He discussed his life in music and forthcoming induction to the Coventry Music Wall of Fame. He made another appearance on Uckfield FM, talking with Tony Williams, on 16 May 2017.

Albums

Singles

Notes

• ^A"It's My Time" peaked at No. 12 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
• ^BCredited to Frank Ifield featuring The Backroom Boys