Hubbry Logo
Johnny RebbJohnny RebbMain
Open search
Johnny Rebb
Community hub
Johnny Rebb
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Johnny Rebb
Johnny Rebb
Johnny Rebb
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Key Information

Johnny Rebb, born Donald James Delbridge, (20 March 1939[1] – 28 July 2014[2]) was an Australian singer.

Career

[edit]

While working as a panel beater, Rebb began his music career as a country & western singer. In 1956, aged around 17 he was influenced by the film Rock Around The Clock and approached John Charter, a music arranger and keyboard player, to start a band.[3] They approached Festival Records and EMI but were finally noticed by Lee Gordon and signed up with Leedon Records.

In mid-October 1959, Rebb (and The Rebels) performed in shows titled Lee Gordon's 1959 Rock'n'Roll Spectacular. The Sydney concerts were edited into a film called Rock 'n' Roll which premiered on 30 October. The film, thought lost but rediscovered in 2020, includes rare footage of a 1950s rock and roll concert in Australia.[4][5]

He was dubbed the "Gentleman of Rock" by disc jockeys of the time[6] and replaced Johnny O'Keefe as the MC of Saturday Rock while O'Keefe was in the USA. In 1965, with the onslaught of rock'n'roll, Rebb began singing in the band The Atlantics and became their lead singer.[7] After the band finished performing live in 1970, he continued solo until the mid-70s.[3]

He died of emphysema in 2014 and was survived by his wife Elizabeth.[3]

Singles

[edit]
  • "Johnny B. Goode" / "Rebel Rock" - Columbia, 1958
  • "Think Me A Kiss" /"Love Ville" - Coronet, 1960
  • "Lonesome Road" / "We Belong Together" - Leedon, 1960
  • "Hey Sheriff" / "Noeline" - Leedon, 1959
  • "How Will It End" /"There You Go" - Coronet, 1960
  • "Anytime You Want Me" / "She's Just Another Girl" - Coronet, 1961
  • "Billy Blue Shoes" / "Letter A Day" - London, 1962
  • "Got Over It" / "Secret" - CBS, 1963[8]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Johnny Rebb

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
''Johnny Rebb'' is an Australian rock 'n' roll singer known for his pioneering role in the country's early rock scene during the late 1950s and his later work fronting the surf instrumental band The Atlantics in the 1960s. Born Donald James Delbridge on 20 March 1939, he initially performed as a country and western singer while working as an apprentice butcher before switching to rock 'n' roll after seeing the film Blackboard Jungle and hearing Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock." Dubbed the "Gentleman of Rock" by the media for his modest demeanor, polite manner, and conservative stage presence, Rebb became one of Australia's seminal rock performers alongside figures like Johnny O'Keefe and Col Joye. Rebb achieved early success with his backing band The Rebels, recording his first single—a cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" backed with "Rebel Rock"—for Columbia in 1958 before signing with Lee Gordon's Leedon label. His breakthrough came with the charting single "Hey Sheriff," followed by national hits including "Pathway To Paradise," his biggest success, and "Think Me A Kiss." He became a regular performer on Johnny O'Keefe's popular television program Six O'Clock Rock, where he also occasionally served as host. In the mid-1960s, Rebb fronted The Atlantics, formerly known for their instrumental hit "Bombora," and the collaboration produced influential Australian indie rock recordings such as "Come On" and a cover of "I Put a Spell on You," which reached the Australian Top 30. After the group's efforts to adapt to changing musical trends met limited commercial success, Rebb continued solo performances until retiring from music in 1976 to open a panel-beating shop in Sydney. A lifelong heavy smoker, he later suffered from emphysema, which prevented him from participating in rock revival events. He died in 2014.

Early life

Birth and background

Johnny Rebb was born Donald James Delbridge on 20 March 1939 in Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Surry Hills, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, was his place of origin during his early years. Delbridge grew up in Sydney before entering the music scene later in his youth.

Influences and entry into music

Johnny Rebb was inspired to pursue rock and roll after watching the film Blackboard Jungle and hearing Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock." This exposure to the genre prompted him to approach John Charter, a music arranger and keyboard player, to form a band together. The duo sought recording contracts from Festival Records and EMI but were turned down by both labels. Promoter Lee Gordon later noticed their potential and signed Rebb to his Leedon Records label, marking Rebb's formal entry into the Australian music industry.

Music career

Early years and Johnny Rebb and the Rebels

Johnny Rebb began his professional music career in 1958 as the frontman of Johnny Rebb and the Rebels, an Australian rock 'n' roll group that specialized in energetic covers and original material. The band's debut single was a cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" backed with the original composition "Rebel Rock," released on the Columbia label in 1958. They achieved their first chart success with "Hey Sheriff" / "Noeline" on Leedon in 1959, which gained airplay and established their presence in the local scene. Rebb's biggest hit came with "Pathway To Paradise" in 1959. The group continued releasing singles into the early 1960s, including "Think Me A Kiss" / "Love Ville" on Coronet in 1960. Their output during this period reflected the era's rock 'n' roll style, with a mix of American-inspired covers and local originals, and concluded with "Got Over It" / "Secret" on CBS in 1963. Disc jockeys of the time nicknamed Rebb "The Gentleman of Rock" due to his polite demeanor, modest personality, and conservative stage attire compared to more wild contemporaries. In October 1959, Johnny Rebb and the Rebels performed at Lee Gordon's Rock'n'Roll Spectacular concerts in Sydney, sharing the bill with international and local acts during one of Australia's major early rock tours. These performances were captured on film and later featured in the concert movie Rock 'n' Roll. This era marked Rebb's initial breakthrough in Australian rock 'n' roll before his later career developments.

Lead singer of The Atlantics

Johnny Rebb joined The Atlantics as their lead singer in 1966, transitioning the previously instrumental surf rock band to a vocal-oriented format. Concurrent with this change, guitarist Theo Penglis switched to keyboards, enabling a shift toward tougher rock and garage-punk material. Under manager Syd McDonagh's guidance, Rebb and the band formed JRA Productions, later establishing Ramrod Records in 1967 as an outlet for their work. They released a series of singles during this era, including "It's A Hard Life" (July 1966), "I Put A Spell On You" (January 1967), and "Come On" (March 1967). The Atlantics also backed Rebb on his solo singles during this period, with releases on labels such as HMV and Ramrod extending into 1970, including "The Monkeyshine" (1968) and "Ding Dong" (1970). These recordings, later compiled in releases such as The Atlantics With Johnny Rebb On Vocals (The Legendary JRA / Ramrod Sessions) (1993), document the band's output with Rebb as vocalist. Rebb's tenure ended when The Atlantics ceased live performances in 1970.

Solo career and retirement

After The Atlantics ceased live performances in 1970, Johnny Rebb continued as a solo performer into the mid-1970s. He released several solo singles during this period, including "Ding Dong" on Ramrod Records in 1970 and "Josie" on CBS in 1974. Rebb made occasional live appearances, such as one scheduled for February 23, 1975, where he was promoted as one of Australia's outstanding pop stars with a history of major concerts and television spots. He also appeared on The Ernie Sigley Show in 1974. In 1976, Rebb quit the music business and opened a panel-beating shop in Sydney.

Film and television appearances

Concert film Rock 'n' Roll

Johnny Rebb appeared as himself in the 1959 Australian concert film Rock 'n' Roll, directed by Lee Robinson and financed by promoter Lee Gordon. The film was shot using seven 35mm cameras at Sydney Stadium over four concerts on 16 and 17 October 1959, during performances from Lee Gordon's Rock 'n' Roll Spectacular shows, capturing synchronous sound and live audience energy. Rebb performed alongside other leading Australian acts including Col Joye, Johnny Devlin, The Delltones, Lonnie Lee, The Crescents, The Graduates, and Warren Williams, while footage of American headliner Fabian was omitted from the Australian release after a fee dispute with his management. The film premiered on 30 October 1959 and had only limited screenings in Australia, never receiving wide distribution due to Gordon's rejection of conventional box office sharing terms and related legal issues. It was considered lost for decades after its Australian negative and prints were accidentally discarded during a clean-out at Fauna Productions, leaving only minor surviving clips. A complete 35mm print of the Australian version was rediscovered in 2020 on a nature strip in suburban Melbourne by Mark Iaria, narrowly escaping disposal. The film underwent digital restoration and sound cleanup, and it has since toured Australian cinemas and been made fully available on YouTube as of April 2024, recognized as a rare surviving example of 1950s rock 'n' roll concert footage worldwide and a vital time capsule documenting early Australian rock performances and audience behavior.

Television performances and guest spots

Johnny Rebb made occasional guest appearances on Australian television music programs, primarily as a live performer during the peak of his career and later in a nostalgic context. He performed on Bandstand in two episodes between 1960 and 1962, singing "Anytime You Want Me" and "She's Just Another Girl" in one appearance, and "There You Go", "The Wonder Of You", and "Don't Come Knockin'" in the other. In 1962, Rebb appeared as a guest on Startime. His most detailed later television performance came on The Ernie Sigley Show in an episode aired on 30 April 1974, where he sang "Hey, Sheriff" followed by an extended rock and roll medley incorporating numerous classics including "Blue Suede Shoes", "Hound Dog", "Tutti Frutti", "Heartbreak Hotel", "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", "Little Darlin'", "Only You", "Jailhouse Rock", "Shake, Rattle and Roll", "See You Later, Alligator", "Rock Around the Clock", "Your Mama Don't Dance", "Johnny B. Goode", "Twilight Time", "You Need Hands", "Bye Bye Love", "Great Balls of Fire", and reprises of several tracks. These television spots complemented his live music activities and helped maintain his visibility in Australian entertainment during the 1960s and 1970s.

Personal life

Family, nickname, and non-music work

Johnny Rebb earned the enduring nickname "Gentleman of Rock" (or "Gentleman of Rock 'n' Roll") from disc jockeys and local media of the era, owing to his polite demeanor, modesty, and preference for comparatively conservative suits that set him apart from many contemporaries in the rock scene. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, described in his obituary as his beloved partner. Rebb died on 28 July 2014 from emphysema caused by lifelong heavy smoking. Outside his musical pursuits, Rebb opened his own panel-beating shop in Sydney in 1976 following his retirement from the music business, where he worked as a panel beater.

Death

Later years and passing

In his later years, Johnny Rebb lived quietly in New South Wales after retiring from his music career in the mid-1970s. A lifelong heavy smoker, he developed emphysema, which curtailed any possibility of returning to the stage for rock 'n' roll revival circuits in the ensuing decades. Rebb passed away on 28 July 2014 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 75. His funeral was held on 7 August 2014 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Waratah, followed by private cremation.
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.