Tom LeGarde (1931–2021) and Ted LeGarde (1931–2018), 'The LeGarde Twins', were early pioneers of country music. Born in Mackay, North Queensland, they began singing and playing guitar as young boys. At age fifteen, the twins left home, nurturing their talent on the Australian rodeo circuit while also working as professional rodeo riders. Famous for their knife throwing, whip cracking and rope spinning, the twins had a string of hits and toured with Hopalong Cassidy in 1954. In the late 1950s they moved to Canada and then Hollywood, performing on variety shows and hosting their own TV series. The twins returned briefly to Sydney in the 1960s and operated a country music venue in Paddington, importing Marty Robbins, Speedy West and Lorne Greene to perform. After settling in Nashville, Tennessee, they regularly performed, released several albums and appeared on TV shows, including Network and Star Trek. In the 1990s, they opened the LeGarde Twins Country Music Theatre in Hendersonville, Tennessee, before relocating to the Quality Inn Hall of Fame Hotel. The twins continued to perform until they were in their 80s.
This portrait by photographer Jozef Vissel captures the twins' trademark matching outfits and wholesome image as 'Australia's yodelling stockmen'.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2015
© Jozef Vissel
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