Jean Stafford (musician)

Jean Stafford was born at Latrobe, Tasmania in 1950[2] and grew up in Meander in a one-room shack along with her mother, foster-father and six cousins.

In 1962, at the age of 12, Stafford made her first television appearance on a program called ShowTime a popular series from TNT-9 Launceston, Tasmania at that time. Stafford was the first female country artist to sing on black and white television in Launceston.[3] After leaving school, Stafford worked at a hotel as a kitchen hand in a nearby town of Deloraine, Tasmania, while performing at local dances on weekends, she began to learn her craft as a professional singer.

Stafford's first recordings occur in 1965 at the age of 15, singing several duets with Dusty Rankin for the Hadley Recording Company.[3]

In 1973, Stafford won first prize in a Country Music Talent Quest in Launceston and received a five-album deal with Hadley Records.[3] Stafford's debut album Flowers for Mama was recorded in Tamworth was released in 1974. It gained her Australia-wide recognition, winning her first Golden Guitar Award at the 1975 Country Music Awards of Australia with the track "What Kind of a Girl Do You Think I Am". A self-titled studio and third studio album titled, I'll Sing You a Country Song followed in 1970s.

In 1979, Stafford imprinted her hands into the Tamworth Hands of Fame.[4] In 1979, Stafford released her fourth studio album, Hello Love, which won her a second Golden Guitar award in 1980.[3] She won her third Female Vocalist of the Year Golden Guitar award in 1981 for the song "That Glory Bound Train", from her fifth studio album, Born Again.

In 1981 Stafford signed a three album deal with EMI Music Australia and released The Way I Feel Inside in 1981, Someday I'll Take Home the Roses in 1982 and Burning Bright in 1986.[3] In 1985, Stafford began appearing on the Ray Martin Midday Show.

In 1985, Stafford was asked to be part of the Australia Too campaign, recording the charity single "The Garden" for Freedom from Hunger in Ethiopia. The song peaked at number 38 on the Australian charts. At the 1986 Country Music Awards of Australia, it won Song of the Year.[5] and at the APRA Music Awards of 1987, the song won Most Performed Australasian Country Work.[6]

At the inaugural ARIA Music Awards in 1987, Stafford was nominated for two awards.[3][7] In 1988, her first compilation album, The Golden Voice of Country was released.

In 1989, Stafford was crowned Australia's Queen of Country Music in Sydney.[8]

In 1990, Stafford released the covers album, Classic Jean Stafford before heading to Nashville, Tennessee where she records for the first time, the album, That Says it All, produced by Jimmie Crawford it was released in 1991.[3] In 1991 Mo Awards, Stafford wins Female Country Entertainer of the Year.[9]

In 1992, Stafford is appointed Honorary Commissioner to the USA by Tasmanian Government for three years, which was later extended.[3] In 1993, Stafford wrote and recorded the song, "Tassie's Got It All", promoting Tasmanian tourism. The song and video are played across North America and Europe.[3]

In 1996, Stafford is inducted into the South Australian Country Music Festival Award's Hall of Fame.[3] In 1997, Stafford recorded "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", a duet with Kitty Wells. The duo performed two concerts in Australia in 1998 under the banner of Australian and American Flags The Queens of Country Music.[3] A compilation was also released.

In 2004, Stafford produced her eleventh studio album, Let the Dance Begin in Nashville co-produced with Jimmie Crawford.[3] In 2006, Stafford wins Female Vocalist of the Year at the Western Country Music Awards in Fort Worth, Texas, becoming the first Australian to be nominated and win a Western Country Music Awards.[3]

In 2008, Stafford was elevated to Australian Roll of Renown at the Country Music Awards Australia[3] before relocating back to Tasmania in 2009.[3]

In 2012, Stafford was inducted into the Tasmania Axemans Wall of Fame.[3] In 2016, Stafford was the inaugural inductee in the Tasmanian Independent Country Music Awards Hall of Fame.[3][10]

Stafford had been nominated for 2 ARIA Music Awards[7]

Stafford has won three Golden guitar awards at the Tamworth Country Music Awards of Australia[12]

The Mo Awards are annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia. Stafford has won two awards.[9]

The Tasmanian Independent Country Music Awards commenced in 2016.[10]

The Western Country Music Awards commenced in 1996 at Fort Worth, Texas, recognising the performers and artisans active in the contemporary cowboy and western movement.[14]