Jean Stafford (born 1 January 1950) is an Australian-born country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning more than five decades, she has released gold and platinum albums along with her Golden Guitar award winning songs “What Kind of a Girl (Do You Think I Am)”, “Hello, Love” and “That Glory Bound Train”. .
In 1991, for recognition of her contributions to Country Music, Stafford received a ceremonial Key to the City of Nashville, awarded by the Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter, she is the only Australian to have ever received this honour. Stafford also received honorary Tennessean citizenship, awarded in recognition of her significant and outstanding service to country music.
Stafford was the only individual female country music artist with high enough selling albums to reach two Aria nominations at the 1987 Aria Awards inauguration. Stafford has won three Golden Guitar awards and was inducted into the Country Music Awards of Australia's "Roll Of Renown" in 2008.
Stafford was a regular on “Midday” a popular Australian television program on the Nine Network hosted by Ray Martin during the 1980s and 1990s with over 31 performances. Including her many other performances and appearances on Australian television shows such as “The Mike Walsh Show”, “The Ernie Sigley Show” and “It’s Country Today”, Stafford holds the record of the most appearing individual female country music artist on Australian television history.
Early life and career
Stafford was born in Latrobe, Tasmania on January 1, 1950. Stafford was the youngest of two daughters born to Ethal Daphne Stafford. Stafford grew up in Meander in a one-room cabin 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. 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 began her recording career back in 1965, teaming up with Australian country pioneer Dusty Rankin. The duo recorded several tracks on Rankin’s first recording session for Hadley Records owned and operated by Eric Scott.
In 1970, Stafford recorded her first solo recordings on a special mixed artists L.P. (Country Music Around Australia Volume 1) with Hadley.
1973-1980s
In 1973, Stafford won first prize in a Country Music Talent Quest in Launceston and received a five-album deal with Hadley Records. 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 album released in 1975 and third studio album titled, I'll Sing You a Country Song followed in 1978.
In 1979, Stafford imprinted her hands into the Tamworth Hands of Fame. In 1979, Stafford released her fourth studio album, Hello Love, which won her a second Golden Guitar award in 1980. 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.
After exiting Hadley Records, Stafford signed an album deal with a major recording company in Sydney, EMI Music Australia The first album was titled The Way I Feel Inside, released in 1981. The album received critical acclaim and reached the top of the country music charts. The album itself was praised for Stafford's passionate performance. However, despite the positive response to the album, it did not chart as high as her later albums with the label.
Someday I'll Take Home the Roses, Stafford's second album under the EMI deal, was released in 1982. The album's title track was written by Stafford and became a hit single, and the album itself debuted at number 21 on the Australian country music chart. The album showcased Stafford's emotional depth and versatility, featuring ballads and up-tempo numbers.