Beccy Cole

For the American musician, see Rebecca Cole (musician).
Beccy Cole

Cole, October 2008, Armidale.
Background information
Birth name Rebecca Diane Thompson
Also known as Beccy Sturzel, Rebecca Diane Albeck
Born (1972-10-27) 27 October 1972
Glenelg, South Australia, Australia
Genres Country
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, fiddle, drums, bass guitar, piano
Years active 1986–present
Labels ABC Music
Columbia
Universal
Warner
EMI
Sony BMG Australia
Associated acts Wild Oats, Dead Ringer Band, Young Stars, Songbirds
Website beccycole.com

Beccy Cole (born Rebecca Diane Thompson, 27 October 1972), also known as Beccy Sturzel and Rebecca Diane Albeck, is an Australian country music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has released eight albums, with three reaching the ARIA Albums Chart top 40, Little Victories (20 January 2003), Preloved (3 September 2010) and Songs & Pictures (10 October 2011). Her video album, Just a Girl Singer, peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Top 40 DVD Chart in August 2004. Cole has received nine Golden Guitar trophies at the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia. During December 2005 to January 2006 she performed for Australian Defence Force personnel in Iraq. Her single, "Poster Girl (Wrong Side of the World)", expresses her support for the troops. It won the 2007 Song of the Year at CMAA awards, and its music video was listed at No. 1 on Australia's Country Music Channel.

Biography

Beccy Cole was born as Rebecca Diane Thompson on 27 October 1972.[1][2] Her mother is a country music singer, Carole Sturzel.[3][4] Cole attended Blackwood Primary School.[4] At the age of 14 years she started performing in her mother's group, Wild Oats, as Beccy Sturzel.[3][5] She also performed solo on the South Australian festival circuit.[5] Aside from her mother, Cole's inspirations are Dolly Parton and The Eagles.[6] In 1991 Cole joined a country music group, Dead Ringer Band, led by Bill Chambers; she had met his daughter, Kasey Chambers, in Adelaide in mid-1989.[3][5] Cole and Chambers performed as a duo at the Port Pirie Country Music Festival,[7] and by 1991 they had busked together on the streets of Tamworth.[3] As a member of Dead Ringer Band Cole provided rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals, and occasional drums.

Upon the advice of her manager she changed her performance name to Beccy Cole and released her debut solo single, "Foolin' Around", in 1992.[5] In January 1993 at the Country Music Awards of Australia she won the Star Maker award.[8] She won the award again in the following year for performing "Foolin' Around",[9] and received a Golden Guitar trophy for Best New Talent.[10][11] During 1994 she spent four months touring remote Aboriginal communities in northern Australia.[6] In 1995 Cole featured on the ABC-TV documentary Doesn't Everyone Want a Golden Guitar? and her single, "Take Me Home the Long Way", appeared on the associated soundtrack album of the same name.[12]

In 1996 Cole supplied backing vocals for an album, The Circle Game, by country music duo, Rod McCormack and Mick Albeck; another guest vocalist was Gina Jeffreys.[13] Also that year Cole issued two solo singles, "Hearts Changing Hands" and "Rest in Pieces". The latter single's B-side, "Big Girls", was co-written with Chambers;[14] it was promoted by a music video which featured Albeck as Cole's love interest. On 11 July 1997 her debut album, Beccy Cole, was released by Columbia Records.[15] Cole appeared at "festivals and events throughout the Aussie outback".[16] She toured with Darren Coggan, Felicity, and Adam Harvey as the Young Stars.[17] In 2000 at the Gympie Music Muster the four artists recorded their live cover version of Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind".[17]

Her second album, Wild at Heart, was issued on 15 January 2001 by ABC Country and distributed by Universal Music Australia, which peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Country Albums Chart.[18][19] It included contributions by Chambers and Jeffreys on vocals, and McCormack on guitars, keyboards, piano, Hammond organ, mandolin, banjo and backing vocals, as well as producing the album.[17][18] Rosie Adsett at Country Update felt "[she's] never been in finer voice, and the enjoyment of finally recording just shines through this one".[17] While The Sydney Morning Herald's Katrina Lobley noted that Cole "unashamedly examines every corner of a recently broken heart. The album's not entirely miserable – her sense of fun bursts out in wild ditties".[20] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001 Wild at Heart was nominated for Best Country Album.[21] By November 2002 it was re-issued with a five-track bonus disc, including her single, "Life Goes On".[20] For her gigs she also performs on lead guitar, drums, bass guitar, fiddle or piano.[5][20] In December 2003 Wild at Heart was accredited with a gold certificate for shipment of 35,000 copies.[22]

On 20 January 2003 Cole released her third studio album, Little Victories, which reached the top 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart and No. 4 on the Country Albums Chart.[19] It was produced by McCormack again who also provided banjo, dobro, guitars (acoustic and electric), mandola, mandolin, percussion, as well as mixing and engineering.[23][24] On the End of Year Charts – Country 2003, the album reached No. 18.[25] Cole co-wrote eight of its tracks with Tamara Stewart (aka Tamara Sloper).[26][27] Capital News described the work as by "a more mature, more reflective and more confident" artist.[26] At the ARIA Music Awards that year it was nominated for Best Country Album.[21] In December 2005 it was accredited with a gold certificate.[28]

On 2 August 2004 Cole issued a video album, Just a Girl Singer, which included interviews, live concert footage, music videos and archival footage. The album was written, produced and directed by Lindsay Frazer;[29][30] which peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Top 40 DVD Chart.[19] It provided Cole's next single, "Sorry I Asked".[29][30] In the following year, on 11 April, Cole released her next studio album, Feel This Free,[31][32] which reached the ARIA Albums Chart Top 100 and No. 3 on the ARIA Country Albums Chart.[19] It includes Albeck on violin and fiddle; McCormack on multiple instruments and producing; and Jeffreys and McCormack co-writing tracks with Cole.[33] Simultaneously, Universal Music Australia re-issued two earlier albums, Wild at Heart and Little Victories, as a 2× CD package.

During the festive season of December 2005 and January 2006, Cole joined the Tour de Force series of concerts in Iraq and "across the Middle East" for Australian Defence Force "personnel serving in Operation Catalyst".[34] Also performing at the concerts were Little Pattie (patron of Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment, which organised the tour's entertainers), Angry Anderson, Bessie Bardot, Hayley Jenson, and comedian Lehmo.[34][35] They were backed by the Royal Australian Navy Band.[35] Anderson later recalled "[Cole] struck me from the beginning, I mean she's a born entertainer, and I thought, this chick is as funny as hell. The songs that she was singing, original tunes, and just funny and witty".[3]

Upon return to Australia Cole received a letter from a disgruntled former fan who objected to her Tour de Force appearances and declared "I've taken your poster off of my wall and I won't be listening to your music any more".[36] In May 2006 she issued a single, "Poster Girl (Wrong Side of the World)" in response, she declared her support for the Australian diggers but not the Iraq War.[3][36] Also that month she re-released Feel This Free, with bonus tracks, on Warner Records.[33] In January the following year, at the 35th Country Music Awards of Australia, she received three Golden Guitar trophies for Female Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and APRA Song of the Year for "Poster Girl (Wrong Side of the World)".[11] On 17 March 2007 Cole appeared on celebrity quiz show, RocKwiz, she performed "Rockabilly Fever" and a duet with Mark Lizotte on "A Good Year for the Roses".[37]

Cole (second from left) on guitar and singing, with her backing band, performing at The Abbey, Canberra, in July 2013.

On 15 October 2007 Cole issued her debut live album, Live @ Lizotte's, with guest appearances by Chambers, Jeffreys and Sara Storer.[38] The deluxe version included a DVD of seven live performances and a Behind the Scenes documentary.[38] In 2007, Cole, Jeffreys and Storer combined to form Songbirds. A live concert film Songbirds: You've Got a Friend was recorded at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on 22 January 2009 [39][40][41] and the related DVD was released in May by EMI Music Australia.[41][42] The DVD went gold in 2009. [43] Susan Jarvis of Capital News noted that the "friendship between the three girls is very much in evidence" where each "performs some of their songs solo, but the three come and go in a wonderfully fluid and organic way, providing a feeling of warmth and spontaneity".[42]

On 3 September 2010 Cole issued a covers album, Preloved, on Sony BMG Australia which peaked in the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[19] Included are her renditions of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", Deborah Conway's "It's Only the Beginning" and Leiber and Stoller's "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care".[19] Cole's version of Parton's "Here You Come Again" was released as the lead single, she told Anita Beaumont of The Newcastle Herald that "[it] is the least covered song of Dolly's, and I believed the lyrics stand the test of time".[44] Beaumont felt the album showed "quite a bit of country influence ... but some of these songs weren't originally intended for a country audience. They sound pretty rootsy".[44]

Cole's sixth studio album, Songs & Pictures, appeared on 10 October 2011 and reached No. 24 on the ARIA Albums Chart – her highest position.[19] It was produced by Shane Nicholson (Angie Hart, Catherine Britt).[19] The album includes a duet with Chambers, "Millionaires", which they had co-written; Chambers later recalled "It's really the story of our friendship".[3] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2012 Songs & Pictures was nominated for Best Country Album.[21] On 16 May 2013 Cole released her first compilation album, Beccy's Big Hits.[45][46] She promoted the album with an Australian tour and invited aspiring artists to perform a song on stage, via the Beccy's Search for a Shiny Star competition.[46] In 2014 her new album "Women of Country" a duet album featuring Melinda Schneider was released, a tribute and covers album of Beccy's idols and legendary female country singers and songwriters She and Schneider performed one of the tracks, Dolly Parton's "9 to 5", on The Morning Show. In 2015, Cole released Sweet Rebecca through ABC Music.[47]

Personal life

During the mid-1990s Beccy Cole and Gina Jeffreys were flatmates, while Mick Albeck and Rod McCormack were also flatmates.[3][20] Cole was married to Albeck for two-and-a-half years (1998–99), writing songs as Rebecca Diane Albeck.[2][3] The couple have a son.[3] Not long after he was born their friends, Jeffreys and McCormack, married each other.[20] Cole's second album, Wild at Heart, dealt with her divorce;[6] the track "Lazy Bones" was written about Albeck and their short marriage.[48] According to Albeck "it was tough sometimes when we were touring together, living together, bringing up the baby together and having to be on stage together at night. I guess I decided I didn't want the relationship anymore. That was pretty tough for Bec at the time".[3]

By August 2004 Cole was living in the Central Coast region with other country musicians nearby including Kasey Chambers, Jeffreys and McCormack, Lyn Bowtell and Adam Harvey: the artists call the local area, Hillbilly Heaven.[30][49][50] Albeck, Bowtell, Jeffreys and McCormack have assisted Cole on her albums. As of April 2012 Cole lived in Copacabana.[51] In July 2012 Cole revealed that she is a lesbian on ABC-TV series, Australian Story.[3][4] In October 2013 she was the inaugural ambassador for the Adelaide-based Feast Festival and in the following month she presented her show, The Queer of Country.[52] Cole explained to Suzie Keen of InDaily that "I was concerned that there may be a lack of understanding towards my sexuality. How wrong I was. What Australians appreciate more than anything is honesty".[52]

She now lives in Adelaide, South Australia. (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/beccy-coles-back-in-adelaide-with-her-partner-their-children-and-a-new-book-detailing-her-life/news-story/4c245e8a25807808990b69e378a781bc)

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

See also

Video albums

Singles

Awards

Country Music Awards

Cole has won numerous Country Music Awards of Australia held at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. [54]

ARIA Awards

Cole has been nominated for three ARIA Awards, all ARIA Award for Best Country Album, in 2001 for Wild at Heart, 2003 for Little Victories and 2012 Songs and Pictures.[55]

APRA Awards

In 2007, Cole won 'APRA Song of the Year' for "Poster Girl (Wrong Side Of The World)"

References

  1. ↑ "'Bad Hair Day' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Bad Hair Day; or at 'Performer:' Beccy Cole
  2. 1 2 "'Bass Solo' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Bass Solo; or at 'Performer:' Beccy Cole
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Foolin' Around" (transcript). Australian Story. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 23 July 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Leo, Jessica (22 July 2012). "Country Singer Beccy Cole Reveals She's Gay to Set an Example to Her Son". The Advertiser. News Limited. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Nutting, John (14 July 2004). "Trev Warner and Beccy Cole in Tamworth for the Hats Off to Country Festival". Saturday Night Country. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Negus, George (15 March 2003). "Beccy Cole". George Negus Tonight. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Mengel, Noel (5 November 2011). "Music: Sister Among Friends". The Courier-Mail. News Limited. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Woodbridge, Claude; Woodbridge, Margaret (28 January 1993). "The Great Tamworth Hoedown". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). National Library of Australia. p. 25. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "SA Singer Wins". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). National Library of Australia. 23 January 1994. p. 2. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Beccy Cole". Australian Country Music Hall of Fame. Australian Country Music Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  11. 1 2 Beccy Cole has won nine awards at the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia:
    • 1994: New Talent of the Year for "Foolin' Around":– "1994". Country Music Association of Australia. 2 July 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
    • 2001: Female Vocalist of the Year for "This Heart", and Vocal Collaboration of the Year for "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" (shared with Darren Coggan, Felicity, and Adam Harvey):– "2001". Country Music Association of Australia. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
    • 2002: Female Vocalist of the Year for "Too Strong to Break":– "2002". Country Music Association of Australia. 2 July 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
    • 2007: Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and APRA Song of the Year for "Poster Girl (Wrong Side of the World)":– "2007". Country Music Association of Australia. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
    • 2012: Female Vocalist of the Year for "Waitress", Vocal Collaboration of the Year for "Millionaires" (shared with Kasey Chambers):– "2012". Country Music Association of Australia. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Doesn't Everyone Want a Golden Guitar?". Australian Television Memorabilia Guide. Nodette Enterprises Pty Ltd. 2005. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  13. ↑ Gleeson, P G. "Review – Rod McCormack & Mick Albeck The Circle Game". Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "'Big Girls' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Big Girls; or at 'Performer:' Beccy Cole
  15. ↑ "Beccy Cole by Beccy Cole". iTunes. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Golden Girl Headed for Rooty Hill". St Marys Star. Fairfax Media. 15 July 2008. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Adsett, Rosie. "Latest Reviews: Wild at Heart Beccy Cole ABC". Country Update. CountryMusic.com.au. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  18. 1 2 Cole, Beccy (2001), Wild at Heart, ABC Country (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). National Library of Australia, retrieved 11 January 2014, Performer: Beccy Cole, vocals ; with assisting musicians. Contributors: Mitch Farmer, drums; Jeff McCormack, bass; Mark Punch, electric guitar/harmonica/vocals; Michael Rose, steel/dobro; Rod McCormack, guitars/keyboards/piano/Hammond/mandolin/banjo/vocals; Tim Wedde, piano; Jason Mowery, fiddle; Bill Risby, piano; Kim Warner, mandolin; Michael Rose, dobro; Gary Steel, accordion. Guest vocals: Carol Young, Adam Harvey, Kasey Chambers, Glen Hannah, Tamara Stewart, Gina Jeffreys, Glen Hannah.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 For Australian charting information:
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Lobley, Katrina (1 November 2002). "Cole-fired". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 "Winners by Year – Search Results for 'Beccy Cole'". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  23. ↑ Cole, Beccy; McCormack, Rod (2003), Little Victories, ABC Country : Warner Music Australia [distributor]. National Library of Australia, retrieved 13 January 2014
  24. ↑ "Little Victories – Beccy Cole | Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Country 2003". Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  26. 1 2 "Beccy Cole – Little Victories". Capital News. 28 (1). Rural Press Limited. January 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  27. ↑ Dawson, Dave (26 February 2008). "Dave's Diary – Tamara Stewart". Nu Country. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  29. 1 2 Cole, Beccy; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2004), Just a Girl Singer, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. National Library of Australia, retrieved 13 January 2014, Summary: Just a Girl Singer contains rare interviews, live concert footage, eight video clips, and archival footage. Credits: Written, produced and directed by Lindsay Frazer.
  30. 1 2 3 "Just a Girl Singer Beccy Cole". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 2 August 2004. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014. Just a Girl Singer contains rare interviews with Beccy and her 'hillbilly heaven' mates, live concert footage, plus video clips from her highly successful albums that have seen her win Female Vocalist of the Year twice. It also includes archival footage from Star Maker, Good Morning Australia and a sneak preview of a brand new song.
  31. ↑ Cole, Beccy (2005), Feel This Free, ABC Country. National Library of Australia, retrieved 14 January 2014
  32. ↑ "Feel This Free by Beccy Cole". iTunes. 11 April 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  33. 1 2 "Feel This Free [Bonus Tracks] – Beccy Cole | Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  34. 1 2 "Media Release: MECC 318/05: Troops Rock into Christmas". Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication (MECC), Department of Defence. 25 December 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  35. 1 2 "Operation Catalyst: Image Gallery: Troupe Entertains Troops in Middle East". Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication (MECC), Department of Defence. 3 January 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  36. 1 2 Shedden, Iain (28 October 2006). "Beccy Is Diggers' Poster Girl". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Rockwiz Episode 42 - Mark and Beccy Duet". SBS ondemand. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  38. 1 2 Cole, Beccy (2007), Live @ Lizotte's, Distributed by Warner Music Australia. National Library of Australia, retrieved 14 January 2014
  39. ↑ Cashmere, Paul (20 April 2009). "Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole and Sara Storer Head to the Big Screen". Undercover (Paul Cashmere, Ros O'Gorman). Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Songbirds: You've Got a Friend". Regent Cinemas. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  41. 1 2 Songbirds (2009), You've Got a Friend Live in Concert, EMI Music Australia. National Library of Australia, retrieved 15 January 2014
  42. 1 2 Jarvis, Susan (May 2009). "True Friendship". Capital News. Rural Press Limited. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2009 DVDs". ARIA Charts. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  44. 1 2 Beaumont, Anita (23 December 2010). "Recycling Refreshes Top Songs". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Media. p. 25. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  45. ↑ Cole, Beccy (2013), Beccy's Big Hits, Australia Beccy Cole Music Ambition Entertainment PTY LTD Distributed by EMI Music Australia. National Library of Australia, retrieved 15 January 2014
  46. 1 2 Aquilina, Jessica (24 June 2013). "Beccy's Big Hits on the Road with Her Best Country Tracks". Hills News. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Beccy Cole". ABC Music. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  48. ↑ Borrelli, Gianni (3 September 2012). "Beccy Cole, Still a Poster Girl". Glam Adelaide. Glam Digital. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  49. ↑ "Adam Harvey and Troy Cassar-Daley". Focus Mag. Creative House. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  50. ↑ Chesterton, Ray (1 March 2010). "Lunch at Hillbilly Heaven". Woman's Day. Athena Information Solutions: 41. ISSN 0043-7328.
  51. ↑ van der Zwan, Sebastian (9 April 2012). "How I Stayed Friends with My Ex". Woman's Day. Athena Information Solutions. ISSN 0043-7328. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014.
  52. 1 2 Keen, Suzie (1 October 2013). "Beccy Cole and the 'Queer of Country'". InDaily. Adelaide Independent News. Solstice Media. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  53. ↑ Beccy Cole Discography
  54. ↑ "ARIA Award Winners". Country.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  55. ↑ "ARIA Awards for Best Country Album". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

External links

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