Nine bronze busts now stand in Tamworth’s Bicentennial Park following the unveiling of the Chad Morgan bust on Saturday morning.
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The man himself was there to see it, along with fans, a few other country artists and industry figures.
Most of the organising committee which organised the fundraising was there, along with sculptor Kate French.
The bust is the third Ms French has completed, following her work on the Reg Lindsay and Jimmy Little busts.
She spoke briefly about her work on Saturday morning.
“Chad, I’ve been sitting with you in my studio for several months without having met you, looking at multiple photos and for a total stranger I feel like I have a very close relationship with you, and I just want to thank you for the honour of being able to do this sculpture.”
I’ve been sitting with you in my studio for several months without having met you.
- Kate French
Tamworth Regional Council’s deputy mayor Helen Tickle also spoke, saying the ninth bronze bust would add to the city’s vast number of country music attractions.
Born in 1933, Morgan started recording in the 1950s, becoming well known for his country comedy records.
Indeed, the plaque attached to the new bust declared he is Australia’s undisputed king of country comedy, who in his 80s, is still holding crowds in the palm of his hand.
Since the early 1990s, the number of sculptures in the park has grown.
The first two were of country music pioneers Buddy Williams and Tex Morton, then from the late 1990s there were busts unveiled of songwriter Stan Coster in 1999, Gordon Parsons in 2003, Barry Thornton in 2008, Shirley Thoms in 2011, Reg Lindsay in 2013 and Jimmy Little last year.
Previously the bronze busts have been reserved as a tribute to artists who have passed away, which makes Chad Morgan the first artist to see their own bronze bust in person.
Accompanying Morgan on Saturday morning were his two sons, Allan and Chad junior.
Morgan spoke briefly after the unveiling, giving a plug for his show at West Tamworth Leagues Club on Saturday evening, which also included performances by guest artists.
Fundraising will soon start for the 10th bronze bust, which will be for Frank Ifield.
The 79-year-old English born singer gained international fame in the early 1960s.
